Dermot McElroy is quietly confident that he can play his way on to the DP World Tour at next week’s Final Stage of Q-School as he looks to overcome a wrist injury.
McElroy’s chances of earning a DP World Tour card via the Challenge Tour rankings were all but ended after a freak wrist injury playing football cost him five weeks off the golf course and four events, including two double point tournaments in China.
The Ballymena man was in the 46-player field for the Rolex Grand Final in Mallorca but was not sharp enough to achieve the high finish he required to play his way into the top-22 on the season long rankings. But after fearing he wouldn’t be able to play this week or next, his left wrist has healed well as he got four rounds under his belt.
“I played well today, the best I played out of the four days which is good. I’ve been doing a lot of grinding on the range because I hadn’t been playing great this week but I am happy with how I played today,” smiled McElroy after a final round of 69 saw him finish in 36th place on three-under.
“It held up well today, this was the first day where I didn’t really feel it. I felt it the first three days so what I was working on in the range was trying to protect it and I seem to be making the right movements so I was happy with it today.
“I was scared! Before this tournament I only played on the Saturday, a couple of days before I came here and I never knew how it was going to react, it seems to be reacting well and healing up nicely.”
McElroy took over 30 blows on the greens during each of his four rounds with several three putts thrown in for good measure, but he expected as much given his lack of competitive sharpness since September but he feels getting a competitive appearance under his belt before next week’s Q-School in Infinitum could prove invaluable.
The 31-year-old reached the final stage twelve months ago but missed the 72-hole cut but is confident he can go all the way over six rounds this time.
“I’m looking forward to it (next week) I was there last year and played quite well just didn’t putt well so I will practice more of my putting.
“I played really well but still had 32 putts for three-under. I didn’t hole much now and had a lot of silly three putts thrown in there. Definitely a lack of sharpness. The more I play the better I will hole out from five or six feet. I couldn’t add up how many of those putts I missed this week.”