McGrane eager to get back on track after tough year

Damien McGrane's disappointing season came to an end early last week when he failed to make the cut at the Hong Kong Open, but despite that disappointment the Kells man retained his tour card for 2012. The 2010 Meath Chronicle/Cusack Hotel Group Sportsperson-of-the-year endured a difficult 2011 and finished 115th in the European Order of Merit and missed out on the season-ending Race to Dubai World Championships for the first time. He did manage to stay inside the top 125 to retain his status on the European Tour for next year where he will hope to add to his sole tour victory - the Volvo China Open in 2008. Poor opening rounds in each of his last three tournaments left McGrane of the brink of dropping out of the automatic card spots. He narrowly failed to make the cut at the Singapore Open and the Iskandar Johor Open before his disappointing showing at Hong Kong. That inconsistency has been McGrane's undoing all year. In many of the tournaments the Meath man has produced outstanding rounds to be in contention, but disappointing round subsequently dropped him down the field on many occasions. However, despite several disappointments it wasn't a total waste of a year as McGrane accumulated almost €259,000 in prizemoney and made the cut in 20 of his 33 events. McGrane's biggest payday this year came in August when he finished ninth at the Czech Open to claim €30,400 in prizemoney. He also finished ninth at the Iberdrola Open where he won €20,200, but the second highest pay day was when he claimed 13th spot for €29,000 at the Ballantines Championship. A perfect example of McGrane's inconsistency came at the Irish Open in Killarney when he shot three sub-70 rounds, but one round of 77 dropped him down to 21st place. However, despite the disappointment of only two top 10 finishes McGrane can take comfort in the consolation of retaining his card and he is glad the year is over and he is eagerly looking forward to putting his disappointments behind him. "I have just completed a very frustrating year in 2011. From the start in Abu Dhabi to the end in Hong Kong last week, I just struggled on the course, with the number on my scorecard and I also struggled a bit with aspects of my game," the Kells man told the Meath Chronicle. "I was behind the eight ball all year. To string a couple of weeks of good performances together over a year is not asking too much, but for some reason this year I just really struggled to do that. "My preparation for competition was very good, I didn't change equipment or anything about my game. I didn't do anything radical or drastic that could have led to problems, I did everything the same as I did in other years, but it just didn't work out for me. "My fitness levels were the same, injuries weren't a problem. I was committed and focused from start to finish, but it just didn't happen for me all year. "I work hard and I am dedicated to my sport and generally you get rewarded for that, but I had 12 months of almost doing it. It was a year of nearly, but not doing it. "For me to have a good score I'd have to play great and when I play great I'd be shooting 64, but this year when I played great I was only carding 68s. My good rounds were only getting me 70s, so I wasn't playing well enough all year. "The whole year was a disappointment, I couldn't get any forward momentum and I couldn't get out of the blocks from start to finish. "Playing so poorly effects confidence and I was going out into tournaments not expecting to do well and that is what happens. I was giving 100 per cent on everything, but I wasn't expecting the ball to go into the hole. "Golf is a mental game and you almost have to will the ball into the hole. If you are totally focused things can happen, but if you start doubting, then the ball will never drop into the hole. "I had a tough 12 months, but I'll be back on the road in January and it will be a brand new start for me and I hope to pick it up again. I want to get off to a good start where I feel like I'm competing and not just treading water," he said. The last 12 months followed what had been a superb 2010 for the Headfort professional. Even though McGrane didn't manage to add to his sole tour victory he produced a number of superb performances and recorded his highest returning year for his 10 year career on the tour. Those outstanding displays in 2010 earned McGrane the Meath Chronicle/Cusack Hotel Group Sportsperson-of-the-Year award for 2010 and the Kells man was honoured and surprised at winning the prestigious award. "Winning the Meath Sportsperson-of-the-Year for 2010 was a total shock because I didn't feel that I had done enough to deserve such an award," he modestly revealed. "I know it was my best year on the tour, but I always feel that to win awards you should be winning big events. It was my best year ever and that topped it off, but it was a great surprise to myself and to my family. "I was in the Far East at the time, but when I got the text the next morning to say I had won I was totally shocked, it was the highlight of the year. "Winning these type of awards is very difficult and sometimes you can go close, but might never win. However, I'm delighted to have got my hands on it, I was really thrilled and I was delighted my family were there to pick it up for me. "They were absolutely gobsmacked. They thought they were just going along for the night out, but got a real surprise when my name was called out," he said. The life of a professional golfer isn't as glamorous as it might seem to those on the outside. The logistics of getting from one event to the next can be a nightmare and the amount of time spent away from family and friends can be difficult to cope with. McGrane acknowledges the difficulties involved as a full-time professional, but is glad of the support he receives from his fellow professionals and his family. "Life on the tour can be difficult. If I am playing in Europe and I manage to make the cut I always get back home on the Sunday night and then have the Monday at home with my family," revealed McGrane. "Tuesday morning is all about packing up the gear again and getting back up to the airport to head off to the next venue. "I also play nine holes of golf on Tuesday and then I will play in the Pro-Am on Wednesday and then I'm ready for tournament golf again on the Thursday morning. "When I'm in the Far East, Monday is laundry day when I try to get the clothes straightened up as best I can, Tuesday would then be a practice round, Wednesday is the Pro-Am and then you play Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the cycle starts again with laundry on the Monday. "If I take a week or two off the tour, I would have to play nine-holes on the Monday before I go back, then play 18 on the Tuesday and 18 again on the Wednesday before I'd head back into competition on the Thursday. "All the Irish tour professionals tend to hang out together. We help each other entertain ourselves and kill time. We do socialise together and that helps create an atmosphere amongst us all because we are all away from home for three or four weeks at a time and no one really likes that. "When we get back to Europe we are all very busy because we are forever travelling back home to spend the day and a half we have off with our families." Playing the Irish Open is one of McGrane's favourite events and it is his belief that all the other professionals love coming to Ireland to play as well because of the knowledge and enthusiasm of the Irish golfing public. McGrane will play the Irish Open when it returns to Carton House next June and he hopes to do well. The main aim is put 2011 firmly behind him and get back on the Road to Dubai for 2012. "We have some great courses in Ireland and I love playing here. We have had fantastic Irish Opens in Baltray, Portmarnock, Killarney and Ballybunion, but it is the great Irish crowds that makes those Irish Opens so special," said McGrane. "The professionals love playing in Ireland because the crowds are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable and they always have a great time in Ireland. "I have played in European Tour events where myself and my caddy were the only people on the course, so to play in front of great crowds in Ireland really lifts the players and makes them want to play. "For a long time now Irish crowds and Irish golf has been riding the crest of a wave and long may it last. "I know the Irish Open is going to Carton House and that is an excellent championship course, but I really liked it in Killarney. "Killarney looked after us great and all my family came down where we had a house for the week and we had a lovely time. "I'll fondly miss Killarney in 2012, but we are going back to a great championship course at Carton House. It is closer to home and I'll be able to stay at home for it. "I have always made it to the Race to Dubai, but 2011 was poor. So it is my aim to get back there again for 2012, I shouldn't have to push myself too hard to make it there, but I still have to go out and win the money to make it. "I'm also hoping for another win on the tour. Once you win one tournament it opens doors for you and your whole outlook changes and confidence rises, let's hope that will be the case for me next year," concluded McGrane as he settled into a couple of well deserved weeks off to spend with his family.