PGA professional Sean Whiffin is celebrating a successful trip to the Legends Tour Qualifying School after landing full playing rights to the over-50s circuit.
Only five cards were on offer at the Gloria Golf Resort in Turkey and Whiffin – attached to the Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club – had to pre-qualify to make the final stages.
But the 52-year-old, who lives in Enfield, showed tremendous skill and character to finish outright runner-up to Q School winner Keith Horne.
Whiffin opened up with a level-par round of 72 before moving right into contention with successive scores of 69 and 70 to set himself up for a final push.
He saved his best to last, surging out of a busy pack when the pressure was at its most intense to post a 68 and an overall total of nine-under-par.
He packed five birdies into his fourth round, but the highlight was an eagle two at the par-4 16th hole.
Whiffin said: “I drove it on the green – probably one of the best drives I’ve ever hit. I knocked it on to about 12 feet and holed it. About then, I thought, ‘Right, I’ve got this’.”
For Whiffin, the opportunity to play a full schedule on the Legends Tour is huge, not least as it comes after a long-term back problem, as well as past disappointments at Q School finals on the main European Tour and once also in America.
He said: “It means a hell of a lot. I played the Open (at Troon) in 2004, which probably still feels like the best thing I’ve ever done – I made the cut there. This is up there with that, I think.”
Whiffin can now start planning for life on tour, competing against major winners and ex-Ryder Cup stars.
He said: “I’m still quite young – and I can still hit it far enough. If I can get my game sharp, I think I could be fairly competitive. It’s hard to say before you get out there. There’s loads of good players playing that tour, so I don’t know.”
The north Londoner will be joining other PGA in England (East) players who compete on the Legends Tour. Essex professionals Mark Davis (South Essex Golf Club) and Rob Coles (Golf Kingdom) are likely to be among the competition as is an old pal Simon Khan (Marriott Hanbury Manor Golf Club).
Whiffin said: “I’ve been friends with him for 30 years or something – maybe more. I’m looking forward to going out to some tournaments with him.”
