Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Smith made of Ryd stuff
JORDAN SMITH’S display at the Porsche European Open suggests we might have another emerging star on the European Tour.
A sudden death play-off success over defending champion Alexander Levy in Hamburg recorded a memorable maiden win for the Englishman in his rookie season.
The quality and focus he showed in Germany further suggests that the 24-year-old is destined for even greater things in the sport.
Smith – up to 82nd in the world – has been relentless for two years.
He won the Europro order of merit in 2015 which vaulted him onto last year’s Challenge Tour, where he also topped the money list to secure his card for this year’s main tour.
To do what he has done to date shows a strong desire and a winning mentality. He bears the hallmark of a player plotting a big future for himself.
If his game keeps trending upwards at this rate, there’s every chance he could tee it up at next year’s Ryder Cup in Paris. Don’t rule it out.
Current Ryder Cup captain
Thomas Bjorn followed a similar route when his maiden win at the 1996 Scottish Open helped propel him to the following year’s clash with the Americans at Valderrama.
Just like Bjorn, hopefully we have another breakthrough star who can help return the Samuel Ryder trophy to Europe next year.