Price a driving force as he chalks up the miles in bid to keep his tour card

IF the M4 commute is too much for some, spare a thought for Welsh golfer Phillip Price who is taking his driving skills to new levels between home life in south Wales and his United States workplace.

For the man famous for taking down then world No.2 Phil Mickelson in the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry is crisscrossing the Atlantic on the mother of all commutes to rub shoulders with the legends of the global game on the star-studded Champions Tour.

And there’s no sign of any respite in the near future for the ocean hopping 50-year-old, whose 23 seasons on the European Tour brought in career earnings of €7,339,862 alongside two Portugal Open titles and the Smurfit European Open crown at the K Club, in Ireland, until his son completes his GSCE’s in late June.

Then the Price family can look forward to some quality time in the States as Phil looks to keep his Champions Tour card, just one of five handed out through two gruelling sets of qualifiers in December, for next season.

And despite the stamina-sapping schedule that makes jet-lag a weekly inconvenience, Price is lapping up life in the States... even more so after his one season on the PGA Tour in 2005 was anything but a success giving he couldn’t get the run of big tournaments in the States he craved.

So what is a typical week for Price when on his Atlantic commute?

“The real ugly commute I did recently was a drive to London which takes quite a while, fly to Los Angeles, I waited five-and-a-half hours and then went on a two-hour flight to Tuscon (Arizona), picked up a hire car and then drove another hour to the tournament,” said Price.

“And there was a seven hour time change to factor in on both journeys.

“You don’t feel great for the best part of three days arriving in the States and when you come home you’re feeling pretty lousy for three or four days as well.

“By the time the tournament starts I’m fine it’s just that in-between when you’re not feeling that good.

“Europe’s nice and I can still see all my friends but America, while I’ve got the chance the Champions Tour, is the place to play.

“I’ve got to hope 2005 on the PGA Tour wasn’t a wasted year and it isn’t because I can go to America now and feel comfortable.

“I don’t feel strange there with the country, the players, the food I eat and he hotels I stay in.

“I’ve got to hope that 2005 experience is of value.

“My son’s GCSE’s finish at the end of June and I couldn’t really pull him out of school. It’s been a little trickier than I thought.

“It’s great money out there and you’ve got to try and get your hands on it.

“The standard is very good and that’s surprised me.

“I love it on the Champions Tour, it’s great even though I probably haven’t started as well as I would have liked.

“But I’ve had a few weeks off now and hopefully I can go back out there with a bang. I’ve got to start playing a lot better otherwise I won’t be there next season.

Despite embarking on a run of events in the States in the height of summer, Price will be enjoying the comforts of his Bassaleg home, on the outskirts of Newport, when he plays his first Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Porthcawl from July 27-30.

It the second time the famous Mid Glamorgan links has staged the event, the other back in 2014, but the first time Price is eligible to play having turned 50 last October.

“It will be my first Senior Open and I couldn’t have picked a better one,” added Price.

“Coming to Porthcawl, which is one of my favourite courses.

“We go to Porthcawl in the winter half a dozen times to play this course with friends.

“I know the course really well. It’s an all-round test, the course will fit any type of game.

“It’s a good test. You can be a long hitter or a short hitter but if you play well here, you will score well.”