It’s loopy to assume simply how far one can go along with a pure swing and greater than a decade of apply.
Europe’s manufacturing line of golf expertise has churned out a gentle wave of superstars through the years, however few have taken to the professional circuit as early as 18-year-old Josh Berry. In truth, solely world No2 and four-time major-winner Rory McIlroy earned his DP World Tour card sooner than the Yorkshireman.
After advancing via all three phases of Q-School final yr, Doncaster-born Berry bagged his professional card to take a large step in direction of stardom forward of his time. The novice star’s achievements can simply be in comparison with the exploits of Luke Littler, who dazzled all of darts by reaching the World Championship ultimate on his debut as a 16-year-old in January.
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Not that one would guess it primarily based on Berry’s unassuming method, shining reward on his peer when likened to Littler.
“I think what he’s doing is a little bit better than what I’ve done,” Berry advised Daily Star Sport. “But it just shows you that you can achieve what you want at any age really. Whether you’re 17, 18 or 40 or 50, or whatever. There’s no especially golf and darts as well. There’s no age limit. So it’s just whenever you’re ready.”
And prepared is what he is been up to now in his baptism on the massive phases, coming via latest checks in South Africa, Mauritius and the Middle East to earn a spot on the Qatar Masters this weekend. A sensational end on the Challenge Tour’s SDC Open in South Africa final weekend – together with ten birdies and one eagle as he completed with a fourth-round 61 – was sufficient to e book his date in Doha.
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(Image: Leaderboard Photography)
Some will really feel a primary DP World Tour begin of 2024 is overdue, however Berry has been candid that incomes one’s card would not robotically open the doorways to competitors. Still, it is a good distance from his days coming via the prolific England Golf youth programme, recruited after his dad bought him into the game at a younger age.
“Yorkshire regionals was the first time I got out for England golf, and that’s more just training, you don’t really play matches or anything,” he defined. “And then I got into the England boys squad around 15, 16 and played my first match against Spain, that was was really cool. Then I played the Europeans, home internationals. And then I played the men’s home internationals and got into the England men’s squad.”
(Image: Leaderboard Photography)
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From specializing in group issues along with his nation, Berry has understandably turned his consideration to extra particular person issues today. There are loads of private checkpoints he’d prefer to tick off as he plots his personal path to greatness, although sharing a tee with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods is a dream he nonetheless holds out for.
“Just amazing,” replied Berry when requested what it will really feel prefer to go up towards his heroes. “That’s something you go to bed dreaming about, really. You’ve got to be a realist sometimes, but it’s just nice to just have the big dreams. If you don’t dream big, then there’s something wrong there. But that would be amazing.”
(Image: Getty Images)
The teenager is as soon as extra reminded of Littler for example of simply how shortly issues can change in sport – significantly these particular person crafts like golf. ‘The Nuke’ turned the preferred darts participant on the planet in a matter of weeks, and there is nothing to say the identical cannot occur for a sure {golfing} gem.
“Definitely. I think momentum and confidence is such a big thing in golf,” replied Berry. “If you go well, then you can play well for quite a long time. And then obviously if you’re not playing well, it’s just such a hard game. You’re just up and down all the time. It’s like a rollercoaster.”