Eamonn Brady admits that couldn’t get the late great Seve Ballesteros out of his mind when he set foot on the hallowed turf of Wentworth for the first time.
Brady, the 2015 PGA in Ireland Order of Merit winner, played a practice round at the famous Ascot course last month ahead of his debut appearance at the BMW PGA Championship.
“I seemed to keep picturing Seve in my head, usually playing out of the trees,” said the 42-year-old head pro at Clontarf Golf Club in Dublin.
“And yet when I played the practice round it struck me just how far away from the fairway the trees are. I kept thinking to myself, ‘how in the hell did he hit it over there?’.
“It was amazing. Just like everyone else, I have watched it on television over the years and the course is just how I pictured it.
“I felt it was quite a generous course and I feel like it should suit my game, with a premium on long straight driving. Mind you, it’s much easier without the crowds and everything but obviously, I’m really looking forward to it.”
Brady booked his place at the European Tour’s show piece event courtesy of a top 10 finish at the PGA Play-offs in Turkey last November. He is joined by two other PGA in Ireland members, Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance) and David Higgins (Waterville).
Both Moriarty and Higgins have started the fledging competition season strongly with Higgins winning the Irish Club Professional tournament at Dunmurry Springs and Moriarty collecting first prize at the Seafield Pro-Am.
The trio competed in the Irish Open at The K Club and Brady is hopeful that the experience of playing in front of big Irish crowds will stand them in good stead for the challenges of tackling Wentworth.
“A lot of things go against us. We are not used to the crowds, the distractions and the whole European Tour environment,” he added.
“A lot of PGA Members will only have played the odd event here or there over the winter and they are trying to compete against tour guys who are just so sharp in their scoring ability.
“But this year we will have got a taster of everything at the Irish Open so hopefully that will allow us to get down and play some good golf. We will all be sharper for the experience at The K Club.”