Golfer James Sugrue scores second place in Dubai

James Sugure has continued his good run on the Clutch Pro Tour, the Mallow man scored another runner up finish in UAE last week. 

Sugrue backed up his second place finish in the Castle Royal Masters in September with another P2 when the tour moved to Dubai for the penultimate event last week.

While happy with his form, Sugrue also had a small element of regret for what might have been. With 50% extra OOM points on offer, he could have wrapped up his promotion to the HotelPlanner Tour last week.

“Obviously, I was delighted to have two weeks of back to back tournaments finishing second, very happy obviously, my game is in a good place,” said Sugrue after his tournament. 

“But I suppose it’s kind of a little bit annoying as well knowing that a win would be huge and to finish second two weeks in a row is a little bit annoying. 

"It’s a bit frustrating to miss out by one but I birdied the last so I couldn’t really give out too much. 

"It was fairly windy the same day to so to shoot five under in the wind on a good golf course isn’t something to be sniffed at.”

The Amateur Champion from 2019 has had a tough time of it since turning professional in 2020. 

His move to the paid ranks was delayed by covid, and his form was mixed when he started on the Challenge Tour in 2021. 

He struggled to get entries into events in 2022, and injury limited his starts in 2023 and 2024. 

Despite the lack of starts and the injuries, Sugrue’s work ethic got him through and he’s finally getting back to the good form he displayed as a top level amateur.

“To have a full season was great, the last two seasons were hampered with injury so this is my first full proper season in a couple of years. 

"I haven’t been doing anything different really, just practiced hard over the winter and practiced a lot on my time off at home.

“I’m still working with Michael Collins and went to Gordon Smyth in Slieve Russell a couple of times for some work on my putting which I found beneficial. 

"At the end of the day you can play as good as anyone but if you’re not holing putts you’re not going to be there. 

"I’m really happy with my progress this year but the job isn’t done just yet.”

With 5 top five finishes, and just three missed cuts in his 18 starts this year, Sugrue has picked up some nice paychecks this year. 

The entry fees and travel costs are high at this level, with entry fees of £450 and travel costs to the UK and beyond. 

It’s likely that the 28 year-old will have more than covered his costs with well over £20k in prizemoney, but the returns are small and dependent on performance. 

The real prize is statue on the HotelPlanner Tour, formerly known as the Challenge Tour. 

The top three after this week will earn a full tour card, with the next three gaining at least seven starts on the European Tour’s second tour next year. 

The second tier European Tour will give Sugrue far more opportunities with much bigger prize funds on offer.

He’s spent the few days between tournaments in UAE, playing the Els Club among others as part of his prep. 

He’s with a group of Irish golfers that are hoping to finish the season strongly. 

Sugrue is in third place on the order of merit but is unlikely to catch the two golfers in front of him.

He currently has 150 points to spare over 6th place in the order of merit, but with all of the field chasing a top six finish, he’ll have to play well to maintain a tour card finish.

Sugrue finished mid table when the Clutch Tour played Al Ain back in March but he’s looking forward to getting back out there again. 

With double OOM points on offer this week, it really is all to play for and Sugrue is acutely aware of the potential that this week has to offer. 

“I need to go out next week and finish it off. I know the course Al Ain, we played there earlier this year and it’s a good, big golf course. 

"It should suit me, you have to drive the ball week. So I hope I can get the job done and should have a busy season next year.”