Mark Pearson – Director of Instruction

Today was one of those special days as a coach and a Professional Golfer! An opportunity to visit the Open Championship venue two weeks prior to the championship for a practice round with Sam Walker one of my PGA European Tour players.

The purpose was to formulate a game plan for the course and its useful to do it in advance away from the hullabaloo that surrounds any major championship.

The golf course was in fantastic condition albeit the greens a little slow with two weeks still to go (the feel side of practice around the greens will be done on Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the tournament when its realistically similar). A few holes have been extended since i last visited Lytham and with the wet Spring / Summer we have had it was playing pretty long and the rough was brutal, none of the normal whisky links rough anywhere!!

Sam played beautifully today but it counts for nothing when the gun goes in two weeks. The first 6 holes are a real test, today with no wind Sam had three 3 iron and two two iron approach shots with the shorter 4th hole giving some respite in the opening burst. Then you add to that a tough finish it really is a great test of golf. Its definitely a drivers golf course and I can’t wait to see the tournament unfold.

Take a look at my video blog below and I’ll be back with another instalment after the practice round on Tuesday the 17th!

Click here for Coach’s Blog Video

Phillip Archer won the event, holing a 4’ putt at the last for a one shot victory on 8 under par while Chris Hanson finished a further 2 shots back in a tie for fourth place. This puts Archer to the top of the Challenge Tour rankings and moves Hanson up to 8th place in his rookie season.

Archer 39 has recently turned back to the Leeds based coach to inspire him for the 2012 season after a two year break which saw little success compared to the previous 11 years which saw Archer rise from a talented regional player to inside the world’s top 100 amassing over 2 million Euros in prize money. Pearson said ‘I’m delighted to be back working with Phil he’s a class act and its obvious he’s starting to get back to his very best form again.’

Meanwhile Hanson has started his maiden Challenge Tour season in the same vein  that saw him dominate the Europro Tour in 2011. Hanson turned to Pearson for guidance around 20 months ago and the improvement has been meteoric. In all tournaments he’s won over 15 times including 3 Europro Tour Events and is now looking to fulfill his ambition of a place on the full PGA European Tour. Hanson said since working with Mark I have felt to take my game to the next level. Mark has given me the confidence and belief in my game I needed! What I have learnt in this short space of time has been incredible and I look forward to building a long lasting relationship.’

Both golfers along with full PGA European Tour player Sam Walker regularly visit Mark at the Nike Golf Academy at DeVere Oulton Hall in Leeds along with around a further 20 Professionals who play on various tournament circuits. Pearson has been Director of Instruction there for 4 years after previously being Academy Manager and Head Teaching Professional at the DeVere Belfry.

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