Cheams McGowan preparing for Major year

November 26, 2009

Cheam Golf star Ross McGowan is eyeing a fast start to next season as he bids to get a US Masters appearance under his belt in just his fourth year as a professional.

The 27-year-old Banstead Downs Golf Club member finished second at the Dubai World Championships on Sunday - the money-spinning finale to the European Tours Race to Dubai championship.

McGowan pocketed ?499,000 to finish the season ranked 12th in the European rankings, earning him a ?147,000 Tour bonus and safe passage to the US Open, US PGA and British Open championships in 2010.

My goal at the start of the year was to finish in the top 15 in Europe and in the worlds top 50. By the time I got to the last round in Dubai I was most of the way there, he said.

I knew I had to finish on my own in second place to achieve one half of that, so it was a case of going out there and making my goals happen.

To make the US Masters I need to break into the worlds top 50. Im not far off that now and if I can get a quick start to next year with a few wins under my belt it could happen.

I couldnt have started qualification for the Ryder Cup any better. It is going to be pretty exciting year.

The former English Amateur Open champion secured his maiden European Tour victory last month with a three-shot triumph at the Madrid Masters.

Sundays runners-up spot behind Dubai world champion and Race to Dubai winner Lee Westwood, took his earnings for this season to ?1.5m - with nearly ?1.2m of that coming in the last three months alone.

McGowan, who lives in Epsom, made just five cuts from ten events in a three month period over the summer, but a tied-47th place finish at the Johnnie Walker Championships at Gleneagles - alongside new caddy Matt Harbour - signalled the turnaround.

And he hopes the fairytale run continues into next year.

Someone said it has been a meteoric rise to be where I am now having turned pro without a three years ago, he added.

It was a very tough summer where I questioned myself and who I was working with, a lot.

Ive always had the ability, but having the self-belief has been the problem and since the win I have felt more composed.

Changing my caddy has proved to be a great move and hopefully it is a relationship that can continue to be successful for sometime to come.

McGowans success moved him up to 70th in the world rankings and means Cheam now has two golfers stars in the top 70, with World Matchplay Champion Ross Fisher ranked 20th.

It is funny because Ross lives about a drive and a wedge shot away from my parents house in Cheam and I think his wife grew up in Northey Avenue, he said.

There are good courses around here to practise, it is a good place to relax and is also really good to get to the airport, which makes life easier.