Great Scott Close to home

Close House has added another outstanding professional North East golfer to their portfolio attached to the Northumberland resort. Paul Corney caught up with Anna Scott

Anna Scott from Shotley Bridge near Consett in County Durham, who qualified to play on the European Ladies Tour earlier this year, is now looking forward to working with Close House while promoting ladies and junior golf in the North East.

She will also be available for corporate days and golf clinics and personally wants to see more women from the area taking up the sport.

Since leaving Georgia State University in 2009 with a dual degree in German and journalism, this talented young lady was forced to take a lengthy period away from golf to undergo a serious operation to rectify a rib problem.

She is now back to full fitness and is hitting the ball as far as any of her fellow professionals. Anna recently made the cut at the South African Womens Open, finishing in a tie for 57th. Anna recalled: “Three years ago, I had to have a rib removed and didn’t play golf for nearly a year but that’s in the past now and I have fully recovered. It was quite difficult for me at the time, because after I left university, I really wanted to play professional golf and I was ready to give it a go. But it wasn’t the right time with my health not being good, so it took me quite a while to accept that. Last year when I felt okay again, I started playing again.

“Some people have it in their minds that you have to be at the peak of your career when you are 22 but I hadn’t even started my career when I was 22 so it’s difficult in that respect to block it out of your mind. I’ve had a lot of support from the likes of my family and a lot of encouragement and I know that I’m good enough and more than capable of playing on tour and making a living out of it.
“This year, I’ve entered tournaments in France, Spain, Sweden and Holland. Last week, I was in South Africa and played in the European Tour’s South African Womens Open and I made the cut there – I had a disappointing last round but I was pleased with my other rounds and I just want to build on that and get more comfortable with my game.

“I think where I suffered the most from being away from the game for such a long period was the lack of competition, that made a big difference – you need to be competing as much as you can, within reason and not putting too much pressure on yourself and basically going out there and enjoying playing in the events.

“I finished in 40th at the Qualifying School so I have a category nine card, the top 30 get full cards and 31 through to 50 get put into different categories so I have the next best thing. There are a number of events this year I can’t get into, for example, next week is the Irish Open and it’s like one of the most popular events of the year and a lot of the PGA players come over so I’m fifth reserve. There is a chance I could get in and I’m hoping for the phone call and I’ll be straight on a plane to get over there.”

Anna’s next big tournament, unless she gets an invite to Ireland is next week in Finland followed by the British Masters at the Buckinghamshire Golf Club.

As for Anna’s American dream, she missed out by four shots at their LPGA Qualifying School but received a full card for the Simetra Tour which she will be joining later in the year, following her commitment in Europe.