Will Porter eyes Dunhill date after landing maiden Tartan Pro Tour triumph
Carnoustie man thanks Scott Borrowman and Greg Robertson for part in welcome St Andrews success
Carnoustie man Will Porter is hoping an eye-catching year, which has just been capped by a maiden Tartan Pro Tour triumph, can help him secure a spot in next month’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The 28-year-old, who won the Scottish Boys’ Championship in 2015 - the year after Ewen Ferguson landed the same title - admitted that his breakthrough victory in the professional ranks had been a “relief”.
Carding rounds of 66-73-69 for an eight-under-par aggregate, Porter claimed a one-shot victory over Englishman James Wilson in the Fairmont St Andrews Classic presented by 5Star Sports Agency over the Torrance Course at the Five venue.
“It’s been a steady year but it is nice to put three rounds together and finally get over the line,” admitted Porter, who had a spell at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, as he savoured his success in the 12th event of the season on the Scottish-based circuit.
Worth £4,500, the welcome victory has come on the back of Porter giving a good account of himself in ten starts on the HotelPlanner Tour this season, including a tie for fourth in the Italian Challenge Open back in May.
“I’ve got some very good people helping me now,” he said. “Scott Borrowman, who is based at Stirling Golf Club, has done a brilliant job with swing and Greg Robertson, a mental performance coach at a company called Underpin, has been brilliant as well.
“I’ve made some equipment tweaks as well and I just think that having good people working hard to try and help me has been a big help.
“Playing on the HotelPlanner Tour has been a benefit as well as it has allowed me to watch some very good players get it round at close quarters.
“I’ve always wanted to be out playing at that level and this year is the first time I’ve really had that opportunity week to week. I’ve absolutely loved it.”
‘Long-servant to mini-tours’
Porter beat Bathgate’s Ross Callan 3&1 in the Scottish Boys’ final at Dunbar 11 years ago and admits it has taken him a bit longer than some to finally make proper headway in the paid game.
“I think I’ve played on the Tartan Pro Tour since the second year it started, so I’ve been a long servant to the mini-tours, having also played on the MENA Tour, Clutch Pro Tour and Portugal Pro Tour,” he admitted, laughing.
“It’s a relief to finally get a win. It is very satisfying to see the work my coaches and I have put in over the last two years. My golf and my results have definitely improved since they started helping me.
“We are on the right path and, though there is still a long way to go, my game has definitely improved and that is very pleasing indeed.”
Through the Tartan Pro Tour, Porter, who had a spell being managed by Paul Lawrie but is no longer part of the 5Star Sports Agency stable, has secured an exemption for the Second Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School later in the year.
He’s got four more Tartan Pro Tour events to come between now and then and would love to get the chance to play on his home patch in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
“It’s a bit of a longshot,” he admitted of securing an invitation for the DP World Tour event, “but, coming from Carnoustie and also having a St Andrews Links ticket, this win can hopefully help as I would love the chance to play in it!”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.