Dinwiddie aims to put injury and disappointment behind him to get back on track
Rob Dinwiddie is certain he can bounce back at this month’s Q School.
There’s no doubt the 33-year-old from Barnard Castle in Co Durham has the talent, but the question is the physical demands it presents for Dinwiddie, who has a perennial back problem.
“The back problem is something I always have to manage,” he said, “but thank goodness I’ve avoided surgery and I have learned a lot about how to manage my back.
“It’s not easy having to go to Q School. It’s a lot of pressure but I’m sure I will bounce back.”
Dinwiddie played on the European Tour last year through a medical exemption and kept his card on merit. Sadly, that wasn’t the case this year as he finished 117th in the Race to Dubai with €229,801.
“It’s not been a great year to be honest,” he added. “I never really found the groove I needed all year, but all is not lost as I didn’t miss out by much.
“I did expect to do a lot better this year and I accept I have some work to do.”
Dinwiddie will be the first to admit he’s been unable to build on a formidable amateur record.
Before turning professional at the end of 2006 he played in the Walker Cup and won the Scottish and Welsh Amateur Strokeplay Championships in 2005 as well as the English title in 2006.
He’s produced occasional flashes of that talent as a pro – he played the 2008 US Open finishing 36th and also finished in the top 10 five times to be a Rookie of the Year runner-up.
Unfortunately, injury has blighted his pro career since, but he believes he can still make a breakthrough.
