SELECTING a team in amateur golf has always provoked much grumbling and grousing, writes Nick Roger. If he gets in then surely you must have him in too? And how the heck did he get in but he didn’t?
In these times of box ticking, those charged with choosing said team try to devise some E=Mc2 formula for doing so. Old Einstein may have knocked up a concept for mass-energy equivalence but if you’d asked him to pick a 10-man squad for the Home Internationals, he would’ve probably choked on his own brain.
Calum Fyfe didn’t quite fit into the Scotland equation this season but the emerging talent from Kirkintilloch is taking what some would call a “snub” on the chin and remains determined to prove his worth. The 20-year-old has done that already this season, of course.
A consistent campaign on the home front has been rewarded with the Scottish men’s order of merit title which completed a notable double whammy having topped the national under-18s rankings back in 2014.
In 10 counting events this season, Fyfe notched five top-five finishes. At last weekend’s Scottish Area Team Championships, he posted a remarkable 18-under tally for 36-holes of qualifying which officials are still trying to confirm as some sort of amateur record.
His omission from the Scotland team for last month’s Home Internationals, however, left many eager observers in the domestic scene scratching their heads. The fact Scotland finished last in the annual four-cornered contest only heightened the sense of bamboozlement.
“Not getting in that team was disappointing and tough to take,” admitted Fyfe, whose game has been fine-tuned by the keen eye of the respected coach, Alan McCloskey.
“I’d worked hard all year to get in the mix and I thought I was good enough to get in that team. It’s made me get my head down, work harder and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
With his mum seriously ill and his dad, John, taking a step back from work to look after her, there was plenty of personal anguish to deal with during 2017. On the course, Fyfe’s progress was hindered by funding issues.
“I got £500 for Scottish Golf to cover entry fees and things but that doesn’t go very far when a season can end up being £8000,” said Fyfe.
The upshot was that Fyfe couldn’t afford to travel to some of the major amateur events outwith Scotland and that in turn affected his ambitions.
In an amateur game now dominated by world ranking points, Fyfe’s lack of them appeared to go against him despite his good showings on the Scottish circuit.
“They are huge events to miss but I simply couldn’t afford it,” he said. “It’s been hard both on and off the course. Mum is beginning to turn the corner now but it’s been tough.
“My dad has made a lot of sacrifices for me. Without him I couldn’t play in anything really. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved this year. I’ve proved to myself what I’m capable of.”
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