Golf: Shacklady out to make it third time lucky

May 22 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVID SHACKLADY gets his third tilt at the PGA Championship when he tees up today alongside the big boys of the European Tour at Wentworth.

The 41-year-old, a winner of more than 200 North Region events over the past 20 years earned his place in the European Tour’s flagship event, sponsored by BMW, when he topped the North Region order of merit last year.

“It’s nice to come back for a third go,” said Shacklady, who teaches at and plays out of Mossock Hall near Ormskirk.

“They’ve changed the course so it’s a little bit longer than when I was last here in 2004. It’s a bit daunting off these new back tees and I’ll be struggling to keep up with some of these regular Tour lads. But it’s nice and firm, so if I can keep it in the middle and get a bit of run I should be all right.

If I get in the rough I’ll be struggling to reach some of these par fours, but if the driver behaves itself who knows? I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

As well as winning the order of merit last year Shacklady also made it into the Open Championship at Carnoustie, shooting a course record 62 in final qualifying at Montrose with seven birdies and an eagle.

He could do with some of that form over the next couple of days if he is to make the cut at Wentworth for the first time.

“I should have made the cut when I played here the first time in 1997,” said Shacklady. “I shot one under the first day, but then the nerves got the better of me on the Friday, In 2004 when I was last here I just played poorly.

“Hopefully this will be third time lucky.”

Shacklady is off with European Tour regulars Ariel Canate from Argentina and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros Garcia at 10.50am today, then they play at 3.10pm tomorrow.

Nick Dougherty will probably be followed by the biggest gallery over the next two days as he is drawn with world number two Ernie Els, perhaps the favourite player of the spectators, who have watch him win the Word Matchplay Championship at Wentworth seven times.

Dougherty, who could give himself a memorable birthday present – he turns 26 on Saturday – if he were to win the PGA, has made a steady start to his tour year with the ultimate goal to get into the Ryder Cup team in September.

In nine events so far he has missed just one cut and currently stands 49th in the order of merit with winnings of 227,664 euros.

Els, Dougherty and Argentinian Andres Romero tee off at 8.20am today and 12.45pm tomorrow.

Warrington’s Phil Archer, currently 66th in the order of merit with earnings of 185,624 from 14 starts, plays at 9.15am today and 13.35pm tomorrow with New Zealander Mark Brown and Argentinian Daniel Vancsik.

Southport’s Lee Slattery, 93rd in the order with winnings of 129,000 euros, is paired with Indian Shiv Kapur and yet another Argentinian at Rafa Echenique at 11.30am today and 7.10 tomorrow.