Dinwiddie boosted by Wentworth showing

May 29 2008 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

IF the magic touch can be passed on by even a flimsy association with Sir Alex Ferguson, then Robert Dinwiddie is also about to conquer Europe.

The 25-year-old from Barnard Castle goes into the Wales Open at Celtic Manor today as the holder of the Wentworth course record following his 63 on the Friday of last week’s PGA Championship.

It was the first tournament for the former Durham County Boys champion since he linked up with his new coach Gary Nicol – who is a godson of Manchester United manager Ferguson.

As Dinwiddie sheltered from the rainstorms which forced the cancellation of yesterday’s Pro-Am at the venue which pipped Slaley Hall to stage the 2010 Ryder Cup, he was feeling optimistic .

“I know the rest of my scores at Wentworth were nothing to write home about,” he said. “But it was only the Thursday and the Saturday when it didn’t go well. On the Sunday, the swing felt good but I just had a couple of bad holes.”

On Tour Dinwiddie had been guided by Justin Rose’s high-profile coach, Nick Bradley, but he said: “With Nick being in America and me over here in Europe, it turned out to be impossible for us to get together.

“Gary is around on the European Tour and we had a session before Wentworth to see how we worked together and it was a case of him pointing out something I thought I had been doing correctly but in fact I was not. In effect he jogged my memory and got me loading up better on my right side. I need the consistency now, but it was a step in the right direction and we are going to work together for the foreseeable future.”

Yorkshireman Danny Willett launches his professional career at Celtic Manor, having signed off his amateur career as the world number one and as the reigning English, Spanish and Australian champion. His career will be followed with vague amusement by the northern county golf circuit, following his epic one-liner during last season’s Durham v Yorkshire match at Chester-le-Street.

Before teeing off in the top singles he inquired of his opponent, the Seaham club’s then county champion David Patterson: “Do you know I play off a handicap of plus five?”

Graeme Storm switches to the US PGA Tour for the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.