Robert Brazill is ready to get back on the horse this year and his season has already been given a kickstart after he clinched a priceless HotelPlanner Tour invite for later in the calendar.
Brazill won twice in three weeks on the Winter Tour Marbella to secure a debut appearance on Europe’s second tier and as ever he is brimming with optimism over the possibilities that could bring.
“It’s massive. Once I had set my mind on playing the few events that was my goal to come out with at least one HotelPlanner Tour start. To get that is a huge bonus for me, even to get some potential sponsors throughout the year. Having one start is as good as any I have never played on that tour so it’s a start,” said Brazill who is preparing for a return to the Clutch Pro Tour next month in Oman.
“It’s a free week for me. I would love to go out and enjoy it and I will feel pressure and nerves but at the end of the day it’s a free week for me to see can I go out and compete with these lads and maybe get myself another couple of free weeks out of it.”
The Naas man may joke that he has a 66% win rate for the season so far and a cumulative total of 33-under-par for seven competitive rounds but winning breeds confidence and with stiffer challenges to come this year it’s fair to say he has wintered well.
“I had planned on playing some Winter Tour at some stage this year I didn’t really plan on going out for the tournaments that I played. I was planning on going back to work at the start of January and working until the end of February and going over to Spain to practice by myself before the Clutch Tour and earn some money. But there wasn’t much on so it worked out as not a bad plan!”
The phrase ‘support your local’ is commonplace in sport. Well, Brazill has gone back to his roots and a nice local link up with Naas GC professionals Bernard Quigley and Ryan Gribben has clicked his game into gear.
“I’ve been working with Gribbo for the guts of the last year on short game, I’m always picking his brain. It’s great to have them both in Naas. Anytime I’m in the club either one or both are there so it’s great to get their insight even for five minutes to look at a swing or pitch shots. It’s great to have someone local and who is interested.”
Brazill ended 2025 unsure whether he could financially afford to keep pursuing professional golf. The winter has seen him working part time on sites to raise funds as well as trying to drum up some sponsorship to cover the costs of playing – his HotelPlanner Tour start might attract another logo or two!
But the biggest sacrifice of all which he made over the winter was selling his dream car. A 1993 Honda Civic which he had tailored to his own liking. It was a gut-wrenching decision to make but he believes it could be short term pain for long term gain.
“The car is sold unfortunately. I was sick to be honest, absolutely speechless. I sold it to my girlfriend’s brother so at least it’s in good hands. You make sacrifices for what will come good down the road.”
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