Euan Walker hasn’t quite surrendered his tag as one of Scottish golf’s nice guys, but he admits he had to be much more selfish to be successful.
The 27-year-old made his Challenge Tour breakthrough with a thrilling victory in the British Challenge presented by Modest! Golf at Jack Nicklaus’ fearsome St Mellion course in Cornwall on Sunday.
With two events to play in the satellite circuit’s season, Euan is 20th in the rankings and seeking to nail down one of the 20 available DP World Tour cards.
He’d then finally join his mates from his amateur days like Robert MacIntyre, Ewen Ferguson and Connor Syme in the top tour.
Covid disruption blocked his path
"Standing over that putt was definitely the most nervous I have ever been in my life."
Nerves of steel @euanwalkergolf 😉#BritishChallenge pic.twitter.com/k79p2nWUWG
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) October 9, 2022
But Euan’s path has been more tortured than theirs, given the Covid pandemic effectively shut down his opportunities to play just after he turned pro in 2019. Since then, he’s consulted with multiple coaches and taken something from them all to find a game he feels fits for him.
“I kind of stalled a little bit during Covid,” he said. “We didn’t play, I didn’t get the opportunity to practice as much. When I came back, things were a lot different.
“From there, I’ve really been searching, trying to explore every avenue with which to recreate the performances I had as an amateur in 2019. I’ve developed my body, I’ve become stronger, I’ve become faster.”
A maths graduate, one Euan’s strengths is taking on masses of information and sifting out what’s best for him.
“I think for too long I’ve took on information and just did what I was told,” he said. “Recently I’ve taken on bits and pieces from a lot of people and decided what is actually going to make me better.
“I think in the past I’ve probably been too nice. As a professional, I’m not massively experienced yet, but I know you’ve got to be selfish and make better decisions. I’ve become better at doing that.”
He’s also had to be patient as he’s watched his peers win and be successful, but that is paying off now.
“It’s only just in the last few months, as life’s got back to normal, that I’ve felt more comfortable playing,” he admitted.
“Everything has come together and just allowed me to start playing better. Not just one week, I’ve actually been playing well for the last two months or so.”
‘I’ve just got to try and make birdie’
Securing a maiden Challenge Tour title in front of your parents ❤️#BritishChallenge pic.twitter.com/L37WwzDyA4
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) October 9, 2022
Opportunities are there now he’s determined to grab, and Sunday’s 72nd hole was a case in point. With a daunting 165-yard approach over water to a tucked pin, he could have played safe and forced a play-off. But where’s the fun in that?
“It wasn’t until I got to the 17th green that I actually realised I was right in the tournament,” he recalled.
“Coming down the last in a three-way tie for the lead, I was thinking it could end in a play-off. I know it’s a very challenging hole.
“If I’d overdrawn the approach, it wouldn’t have been a great position. But I thought, I’ve just got to try and make birdie here.
“There’s room on the right, but I wasn’t trying to hit it safe and two-putt for a play-off. I wanted to try my best to make birdie and win outright.”
He hit to four feet and holed for the win, and the feeling was a mixture of relief and excitement.
“Relief not because I never thought I would win, but because Sunday was quite intense,” he said. “To be in that environment with lots of people watching and you’re in contention, to win was a massive relief.
“Now I’m really pleased and satisfied with the way things have come together. It also makes me excited to play again this week and in the future.
“I’ve given myself a chance I never thought I was going to have in the earlier part of the season. I’m playing well and now I just want to make the most of that opportunity.”