Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Brave Wilson doing all he can to Concra his golfing demons
OLIVER WILSON’S route map back to full playing rights on the European Tour took in Concra Wood Golf Club last week.
Rather than head to the famous Dunhill Links – where he celebrated a fairytale win four years ago – the Englishman opted to tee up at the more modest Monaghan Irish Challenge.
Swapping St Andrews for Castleblayney takes some heart, but it proved an inspired decision as his two shot victory eased him up to 15th on the Road to Oman rankings.
With the top-15 securing European Tour cards next season, Wilson – who also won at the Swedish Challenge in August – is muscling his way back towards the top table.
It would be a remarkable resurrection for the 38-year-old, who was part of Nick Faldo’s European team at the 2008 Ryder Cup in Valhalla.
That was the high-point of a career that has hit the rocks in recent years, despite his maiden win at Dunhill in 2014 when he was ranked 792nd in the world.
Olly fell off the circuit in 2016 and actually considered quitting last year after missing the cut at Tour School, so I admire his efforts to try and scale the mountain again via the unfashionable climes of the Challenge Tour. Europe’s second circuit has an average purse of €200,000, so there are no retirement packages on offer at this level of the game.
It’s a tough, demanding station with modest rewards. It is also full of young, hungry, fearless players trying to make their way in the game.
To call it cut-throat is an understatement.
Sadly, it has also been a graveyard and final resting station for veteran players struggling to process their fall from grace on the main tour.
The pressure and mental demands for players who have been there and done it on the main circuit are high so playing with freedom and poise can be difficult.
Life can also get in the way and the fact Olly and his wife Lauren recently welcomed baby Levi Bobby into the world was an added, if wonderful, challenge to be faced.
On the brink of retiring this time last year, Wilson has refused to go quietly and it’s refreshing to see him plot an alternative route back to the top.
In July, he was ranked outside the World’s top-2000. Now, thanks to his efforts on the Challenge Tour, he is up to 272nd.
He’s still on the Race to Oman bubble, so there’s work to be done, but with three events to go – in China and the United Arab Emirates – he has given himself a hell of a chance.
I wish him well.
It’s amazing to think a former Ryder Cup star may remember Concra Wood in years to come as the place his career got back on track.