After thirteen successive missed cuts, things seem a bit brighter for Cormac Sharvin as he heads to the Alps this week for the Omega European Masters in Crans-sur-Sierre GC, Switzerland.
Sharvin is joined by David Carey, James Sugrue, Paul Dunne, Niall Kearney and Jonathan Caldwell.
The Ardglass native came out of nowhere to post his career-best DP World Tour finish of T-13 in Prague last week and it might have been a maiden top-10 had he not let a few shots slip from his grasp late on.
But it was much needed progress and a confidence boost for the 29-year-old who had only played weekend golf once – in Kenya back in March and he hopes it can be a sliding doors moment for him.
“It’s just nice to have control of my golf ball again because it’s a weird one for me – something I’ve never really been through,” Sharvin said having climbed 68 spots to 229 on the Race to Dubai.
“I’ve struggled with parts of my game, like putting, or maybe a bit of short game but I’ve always been a good ball-striker so to go through the period of ball striking Iike I’ve had in tournament was hard but it’s one of those things – it’s not just going to leave you, it’s in there somewhere, it’s just a case of getting it out.
“Obviously it’s only been one week and I kind of need to press and push on from this and try and take as much confidence as I can going into the next run of events but I’m pretty optimistic that my game will hold up to it.”
Sharvin will tee off alongside China’s Huilin Zhang and German Sven Cremer.
His compatriot Carey has been handed another DP World Tour start and he has proven himself to be very capable at this level, making his last four cuts including the Open and while his Prague push was scuppered by a disastrous final round 80, Ireland’s Mr. 57 has been in good form all things considered and has taken advantage of the extra cash on offer compared to the Alps Tour.
The Darwin Escapes professional has been grouped with German duo Nicolai Von Dellinghausen and Sebastian Heisele and will be the first Irishman on the course on Thursday.
Paul Dunne and James Sugrue will play together and will be joined by Frenchman Adrien Saddier. Both players have shown signs of form as of late with Dunne posting a top-20 in Celtic Manor at the start of the month.
Meanwhile Sugrue has been impressive without putting four rounds together. An opening 65 in Finland threatened better but rounds of 72, 70 and 71 saw him fade to 35th after a 30th place finish at the Irish Challenge.
Niall Kearney will be hoping to get his quest for a full DP World Tour back on track after a missed cut at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational. At 168th in the Race to Dubai, the Royal Dubliner has work to do and a top-10 would get the wheels back in motion this week.
Kearney is in an intriguing threesome with Alvaro Quiros and Alfie Plant.
Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell, who hosted last year’s NI Masters in his home club, returns to action after skipping the ISPS Handa World Invitational in Galgorm Castle.
The former DP World Tour winner is paired with Rory Sabbatini and Daniel Gavins.
- Tee times HERE
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