O'Brien set to take on twin challenges

Susie O'Brien couldn't be accused of operating in the comfort zone. In turning her back on an amateur career, the Milltown golfer embraced not one but two challenges.

At one stage O'Brien would have been Ireland's top woman amateur, illustrated by the championships she won and her selection on Ireland, Curtis Cup and Vagliano teams.

She also represented Britain and Ireland in the Espirito Santo Trophy (the world amateur team championship), the team finishing third. In essence she achieved everything possible in representative golf.

At the end of last year she made a decision that the amateur game no longer held the appeal for her that it once engendered. "I couldn't go any further. I had achieved what I wanted, putting a lot of work into it. I found that I could not motivate myself to continue." She decided to turn professional.

Last May she signed up for the European Tour as an interim member, a status conferred on those waiting to go to tour school. Her only recourse to professional golf is to receive a sponsor's invitation and Bord Fβilte obliged in that respect with regard to the Irish Open at Faithlegg at the end of August.

She will also try to pre-qualify for the British Open. Not content with embracing that challenge, O'Brien is in the throes of joining the Professional Golfers Association, Irish region. Her application will be rubber-stamped shortly and she will take up an apprenticeship with Derry Kiely at Tramore Golf Club.

"My ambition would be to become a teaching professional. There aren't that many tour events on the European Tour so I am hoping that it will be possible for me to combine the two. There isn't much tour golf in the winter. I will go to the tour school in Portugal in October."

O'Brien faces a three-year apprenticeship during which she will have to pass exams and complete assignments like any other apprentice PGA professional.

"I like to set myself small goals. In playing terms I want to get my tour card and then try to retain it. I also love teaching and I think there is a huge proportion of women out there who would enjoy being taught by a women."

So what would she bring to the teaching profession? "I have a great deal of patience, which is important, a good sense of humour and I love the game. I have been extremely lucky in working with many of the top teachers in Ireland and I would hope I would have learnt from them.

"I understand the importance of explaining things as simply as possible and would enjoy working with players of varying ability." So how would she feel is some of her close friends and top amateurs came to her tuition? O'Brien laughs. "I wouldn't mind: after all I would know their swings pretty well."

Having played in the Irish Open last year as an amateur, O'Brien was able to establish the difference between the amateur and professional games.

"The professionals are more aggressive on the greens. They hole far more putts of about 10 feet and aren't afraid to miss. If they bogey they'll be confident of making a birdie at the next."