FAIRWAY THE LAD

Paisley: If I told my 10-year-old self I’d win a Tour event, then Shearer would congratulate me, I wouldn’t have believed it for a second..

CHRIS PAISLEY has revealed the high of getting congratulated by his hero Alan Shearer – after the low of walking off at Wentworth in tears two years ago.

The Newcastle fan won his first European Tour title at the SA Open last weekend, with his wife Keri as his caddie.

As he prepared to mix it with Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy (right), at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the 31-year-old from Stocksfield said: “I’ve had so many positive responses. Alan Shearer has to be the highlight.

“If I told my 10-year-old self I’d win a European Tour event, and Alan would congratulate me, I would not

believe it for a second. I’ve also had messages from Gary Player, Ernie Els, and Thomas Bjorn. “It’s so nice to read them all. The messages people send saying I have done the North East proud are also so special.” Paisley, who jumped up to world No. 121, had taken a long and winding route to the winner’s enclosure. “I have had low moments,” he said. “I’ve always been the last person to believe in myself and am my own worst critic.

“I remember, two years ago at the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth, I was in tears after my first round. I played so poorly. I felt so lost and hopeless. Around that period, I was dreading every round.”

Paisley admitted Keri “doesn’t know that much about golf ” after his victory – and his regular caddie Sean Russell has taken plenty of stick as he returns to work this week.

“I think she is going to retire with a 100 per cent record on the European Tour,” he added.

World No.131 Brit Danny Willett (stretching on the 18th hole during the tournament’s pro-am event, left) is also competing in Abu Dhabi.