Peter Whiteford moved into contention for a first European Challenge Tour victory in six years after a six under par third round 65 at the Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank and the Scotsman credited his return to form to a “new swing”.
The 35 year old has been struggling with his game in the second half of the year having dedicated the 2015 campaign to rebuilding his game and his confidence on Europe’s top developmental tour, after falling off The European Tour for the first time since his graduation to the top tier in 2009.
Having won the Challenge Tour’s Grand Final six years ago to finish fifth in the Rankings, there is no better place for the Kirkcaldy player to regain his belief and, having made big changes to his swing this week, his hard work appears to be bearing fruit in Northern Ireland.
“My game’s getting better every day this week,” said the three-time Challenge Tour winner. “It’s been awful for a while, even in the pro-am, but it’s improving now all the time.
“The things I’m working on are starting to come round and it’s enjoyable golf again. It’s all swing stuff I’m changing, mechanics. I’ve been really struggling to enjoy the game just purely because how bad I have been playing.
“I’ve been standing too far away from the ball and basically had no idea where the club face was so, like I said, I’d be hitting it and thinking it was a good shot and suddenly it was 80 yards left, embarrassing stuff that professionals shouldn’t be doing. I can be a bit more confident hitting my shots now.
“I’m hitting shots now and I know where to look, rather than not knowing when I look up whether it will go left or right. I’m starting to get the feeling back so it feels nice, and I’ve been rolling my putts well too.
“But the greens are pure if you get the ball in the right position you’ll make some nice putts so everything’s good.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been properly in contention, once earlier in the season but I wasn’t playing very well technically. I won’t get ahead of myself, it’s my first week back trying this new swing and it’s coming around, not fully there yet.”
Everything certainly seems to be going to plan for Whiteford right now and he is loving the atmosphere at Galgorm Castle, which consistently attracts some of the biggest crowds on the Challenge Tour.
“It feels like you’re at a proper event and to be honest,” he said. “In Ireland they’re always really good at that. They’ve got a tented village here and people out on the course who are keen and very knowledgeable. It’s a pleasure to play to be honest, there’s a real buzz about the place.
“When I’ve been struggling for as long as I have it’s nice to kind of feel like you’re in a big tournament and just enjoy it. Playing better helps me enjoy it anyway but it’s the first time I’m looking forward to playing golf instead of dreading it and wondering how many balls I should put in the bag.”
