2008 Amateur Champion John Lynch and 30yr old sales rep from Waterford talks about how winning the Trilby Tour changed his life and how he almost didn't enter.

Photo Credit: McVirne Etienne

"It turned out to be the best day of my life and golfing career and it still feels like a dream"

Background
Name: John Lynch
Age: 30
History: Has been playing golf since ten yrs old
Handicap: 5
Golf Hero: Padraig Harrington - 'a true inspiration.'
Hometown: Waterford, Ireland.
Next Challenge: To get down to scratch

What made you enter the Trilby Tour?
It was my best friend's idea to enter but then he forgot to enter himself so he ended up caddying for me instead

Tell us about the Big Day
It was unreal. I have played all over Ireland and have never seen anything like it before.
From driving up into the Bucks, from how everything was organized, the look of the golf course and the setup - it was absolutely amazing; I can honestly say I have never experienced anything like it before. I went over and had no expectations but it turned out to be the best day of my life and golfing career and it still feels like a dream.

"It was unreal. I have played all over Ireland and have never seen anything like it before."

Tell us about the clothing
It was kind of cool and something completely different from what you're normally used to,
It was very, very comfortable. When I opened the locker and saw the other guys wearing it, I thought oh no it might be uncomfortable but the fabrics and the way it was made, it was actually really comfortable.

How did it feel to win?
Really surreal. You're just trying to get the golfball round the course and then you find you're in the playoff and you're just trying to literally hit the thing in front of you. You're trying to block out everything else, and suddenly you're one of four people with a chance of winning.

Photo Credit: McVirne Etienne

What was it like to see yourself on SKY SPORTS:
Brilliant but surreal. All my friends have been texting me after they saw the show and the CEO of the company I work for text me congratulations as well. When people see you on television they start looking at you a bit differently.

“We’re amateurs - we’re supposed to enjoy ourselves playing golf. It’s not work”

Did you come to the game hoping to win?
I absolutely had no expectations. The only time I had a think about it was after I started the course at the playoff. After the second ball of the playoff when I had my second birdie I had a little thought because it was a long walk between the 17th and the 18th I thought about it but then I tried to block it out of my head but it's very hard to stop yourself thinking about it.

How has the Trilby Tour changed your life?
Winning such a big event like this has been a huge positive for me. I am a lot more confident within myself. I feel I can go on to achieve anything else whether that be in golf or in work or whatever else. It's definitely made me more confident to go off and do something else.

Tell us about the lessons you won with David Leadbetter.
I can't wait. I'm due to go over to the States in mid April to meet him. I can't wait to get over.

Have you got anything specific that you're hoping he'll help you with?
Just to get to meet him is enough for me. I'm also getting a set of clubs designed by Roger Cleveland and Callaway in San Diego. To me those guys are just the best in the world. All I'm going to do is turn up and try and take it all in. The combination of getting clubs that are custom made and the lessons with Leadbetter is an incredible thing - it just has to improve your game.

“I’m not playing it for the money. I’m not playing it for a job. I just go out and enjoy it”

As defending Amateur Champion what advice have you got for this year's players?
Have someone on the bag that is a friend that you can enjoy the day with. We're amateurs - we're supposed to enjoy ourselves playing golf. It's not work. I'm not playing it for the money. I'm not playing it for a job. Just go and enjoy it at the end of the day.

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