golf
Bradley Dredge is determined to Dredge was always tipped for the top after top 50 and twice enjoyed the taste of
do ‘whatever it takes’ to make it a sparkling amateur career, one of the victory on the European Tour.
into the Welsh Ryder Cup next achievements being the only time Wales
year – even though it seems a have won the European Amateur Team But in terms of his amateur career he
slump in form could hardly be Championships when the Blackwood star ranks Euro success alongside playing in
worse timed. led the team to victory in 1993. the Walker Cup – where he partnered
someone called Padraig Harrington.
Two years ago he was knocking around Wales are hoping to repeat the feat this
the top 50 in the world and apparently summer when the event is held in Wales “It was one of the highlights for me,
perfectly positioned to kick on and become for the fi rst time in 20 years, at Conwy at the fi rst time we had won the European
the one likely Welsh player in the European the end of June and beginning of July. Team Championships. I remember the
team to take on the Americans at Celtic celebrations, we had a good time that
Manor. “On a broader outlook, looking back to evening – understandably,” he said.
when I was playing the amateur golf, if
However the failure to fi nish off a couple of someone had said I would be doing this “It was pretty special to do something like
tournaments by some narrow margins has then I would be quite happy – although you that. We knew we had the players but to
seen him fall back the other way, but not always want to do better,” said Dredge. do it is still something else.
give up hope.
“I could not have achieved what I have “At that time we had six guys who all went
“The Ryder Cup is one hell of a motivation. without being part of that amateur system. on and did pretty well in their careers.
I will do everything I can to get in the team. The amateur care er is very important, Hopefully another team will come along
At the end of the day, the good thing about it gives you a base and I learned an awful with that blend of players, personalities,
golf is that is about the individual, if I play lot from the coaches and playing in the good captain and will come through and
well I will get enough points and will be in competitions. succeed.”
the team,” said Dredge.
“When you do turn professional the Welsh In fact Harrington did his best to de-rail
“I will be pushing. It is important to get into Sports Council have been very good in Wales’s title bid in 1993, winning both his
the top 50 in the world rankings because terms of support, whether the guys need games for Ireland in the quarter-fi nals, but
it makes it easier because you have access coaching or psychological help they have Dredge was equally impressive as he won
to the bigger events which make it easier been very good in providing that access. all his singles in the matchplay stages, while
to qualify. he and Johnson won all bar one of their
“They realised years ago there is a foursomes matches.
“What I am trying to do now is improve big difference between amateur and
my world ranking to get into the top 50. professional golf. I do not think you realise “We had a really good team that year and
All you can do is work hard and hope the as an amateur, until you turn pro, that you John Jermine was an excellent captain
results will come. are on your own and it is very ruthless – all with a lot of respect from the players,”
that matters is the score. explained Dredge.
“Normally I change something at the
start of each season, but I did not change “In amateur golf you can start believing it is “The night before the fi nal day he had
anything over the winter - I felt everything all about hitting it longer or looking good, actually written out all of his winner’s
was coming into place and I was quite but at the end of the day all that matters is speech, because he was using that as a
happy with what I was doing. the score and in pro golf you see that more psychology thing to show he felt we could
than anything. win and the way we played showed the
“I made some equipment changes which captain is still important.
I thought were for the better, it feels as “The most important thing is mental ability,
though I am doing the right things but the mental toughness. I am trying to play Ryder “Whenever you have a good team you
scoring is not happening. Cup and win big events like Phil Price, the expect to win, but expectations can
short cut is talking to someone who has sometimes be dangerous, so the captain
“You have to look back to appreciate what already done it.” can motivate people in the right way and
you have got because you will always have make sure they are thinking of the job in
highs and lows, when you do have lows you World Cup winner Dredge still counts hand.
Bradley Dredge
have to have the strength of mind and just leading Wales to that European Team
go through it. Championships as one of the highlights of “Sometimes if you have a good team then
his career. you rely on your teammates, whereas all
SW
“I am always striving to get better and you can do is go out and get your point.
20
thinking of ways to do it.” He went on to win the World Cup with You have to be selfi sh that way and not
Stephen Dodd in 2005, reached the world’s think of the other guys.
sportingwales
issue7twothousand&nine
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