TAVISTOCK golfer James Ruth is on course this week to fulfil his ambition to join the game?s professional ranks and taking another step towards sharing the greens and fairway of Europe with the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Ernie Els. On Saturday the former Tavistock College pupil is off to Spain to pit his well practised skills in a pre-qualifier for the prestigious European Tour. If he is successful in the four round competition at Emporda against more than 80 other hopefuls James will be among the 20 per cent of qualifiers who will go on to the final stage at San Roqugue in Northern Spain in early November ? and the final four rounds to decide who joins the European Tour. It would mean entry for the Tavistock Golf Club member to the lucrative tournaments and competing against golfing stars such as Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, David Howell and Sergio Garcia. James, 21, already has an impressive list of golfing honours to his name since concentrating full time to the game he loves. He has won boys championships at Devon, South West and national level ? including the English County finals, the Welsh Youth Stroke Play and the St Mellion Intenational Amateur ? as well as victory in the Daily Telegraph Boy's Championship Sun City. At amateur level he was selected for three years in the England Boys team and progressed for a further three years to the England men?s team and their elite squad. He holds the course record at Tavistock Golf Club with a 60 and the joint course record of 64 at Yelverton Golf Club. James told the Times: ?My game is going very well at the moment and to get onto the European Tour you have to be at the top of your game. It would be different turning pro. I have had three years at the top of the amateur level and I feel I have reached a point where my game cannot benefit from amateur golf.? Working hard and dedication to his game has been the key to his success. Although James is on the cup edge of the professional game the expense to get to this stage has been immense - hotel, transport and living costs alone are estimated at £35,000 a year for tournaments around the UK and this could double if he turned professional. His game as an amateur has taken him to Australia, South Africa, Japan and much of Europe. He has been fortunate to have had a £6,500 grant from Sport England and is grateful to his home golf club for raising £2,000 for a trust fund towards his development. Sporting manufacturers Titleist provide his clubs. The determined young man acknowledges the support he has had from his parents Graham and Beverley, who are both active members of Tavistock Golf Club, as well as the club?s professional Dominic Rehaag. Like many modern sportsmen James uses the services of a sports psychologist, a nutrionist and personal fitness trainer in order to compete at the highest level. ?Even Tiger gets nervous,? says James, ?but it is how you control your nerves in tense matches that counts. That?s why Tiger is so effective in a big way. Dealing with the pressure all comes down to mental strengh and at an emotional level being able to focus and stay in the moment.? Graham, who runs Golf Tee Time Services in Drake Road, Tavistock, is justifiably proud of his son?s efforts and looks forward to seeing how James gets on in Spain. He is pragmatic about James's chances and said that he and Beverley will support him all the way and there is no pressure from them for James to succeed in what is a tough and very competitive field. ?It?s a big ask. There are a lot of players out there who have been in the professional tournaments this year and have had to go back to Tour School. But it is all part of the process for James but some of the youngsters taking part will get their card.? Graham says his son is modest about his achievements, does not court publicity and ?lets his golf do the talking.? ?We are just delighted that James is doing something he enjoys and showing 100 per cent commitment ? and hence so are we towards him. He is working hard and because of that we will do everything we can for him to achieve his goal. I am sure he will fulfil his potential,? said Graham.
