Booth targets the top
Comrie golfer Wallace aims for European Tour
The glamorous side of golf, seen on televisions across the globe, is a far cry from the battles taking place on the fairways further down the ladder.
Reaching the top — in most cases the European Tour or PGA Tour in America — is the ultimate goal for the majority and a dream which keeps the fire burning inside.
That’s certainly the case for Comrie’s Wallace Booth, a man whose talent out on the golf course is unquestionable. Yet he is still fighting weekly to join the world’s elite.
Rewind to the 31- year- old’s amateur career and it’s clear to see what the fuss was all about.
An Eisenhower Trophy win in 2008 was backed up by a Walker Cup appearance the following year.
Now, eight years on, Booth admits he is more ready than ever to mount a challenge for the summit of the sport. Mentally, he now feels content with his game.
“It can be very difficult when you are playing at the level I am currently playing at,” Wallace explained.
“It is very difficult to cover your costs, so it is very important to stay mentally strong and not get down when things don’t go the way you would like because golf is a funny game and it can change very quickly.
“I have been guilty of allowing myself to get down about my golf and the situation I am in but I am another year wiser and I feel that my game is really ready to compete again.
“My game feels very good but only competition can give you a proper indication. I don’t think I have ever been more determined. I have narrowed my focus and I’m looking forward to the challenge of this year.
“I love getting the nervous butterflies on the first tee or when you are in with a chance of winning. It is such a rush.”
Wallace is gearing up to tackle a busy schedule this season and, while the nomadic lifestyle can be a challenge, he is prepared to cram in as much competition as possible.
He added: “I have decided to play from the get-go, so I am off to Portugal on January 12 until January 28 for the Algarve Pro Tour. I will play four two-day events there.
“Then I am home for a couple of weeks before I head to Spain on February 12 for the Ecco Winter Series and also the Swedish Winter Series.
“Each Winter Series consists of two three-day events, so I will play four events in total again. I will return home on March 5.
“I’m just waiting for the Europro schedule to be published — and also the Mena Tour Q School — so I can then plan my March and April. Normally the Europro kicks off around the end of April.
“The minimum requirement this year for me is the Challenge Tour but obviously the goal is to get European Tour.
“The PGA Tour is the ultimate goal. That’s where I would like to live and play my golf.”
The renewed confidence in Booth’s game became apparent following a visit to England at the end of summer last year. Performances were improving but he would narrowly miss out on a final place at European Tour Qualifying School.
“The first half of the year, I felt like I was trying to find myself again,” Booth said. “From June, my game was better than it had been for the past year or so.
“But really it was September, when I went to see Andrew Nicholson, based at Wynyard Golf Club near Newcastle, that my game turned for the better.
“I feel over the last few months I’ve had the most control I‘ve ever had over the golf ball and that the results didn’t quite meet how well I felt I was playing.
“I needed a birdie at the last to make it through to final stage of Q School but unfortunately it didn’t happen. However, I have taken a lot of confidence from this and am excited for 2017.
“I love golf. I am a perfectionist and there is no such thing as perfect in golf. So it keeps me coming back for more and striving to get better.”