 Gary Wolstenholme MBE has been singled out for praise as delivering the ‘performance of the week in Europe’ for his third-place finish in the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters at Woburn. Global golf news website golf360 UK anchorman Alistair Tait rated Wolstenholme’s performance as far and away the best from among the three events played in Europe this past weekend.
Competing for this singular plaudit against Miguel Angel Jimenez winning the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, Romain Wattel becoming the second amateur in the space of three weeks to win on the European Challenge Tour, and Des Smyth taking the honours at Woburn, this is no mean achievement.
Wolstenholme was playing in his first professional tournament as a Senior, after turning professional only two years ago having played more amateur golf for England than any other player (representing England 218 times).
Arguably one of the most engaging aspects of Gary’s technique is that his prowess apparently depends much less on being long off the tee than is considered conventional. But as Alistair Tait pointed out from his performance at Woburn, what he lacks in length, he more than makes up for in accuracy.
He also, of course, belongs to that most elite of clubs – golfers who have beaten Tiger Woods in head to head matchplay (Walker Cup 1995). But another ‘club’ to which he belongs that helps explain his proficiency is the Yes! Golf Putting studio in Southport.
“He is probably the most intelligent golfer I know,” says Yes! Golf UK MD Peter Allison. “He can look at the weather or a five-day forecast and already know how he should manage any course he has ever played, and he’s played hundreds on every continent. He is an extraordinary golfer.”
He takes his putting very seriously indeed, and currently uses the Yes! Ashley Putter
“I think that the groove technology is the only way forward for my improved putting,” confesses Gary. “I honestly believe that the Yes! putters are as good if not considerably better than than any other brand out on the market today, and they have a range of putters to suit everyone, which is useful for me as I like to switch putter styles on a regular basis to keep me - and my putters - on our toes!
“The key knowledge of the guys at Yes! golf on the game-within-a-game is vital, and I'm benefitting from the understanding which the company has in overall technical expertise - both on putter set up and on the stroke itself - all of which I believe will be important to my own improvement in the future.”
His third-place finish in Woburn exceeded his hopes coming into the tournament. “I’m delighted to have done so well this week,” Wolstenholme said. “My goal at the start was to finish top 10 so I could get into Casa Serena in two weeks, and I’ve done that.”
The Casa Serena Open carries a prize fund of €600,000, one of the biggest on the European Seniors Tour. |
