Star is itching to prove his talents

Dec 13 2007 by Paul Gilder, The Journal

KENNETH Ferrie is confident that qualification for next year’s PGA Tour can revitalise his career after a player stuck in a rut in recent times admitted that he has rediscovered his enthusiasm.

The 29-year-old has become the first North-East golfer to ever receive a card for the US tour following an impressive performance at Florida’s Qualifying School and he is relishing the challenges awaiting him in America in 2008.

Following a difficult year on the European Tour, the Ashington favourite is looking forward to taking his career in a different direction as he prepares to compete on the sport’s biggest stage. That his game has been given fresh impetus is obvious.

“This is the first time in a long time that I’m excited about playing,” said the 2005 European Open champion. “Usually at this time of year, I’d be putting the clubs away. But this year, having just come back from Florida, I’m itching to get back to America, I’m itching to start playing again and I’m itching to get down to business on the PGA Tour.

“I’m hoping that it’s going to kick-start my career because I want to progress to the next level. I feel that I’ve done a lot in Europe, but there’s a hell of a lot more to do. I hope the card in America inspires me and gives me the kick I need to become better.”

Although he has been pleased with his game in 2007 – “The best I’ve hit the ball since I turned pro in 2000 has been this year,” he insisted – Ferrie has acknowledged that recent results have been disappointing.

“It has been a strange year, it just hasn’t happened,” he said. “I feel I’ve played well, but people keep asking what’s wrong. It’s the million dollar question. If I could answer it, I’d probably win a million dollars. I’ve tried hard not to let it get me down, but that’s difficult to do. It has been disappointing and I feel I’ve got into a rut in Europe. With the exemption (Ferrie’s triumph at the K-Club in 2005 guarantees him a place on the European Tour) you feel safe, you know that you’re okay and that you don’t have to perform well, but it’s different in America.

“I wanted to do it while I’m still young, before I put down proper roots and before I get stuck in a situation that means I can’t go.” Ferrie’s first challenge next year will be to secure a place on the PGA Tour for 2009, although he is keen to stress his ambitions do not end there. Having led the US Open in 2006, this is a player keen to showcase his talents to a global audience. “This is a huge opportunity for me to get myself out there in America, to let people see what I’m about,” he said.

“I want to show them that what happened at Winged Foot wasn’t a fluke, a flash in the pan. I want to prove that I’m not just some guy who came over once and just happened to do well. This is a great chance for me to prove myself against the best players in the world and I’m determined to take it.”

Ferrie’s performance at Q-School in Florida caught the eye and he is keen to ensure his efforts do not go to waste. “I put myself out there in going for the card,” he added. “I didn’t need to go, it’s something I chose to do. I put a lot of money, time and effort into it and I had a lot to lose. If I hadn’t qualified, people would have been able to say ‘He’s not as good as he thinks he is’, or ‘He’s had another bad tournament’ or whatever. Having put so much into it, it would have killed me if I hadn’t qualified. But I did and I can’t wait for next year.”