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Looking Forward

Garrick Porteous returned from Italy and Belgium for a week at home full of optimism after one cut made in Italy. He feels his game is getting closer to where he would like it to be and he is trying to find that consistency to compete on the DP World Tour. Garrick took advantage of the nice weather in the UK this last week to work really hard on his game alongside some physical training.

He also played a couple of events on the NENW PGA schedule. Garrick shot 73 at Hexham to finish 11th in the Pro-Series event. He then teamed up with Team Porteous (Zac Cooper, Stuart Bramley and his father John) to win the Prudhoe Pro-Am. Garrick shot 65 (-4) to win the individual event as well.

Garrick is now off to the Netherlands for the KLM Open at the Bernardus Golf starting on 25th May 2023. He then heads to Hamburg for the Porsche European Open at the Green Eagle Golf Courses on 1st June 2023. He is very upbeat and positive and looking forward to the next two weeks.

Promising Signs

After a missed cut on the European Challenge Tour in Dubai, Garrick Porteous made the decision to book his flight and head to Rome, Italy for the DS Automobiles Italian Open. At that moment, he was first reserve, but as he stepped off the plane he was in the field and looking forward to competing on the course that will host the Ryder Cup in September.

Garrick opened up with a 69 (-2) on what proved to be a very difficult golf course with a high premium for hitting the fairways and greens as the rough was very thick. He followed his first round with a 73 (+2) to make his first cut of the 2023 season.

The weekend proved a real examination of his game and with 74 and 73 Garrick eventually finished tied 57th. However, there were some real positive signs and playing four competitive rounds on the challenging layout will help him going forward. Garrick now travels to Belgium to play in the Soudal Open at the Rinkven Golf Club starting on 11th May.

Tour Golf Returns

After six weeks off Garrick Porteous returns to action this week on the European Challenge Tour. Garrick had hoped to be out in Japan last week and Korea this week on the DP World Tour but due to the number of national entries he missed out on qualification. However, he is excited to be teeing it up this week at the famous Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE for the next Challenge Tour event.

He then hopes to play either the Italian Open on the DP World Tour or continue in Abu Dhabi at the UAE Challenge starting on the 4th May. Either way, it’s great that he is getting back to competitive golf. His three-week journey will end in Belgium for the Soudal Open on 11th May at the Rinkven International Golf Club.

Garrick hasn’t been idle during the time away from tour golf. He has been practicing hard and playing in the NE NW Professional Golf series. He finished first at Brampton shooting 68 (-4) and second at Cleveland shooting 70 (-2) playing alongside the local club professionals.

Garrick is hoping this three-week stint will kick start his season. He will be able to get some good practice in warm weather alongside playing competitive rounds and look forward to more DP World Tour events in the forthcoming months.

 

Searching for Form

Kenya has proved a happy hunting ground for Garrick Porteous in the past, but this time his game wasn’t quite there. Garrick shot 71-75 to miss another cut and the search for some good form continues.

Garrick now has five weeks where he either doesn’t qualify for the DP world Tour events or there aren’t any. Therefore, its back home to work on his game and his fitness and hopefully find some form for events to come in April and May.

Garrick’s next events look like they will be in Japan on the 20th April and Korea on the 27th April. There is still a long way to go in 2023 and he remains very positive.

Tough Two Weeks

Garrick Porteous endured a tough two weeks on the DP World Tour in Thailand and India. He was delighted to get into the Thailand Classic in Bangkok and the Hero India Open in Dehli and so made the long trip from South Africa. Despite playing some sound golf to shoot 70-72 (-2) Garrick missed the cut by one shot in Bangkok, but did feel his game was progressing.

Garrick then travelled to Dehli for the Hero India Open which started on Thursday 23rd February. He described the course as very challenging and so it proved after he opened with a 77 (+5). However, that only told half the story as he was suffering from food poisoning and was forced to withdraw before round two started.

Garrick now has a week at home to rest and recuperate before he heads out to Nairobi, Kenya for the Magical Kenya Open which starts on 9th March. Garrick played well in 2022 at the Muthaiga Golf Club and he is hoping that experience will stand him in good stead this year.

Positives from South Africa

Garrick Porteous brushed off some of the ‘rust’ from a winter in the UK with a really positive showing in the Dimensions Data Pro-Am at the gorgeous Fancourt Golf Estate in South Africa. Rounds of 72-66-71-70 (-10) saw Garrick finish in 23rd position and he was delighted to make the cut and play four competitive rounds. He knows that it is early in the season, but the week at Fancourt was a positive one and enabled him to get some good practice and tournament golf under his belt.

Garrick had intended in staying on in South Africa this week for the SDC Open at the Zebula Golf Estate and Spa. However, some good news came his way early on Monday 13th February that he was into the Thailand Classic in Bangkok on the DP World Tour. His travel plans mean he will arrive into Bangkok on Tuesday and be ready to start on 16th February at the Amata Spring Country Club. The venue in Thailand has hosted a number of prestigious events and even features a floating green on the 17th hole. He will then travel to India for the Hero Indian Open in New Dehli on the DP World Tour which starts on the 23rd February 2023.

An unexpected bonus for Garrick to get into the latest two DP World Tour events. He is hoping he can build on his form from South Africa in Thailand and India.

 

South Africa Bound

Garrick Porteous opened his account on the DP World Tour last week in Ras Al-Khaimah but unfortunately missed the cut by two shots. Garrick played some really nice golf in round one and at one stage he was four under par after 14 holes before finally settling for a 71 (-1). His second round didn’t see him kick on but he did finish with three birdies on the spin for a 73 (+1). Whilst disappointed to miss the cut in his first event he did appreciate that there were some positive signs. However, there is also a lot of work to be done in the weeks ahead.

Garrick now turns his attention to the Challenge Tour in South Africa for the next two weeks. He had hoped to be going to Singapore and Thailand on the DP World Tour but due to the reduced size of field he misses out. However, there is an opportunity to work on his game and get some game time on the highly competitive Challenge Tour.

Firstly, Garrick will visit the Fancourt Golf estate for the Dimensions Data Pro-Am starting on the 9th February. He has played in this event before finishing 6th in 2016 and 13th last year. Then it will be on to the SDC Open and the Zebula Golf Estate and Spa starting on the 16th February.

Garrick will then be home for a short spell before hopefully heading back out to Kenya to play in the Magical Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club on the 9th March on the DP World tour. Once again Garrick enjoyed this event last year playing really well to finish 13th. He is hoping these positive finishes from last year can inspire a fast start to 2023 on courses he knows and likes.

Season Opener

Garrick Porteous starts his DP World season at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in the United Arab Emirates on 2nd February 2023. This will be Garrick’s fourth season in a row on the DP World Tour and he is relishing the challenge. It seems a long time since Q School in November 2022 when he secured his card for this year. However, with all the preparation over it is now time for some competitive golf in warmer climes away from the UK.

Garrick is really grateful to all his sponsors for making it possible for him play on the DP World Tour. Once again, they include Penny Petroleum, The Bazaar Group, Matfen Hall and Titleist. Garrick is also indebted to his two main coaches, John Harrison and Andy Paisley for getting his game in shape.

Garrick knows there is a long season ahead and many players have already had two Rolex events in the Middle East. He is ready for the challenge and looking forward to testing his game with the best on the Tour.

DP World Tour Card secured

Garrick Porteous saved his best golf right when it mattered to secure his DP World Tour card for the 2023 season. Garrick built some great momentum heading to Infinitum Golf in Spain for the six round marathon that is the final stage of Q School. All he could do was trust his game and draw on his experience of playing at the same venue in 2019.

Garrick opened with a level par 71 on the Lakes course in round one to lie in 56th position. He then played some superb golf in rounds two and three on the Hills course to shoot 66 (-6) and 70 (-2) to be lying in 17th position with one round left before the cut. Garrick then shot 67 (-4) on the Lakes course to make the cut and be tied for 21st. The cut fell at -4 and with two rounds to go over the Lakes course Garrick was inside the top 25.

Moving day in round five proved to be just that. The scoring was incredible. Garrick shot 69 (-2) and fell to 28th position just outside the mark to get a card. It was all going to be down to the final round and who could hold their nerve. Garrick made a marvellous start to the final round with three birdies in the first three holes. He then birdied the 8th hole and was well inside the top 25 at -18 overall. However, a bogey on the 12th hole followed by six pars to close his round meant an agonising wait to see whether he would retain his tied 23rd spot.

In the end he made it and he can now call himself a DP World Tour player for 2023. Q School is something he doesn't want to repeat in a hurry. He is now looking forward to some rest and then planning his 2023 schedule.

Q School Beckons

Garrick Porteous played in the final Race to Dubai counting event, The Portugal Masters at Vilamoura (27-30th October) and despite finishing 18th, shooting a very creditable 70-68-68-64 (-14) he failed to achieve his Tour card for 2023. He placed 175 in the rankings which meant he would have to regain his card though the Q School process. However, he did show some very positive signs in Portugal that his game was trending in the right direction.

Garrick entered Q School at stage 2 the following week (3/11/22) at Emporda Golf in Girona, Spain. A steady start of 72-69-69 (-3) saw him sitting in 25th place just outside automatic qualification with one round to play. He showed no signs of nerves and shot a bogey free 65 (-6) to move into 10th spot and progress to the final stage of Q School.

Garrick now moves onto Tarragona, Spain to play the Hills and Lakes courses at Infinitum Golf Club. The six round marathon commences on Friday 11th November and the top 25 golfers will take home a DP World Tour card for 2023. He has been here before and he is hoping experience and his good form will see him through.

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