Scot Tait playing the long game as he seeks golfing success as a driver

● Great-nephew of double amateur champion picked for new World Series

0 Scotland’s James Tait in action during a long-driving tournament. He is one of 12 players picked to take part in next year’s expanded 10-event World Series. A Scots golfer has muscled his way into the big league in the ever-expanding long-driving scene and is hoping to use a 10-event World Series in 2018 to turn what he describes as “golf ’s answer to 20-20 cricket” into a full-time career.

James Tait, who was born in Edinburgh and grew up in St Andrews, comes from good golfing stock. His great uncle, Freddie Tait, was a two-time Amateur champion in the 1890s and also finished third on two occasions in the Open Championship.

By all accounts, he was known for giving the ball a good old thump and now, aided by equipment much more suited to that purpose, James is doing likewise and is beginning to make his presence felt against the likes of two-time World Long Drive champion Joe Miller.

In one of his first events earlier this year, Tait beat another double world champion, American Tim Burke, with a crushing effort that was close to 400 yards, while he also claimed another notable scalp when coming out on top against another experienced American, Ryan Steenberg.

On the back of performances like those, Tait, now based in London, has been picked as one of just 12 players for the 2018 Long Drive World Series (LDWS), which has increased from three events last year to 10, starting in Dubai in February then moving on to Mexico, South Africa, United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Russia, Portugal, China and Turkey.

“I’ve done okay,” said Tait, who won a prestigious R&A junior event when he was as a member of The St Andrews Golf Club and played against the likes of James White, who went on to win the Scottish Order of Merit, when he was cutting his golfing teeth in Fife.

“A bit of luck was involved as I was in the right place at the right time. After being out in Florida, where I’d been playing mini-tours without any success, I came down to London and my sister, who works for Today’s Golfer magazine, told

0 James Tait: World Series. me that American Golf were running a Long Drive competition and I should give it a go.

“I did and I think I hit it 390, something I didn’t know I was capable of. They had all clubhead and ball speeds coming up on the screen and I was interested to see where I was in relation to the boys who do it professionally. I realised that I wasn’t too far away, so I decided to explore it a bit more.”

Tait started working with Lee Cox, who also coaches Miller, and he’s excited to now have earned a place alongside the Englishman on those big stages next year.

“I think they were wanting someone who was fresh and upcoming but also had the potential do do well and I got a phone call about a month ago saying I was going to be one of 12 who will be taking part in the Long Drive World Series in 2018,” he said. “It is going to be huge and I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.”

Miller claimed his second world title in 2016 with a drive of 433 yards, while last year’s Mile High Showdown, at altitude in Colorado, saw American Maurice Allen record an incredible effort of 483 yards. “I’ve not broken 400 yards in tournament yet,” said Tait. “The longest so far is 386 at Windsor. But, in training using gadgets etc, I’ve recorded 420 and, in 2018, you are definitely going to see some big hits from me.”

So, what does it take for someone to be successful? “Well, for starters, most of the boys are 6ft 1in plus,” said Tait, who currently works as an assistant manager at retail store in central London but can no longer use one of the driving ranges in that part of the city after being banned for hitting balls over the net.

“It is easier to generate that extra clubhead speed when you are a bit taller.

“As for what I work on, it’s mainly power-lifting, lots of rotational stuff, plyometrics and speed work. A lot of it is to do with the core.

It’s certainly paying off and, though not exactly in the same way as his great uncle made his mark on the game, Tait could be on the verge of something big in a big-hitters’ game. “Freddie was quite the player,” he said. “He, too, was known for hitting a long ball,especially with equipment back then. I’ve heard a story that he hit it 320 yards on a frosty day. I think they stopped play to measure it.” South Africa take on Zimbabwe today in an historic four-day Test at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.

The one-off Test will also be played with a pink ball as a day-night encounter.

South Africa welcome back Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers for the inaugural four-day match with the latter making his first Test appearance in nearly two years. South Africa’s former captain De Villiers, 33, last played Test cricket against England back in January 2016, following a self-imposed exile from the longer format of the game.

But despite missing the warm-up match against Zimbabwe with a back issue, De Villiers is confident he will be at full fitness for his much-anticipated return.

“I pride myself on the fact that I can adapt to certain conditions and certain formats,” De Villiers said. “I’ve worked really hard at my game in the last six months. I started off at the end of July facing red balls at the University of Pretoria, getting some technical stuff sorted out and I feel more ready than ever to takeiton.ihavebeenworking for the last six months to get ready for this.”

Steyn, who has 417 Test wickets, will also be available for the first time since November 2016 following a serious shoulder problem.

The 34-year-old fast bowler, who underwent surgery on his shoulder, could be joined in the Proteas’ attack by Vernon Philander who returns from a back injury he sustained last summer in England.

Following the Test against Zimbabwe, South Africa will host India in a three-match series next month before four Tests against Australia in March and April. 0 AB De Villiers: Former captain returns to fray.