Heart attack victim Mike tees-up in final
ASOUTHPORT golfer has beaten thousands of fellow amateurs across England to qualify for the final of the Bridgestone Tyres Chase Your Dream Trophy – just four years after thinking he would never swing a club again.
Mike Durkin suffered a heart attack in 2013 and thought his golfing days were over, making his triumph in the aptly-named trophy all the more remarkable.
The 63-year-old Hurlston Hall member was one of nine other men at Woodhall Spa to qualify for the grand final of the competition, which will now take place at the pro-am of the Bridgestone Challenge at Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire next Wednesday.
And if he is in the winning team there, he could potentially play with Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia or another household name of the European Tour at the pro-am of the British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Close House on September 27, as a result.
Mike said: “I am supposed to be going to Spain with my wife on September 6, so I will have to catch her up and hope she doesn’t hold it against me!
“It is all about chasing your dreams for me, so it was appropriate to get to the final of the Chase Your Dream Trophy.
“Bridgestone has been brilliant in creating an event like this, and giving amateurs like us a chance to play on the biggest stages.
“I had a heart attack four years ago which changed everything for me.
“It makes you appreciate life and makes days like this all the more special. I didn’t think they would come around again for me.”
The Bridgestone Tyres Chase your Dream Trophy is an annual event open to members of England Golf’s 1,900 affiliated clubs and features separate competitions for men and women.
Mike said he was already allowing himself to think ahead to the pro-am of the British Masters supported by Sky Sports on September 27.
“I live down the road from Royal Birkdale, so guys like Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Slattery are my local heroes.
“To be able to play with one of those guys at the pro-am of the British Masters would be special. They are all big names though, and I have to win the pro-am at the Bridgestone Challenge yet. “It’s all very exciting.” Bridgestone Tyres’ consumer sales and marketing director Farrell Dolan said: “Mike’s story is what brings the Chase Your Dream Trophy to life. He kept believing and he is just 18 holes away from a round with a European Tour star at the British Masters, supported by Sky Sports.”
For more information about Bridgestone and its Chase Your Dream concept, visit www. nomatterwhat.uk.com