Of the 39 players who graduated from the Qualifying School last November, we introduce you to those players who finished 16th to 20th at San Roque.
16. Simon Hurd
Will return to The European Tour International Schedule in 2005 having come through the Qualifying School. Progressed from Stage Two to the Finals at San Roque where he took the 16th card thanks to a fine final round 70 in the demanding, windy conditions. Secured his maiden professional victory on the Challenge Tour with success in the 2002 Rolex Trophy in Geneva in August, a win which spurred him on to finish sixth in the Rankings and secure a place on The European Tour in 2003. However, he finished the year in 166th place on the Order of Merit and played the Challenge Tour in 2004. Coached by Mark Pinkett, he still seeks advice from fellow Yorkshireman and boyhood hero, Howard Clark, now a Sky TV analyst.
"The Finals is one of the only weeks of the year when I wished I had a 9-5 job! But it is also the reason we are all out here because it gives you the chance to get onto Tour and that is where everyone wants to be at the end of the day. I'm no different. I have been there before and I am delighted to get back to that level and above if possible. The Tour is the place to do that."
In common with Sam Torrance, will always be remembered for securing victory in The Ryder Cup - his moment coming in 1995 at Oak Hill. Playing Jay Haas in the penultimate singles, he held his nerve to two putt the final green for the crucial win. Grew up on the links at Malahide just north of Dublin. Spent three years at Oklahoma University. Collected three points out of four in 1981 and 1983 Walker Cups before turning professional. Back on The European Tour for the first time since losing his card in 1999.
"It's fantastic to have the card back because I was really thinking about packing it all in if I hadn't done it at the School. Just you wait and see now though, I'm going to give it a good rip next season - I'll be a new man and a different player. I can't wait to get going again."
Sixth Qualifying School attempt, albeit only his second time at the Finals, eventually brought the reward of a card for the Austrian who finished in 18th place at San Roque after having been second at El Bosque in Stage Two. A keen skier as a youngster, started golf quite late at 14 following a family holiday in Ireland. Girlfriend shares the name of the renowned German tennis star, Steffi Graf, but is famous in her own right as an accomplished athlete. Was second in the 800m in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. A lover of the cinema and classical music, Niki was an accomplished pianist in his own right until his late teens when the demands of golf overtook practice time at the keyboard. Stopped playing for two months in 2004 to try and overcome a food allergy
"To have facilities like here with these two great courses, it is absolutely perfect. Obviously I hope I never have to come back but I hope the Finals can stay here for a long time. It is fair, two great courses and a tough test. To play on The 2005 European Tour means I have at last achieved the goal I set myself ever since I started playing golf."
Took up golf at the age of 13 thanks to his passion for sport. Lived close to a golf course and started by walking around and hitting the occasional shot. Entered the 2002 Qualifying School as an amateur and won Stage Two at St Cyprien then took the fifth card in the Finals. Finished in the top 30 in consecutive weeks in early 2003, in Singapore and Malaysia, but could not maintain the momentum and finished 197th on the Order of Merit. After not coming through the Qualifying School, played 2004 on the Challenge Tour, finishing 37th on the Rankings, before taking the 19th card at the 2004 Qualifying School in San Roque, recovering well after an opening 78. Before turning professional, went to the University of Alabama and was inspired by Fred Couples for his swing and general approach to the game.
"Having lost my card last year, it's been my goal all year to get it back. I had my chances on the Challenge Tour and this was my last chance. San Roque is a good venue for the School and these courses certainly put the players to the test. Everything is run well - it's just like playing a Tour event."
A trained baritone, he often finds himself applying the breathing techniques he learned as a singer on the golf course as he finds it helps his rhythm and concentration. His father, Edmund, is famous for his singing exploits in Ireland, while Stephen's mother and two brothers are all keen golfers. Credits his strong family - along with the endless support of his wife Elaine - as the main influences in his life, while a trio of coaches, namely Simon Byrne, Denis Pugh and Harold Swash, influence his golf.
"The Qualifying School Finals are just a crazy week. It's like Groundhog Day and it's just a hard, hard week that you have to get through somehow. It means everything to me to have done that. This is something that I have been working towards for years now and I'm delighted to have done it."
