Late bloomer Fisher a shining example
If you are a teenager with a double-digit handicap reading this, you might think your chances of making it as a pro golfer are nil. After all, , while at the same age .
But it might be worth putting the girls (or the boys) and the grog on the backburner for a little while longer, because for every teenage 'phenom' scorching through the ranks there is a late developer grafting under the radar: big on talent, hamstrung by circumstance.
When Ross Fisher won a scholarship to Wentworth aged 13, he didn't have a handicap at all, discounting a lack of funds, which had precluded him from joining a club before then. His first official handicap was 16 and by the age of 16 he was down to six. Very good, although hardly .
"After that, I managed to progress pretty rapidly and had a good amateur career," the 29-year-old Fisher, originally from Ascot but now a resident of Cheam, told 91Èȱ¬ Sport. "I turned pro later than some guys do [aged 24] but it seems like I made the right decision."
Fisher celebrates victory at the Irish Open
It's difficult to disagree. Since turning pro in 2006, Fisher has won four European Tour events and broken into the world's top 20. Currently ranked 22nd, a good showing in the , which starts on Thursday, would go a long way to securing him a spot in Europe's Ryder Cup team for .
However, following a miraculous 2009, when , were it not for one bad hole and , 2010 has for the most part been a chastening year. A year that proves, in Fisher's own words, "you never master this game".
"My game's been in good enough shape, it's just been a bit frustrating that things haven't happened," he added. "I'd been playing well, I just hadn't been holing the putts and therefore hadn't been shooting the scores."
Fisher admits - he was adamant he would flee the Open to be by his wife's side if she went into labour during the tournament, regardless of his position on the leaderboard - might have been a factor. "I was still focused on what I was trying to do but life changes a little bit," he explained. "Having the baby was preoccupying the mind."
Fisher missed the cut at the Masters and the US Open before, with the help of his short game coach Mark Roe, rediscovering his touch and finishing second to compatriot David Horsey at the BMW International Open in June. He also managed a creditable 37th in the Open at St Andrews.
But when he managed to hold off the charge of local hero Padraig Harrington , it came as something of a relief.
"It felt great winning again," said Fisher, who fired a second-round 61 to lead before a third-round wobble allowed Harrington and others back into the frame. "I needed to stay patient. To have all the hard work pay off and finally start putting well felt really good.
"To fend off guys like Francesco Molinari, Chris Wood and Harrington was special - and to do it in Ireland against an Irishman made it extra special."
Last Sunday, Fisher finished 46th in the in Ohio and is still waiting for a victory on the PGA Tour, something that has been achieved by fellow Brits , , , and Graeme McDowell, , this season.
"That would be very, very nice," said Fisher. "If you've won on both sides of the pond, that's pretty special, just to know your game is good enough to do that.
"It inspires you seeing fellow Brits win out in the States - and I'm no different to them. I've had chances in majors and a couple of other tournaments over there, so now it's about going out there and getting the job done."
Fisher had not played , scene of the USPGA, before this week. A little piece of Ireland hugging the Lake Michigan shoreline, the course weighs in at 7,507 yards and rewards long, accurate hitting. Roe has informed Fisher it should suit him down to the ground.
"Hopefully he's right and I can play some good golf," added Fisher. "I'm coming off the back of a win and confidence is high. If I can maintain that, who knows what might happen."
"Who knows what might happen" - for Fisher, who never quit on his dream despite the odds, it would be a fitting epitaph. And for all those teenagers reading this not yet in single figures, it could be yours, too.
Hello. I have been working for the 91Èȱ¬ for more than a decade now and cover almost all sports. It would be good to hear from you - just don't be nasty or my mum might get upset.
Here are 
Comment number 1.
At 11th Aug 2010, Ecasino27 wrote:Nice guy, very good player but a bottle-job. Has not got the minerals to win a major, some people have and some have not.
He will always win tournaments on the tour but holding out on the back 9 of a major...no chance.
Would love to be proved wrong but it wont happen
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Comment number 2.
At 11th Aug 2010, English Arrogance wrote:Another excellent and interesting blog from Mr Dirs, which if written by a tabloid journo, would feature a lot more hype. In fact, it wouldn't be written. Because it isn't about Tiger Woods. Wish i could see more of the same from other more prominent 91Èȱ¬ bloggers.
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Comment number 3.
At 11th Aug 2010, Mick wrote:Good article but could 91Èȱ¬ writers please stop referring to Irish golfers as "Brits". You would not reffer to any of our Ulster Rugby Union players as Brits and the same applies to our golfers.
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Comment number 4.
At 11th Aug 2010, 1putt4life wrote:Hate to say it Mick but Northern Ireland is in Britain and not the Republic of Ireland and since Mccilroy and Mcdowell are from Northern Ireland theyre British as well as Irish just like the English are British aswell as English. Also we seem to have forgotten that Lee Westwood won on the PGA tour for the Brits this year
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Comment number 5.
At 11th Aug 2010, bendirs wrote:1putt4life - Many thanks for reminding me, I knew I'd missed someone out. All changed now. Sorry Lee!
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Comment number 6.
At 11th Aug 2010, English Arrogance wrote:Mick (#3), some of the people in or from Northern Ireland dont like being called Irish. My family in particular. Its a much greater ignorance to do that.
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Comment number 7.
At 11th Aug 2010, Andy wrote:Agree with 1st poster- he's a complete bottle job, never seen someone so relieved to have such a bad hole at Turnberry. You could see that weight had gone off his shoulders and he could move into the comfort zone of being an also-ran.
1putt4life- N.Ireland is not in Britain. It's in the UK and is also known as being part of the British Isles but the BI is not an actual geographical term.
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Comment number 8.
At 11th Aug 2010, kwiniaskagolfer wrote:Nice to see attention given to Ross Fisher, but he's got to be realistic about his putting. Followed him at a tournament this year and he played superbly tee-to-green, then couldn't hole a thing. More of the same during his early-season US appearances this year when his putting stat's were invariably close to last. Hope he gets it sorted out sooner rather than later, then he'll be a consistent winner.
Ooh, hate the word "Brit", but British golfer Ian Poulter also won in the States this year.
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Comment number 9.
At 11th Aug 2010, bendirs wrote:kwiniaskagolfer - Blimey, anyone else I forgot?! In an attempt to put a positive gloss on my mistakes, I reckon it's a good thing that we've won so many that I can't keep track...
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Comment number 10.
At 11th Aug 2010, Millsss wrote:My picks to do well in this major are Rory McIlroy (if he would learn how to putt he would win every week, never seen someone finish so high consistently without holing anything, esp outside of 10 feet), Matt Kuchar (as he is ridiculously consistent, 8 top 10's on PGA Tour this year), Harrington (as this course will definitely suit him and he's playing well again and has the best short game in the world) and am having a go for Schwartzel (since you can get him at 100/1 which is pretty awesome for a player like him). But go Rory!!
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Comment number 11.
At 11th Aug 2010, moomoo147 wrote:Ross Fisher is the perfect example to any youngster. Hard work is more important than natural ability, although in Fisher's case he lucky to have both. He could end up being a top 5 player in year's to come as there in no shot he can't play.
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Comment number 12.
At 12th Aug 2010, Bookshelf101 wrote:Great to see Irish golf as it is today for such a small nation. I reckon McDowell, Mcllroy and Harrington have a great chance this weekend.
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Comment number 13.
At 12th Aug 2010, hackerjack wrote:Ross Fisher is the perfect example to any youngster. Hard work is more important than natural ability, although in Fisher's case he lucky to have both.
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Silly statement, I honestly can't think of a single player who's made it without the natural talent AND hard work, one is not more important than the other.
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Comment number 14.
At 12th Aug 2010, Golf-lover wrote:Ecasino27 and conwayconman I don't agree that Fisher doesn't have the bottle. You claim that some people have it and others don't but I bet you would have said exactly the same thing about McDowell right before the US Open, or Louis right before the third/fourth round of the Open.
I say any modern day player has what it takes. There have been many shock victories in majors in recent years from players who were thought not to have it. I think anyone could win this weekend and I think Fisher is as good a bet as anyone with course conditions and greens taken into consideration. I hope he or another BRIT does win.
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Comment number 15.
At 12th Aug 2010, hurlersarerealmen wrote:To Mick and 1putt4life.
Please stop the petty arguing about nationalities. As a proud Northernirash man and golfer it gets tiresome. You are both right in that all golfers on the "island" of Ireland belong to the Golfing Union of Ireland and, politically speaking anyway, anyone in Northern Ireland holding a British Passoprt is classed as British. There, facts on the table, move on and grow up!
The fact of the matter is that when the guys in question play golf they invariably do so under the Northern Irsh banner just as the Scots, Welsh and English do so under their nation identities. The issue here is that the English media have a tendency to "claim" successful sports people as British when it suits e.g. if Graeme McDowell's final day charge had fallen short he woudl still be Graeme McDowell the Northern Irish golfer and if Sandy Lyle's bunker shot had not been so brilliant he would have been a Scottish golfer and Sir Nick Faldo was only ever English!!!!
Off my chest, enjoy the golf!
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Comment number 16.
At 12th Aug 2010, jed1980 wrote:In Northern Ireland we're British when it suits us and Irish when it suits us. Depends what you're looking. Regarding the PGA golf, would be great to have a "local" player win another Major this year.
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Comment number 17.
At 12th Aug 2010, Ecasino27 wrote:Post 14
No doubt other outsiders will win majors just as they have done through the history of Golf. If you are good enough to get to a major, you are good enough to shoot four good rounds.
However, not all good or even great players win majors, just look at Monty and Sergio Garcia, both great players, both bottle-jobs.
I have nothing against Fisher, just think he is not made of the right stuff, I would Luke Donald into that category as well.
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Comment number 18.
At 12th Aug 2010, Bookshelf101 wrote:Post 15 hurlersarerealmen wrote:"politically speaking anyway, anyone in Northern Ireland holding a British Passoprt is classed as British"
Hence: holding an Irish passport you are classed as Irish.
Disscusion closed: McIIroy & McDowell both hold Irish passports.
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Comment number 19.
At 12th Aug 2010, scott_in_america wrote:When talking about Fisher being a late bloomer does Poulter not come into the same catogry? He turned pro off a handicap of 4 and now is a top 10 golfer in the world. One of my favorite golfers but not a good ball striker, just determination and great putting stats make him the golfer he is....he will be Englands next major winner.
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Comment number 20.
At 12th Aug 2010, hurlersarerealmen wrote:Post 18 Bookshelf101
I think you may have missed my point that in my opinion that the real issue driving these arguments is, in my opinion, a result of the preponderence of the Englich media to adopt people as British when they are doing well and align them back to their "provinces" when not doing so well.
The rest of the stuff was just build up!
Two scenarios to help characterise and explain my point, imagine the headlines:
"British golfer hurlersarerealmen wins the US Open"
"Northern Irish golfer hurlersarerealmen narrowly misses out on the US Open"
Its just one of those things that happen and no point in getting uptight about. Bit like shouting at the weather, it ain't going to change anything.
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Comment number 21.
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Comment number 22.
At 3rd Oct 2010, Gaz wrote:All this user's posts have been removed.Why?
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