19yr old Charlie Lidyard from Chessington, Surrey talks about winning the Trilby Tour, turning pro and playing against the big name European Pros.

"The Trilby Tour actually makes you feel like you're a Pro Tour player"

Background
Name: Charlie Lidyard
Age: 19
Hometown: Leatherhead, Surrey
Handicap: 1 at the beginning of the Trilby Tour, now pro
Golf Heroes: Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty

You've gone from Amateur to Pro in the space of a week! Tell us how it all started.
I’ve been playing golf since I was 11yrs old. I used to watch my dad play at the driving range and he just bought me a club and it all started from there. This was my first time in the Trilby Tour. Me and my dad saw it on TV last year and it looked really good. We sat down and watched it and he entered me into it! Before that I used to play for County Juniors and the Surrey team for six years.

You’ve won membership at London club, a trip to Callaway for a set of personalized clubs and lessons with David Leadbetter, which one are you most excited about?
Without a doubt it’s got to be the lessons, I’m already thinking about how it’s going to improve my game.

How do you feel after winning?
I feel quite happy and proud of myself, I mean to have won it out of all the guys that entered feels like a great achievement. My cup’s currently sitting in front of the fireplace in the living room. I think my dad was a little bit surprised as he didn’t think I’d actually win it, yeah you could say he was pleasantly surprised haha.

What do your friends think?
The funny thing is none of them actually play golf so they don’t really know what’s going on!

On the Trilby Tour - have you got anything to say to William Hunt?
A very deep thank you for coming up with the idea - I think it’s brilliant. William himself is a great guy, I hope to see him next year, all the aspects of the Tour were really well run, you actually feel you’re a pro tour player. There’s a few nerves when you see the cameras and the people watching but it was a really good experience. I didn’t feel a lot of pressure as I’m used to playing in lots of tournaments. I noticed some of the other guys didn’t like the cameras but it didn’t bother me, I actually loved it and felt very comfortable.

"I noticed some of the other guys didn’t like the cameras but it didn’t bother me, I actually loved it"

What was it like playing against the likes of David Howell and Graham Storm?
It was good, I learnt a lot from them - what they do and their routines before the shots, how they play the shots and how they handle themselves mentally on the golf course. The Trilby Tour was my last amateur tournament, and then I played the pro as a pro. It was a good experience to play with the big boys.

Who’s your idol or inspiration?
It’s going to sound obvious but it has to be my dad- he doesn’t play golf himself but he’s made it to the top of what he does. I try to emulate that and get up early each day. I have my own routine I go down the gym and then I practise. In terms of golf it’s players like Tiger Woods, Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty. They (Fisher and Dougherty) are two young guys who play every round as if it’s their last.

Some guys just enter for fun, but did you enter to win?
It was a bit of both. A lot of it was good fun, but I saw it as a bit of both. I did take it fairly seriously but I just thought of it as another round of golf. I just go out there and do what I normally do. My coach Dan Frost has helped me a lot though. He helped me rebuild my swing over the winter so it’s partly due to that and putting the work in.

What are you doing when you’re not playing golf?
I play a lot of football, tennis, I like going out with mates, clubbing the usual stuff.

"I will be entering the Trilby Tour next year, but this time in the pro round!"

Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Hopefully on the European Tour that’s the plan.

Where do you go from here?
I’ve already played 6 Euro pro events, next year I hope to carry on doing the same. I will be entering the Trilby Tour next year, but this time in the pro round!

As seen in   December 2009

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