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Search forWood wins place on European Tour
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 10:14
The 20-year-old finished in a tie for fifth place on 15 under par at the final stage of Qualifying School, comfortably inside the top 30 ranked players who receive a Tour card.
The gruelling event consisted of six rounds of golf over two courses at PGA Golf de Catalunya near Gerona in Spain.
After a level par opening round, the Long Ashton Golf Club youngster moved steadily up the leaderboard each day.
He admitted that the tournament had left him tired and added that, if his putting had been better, he might even have been a comfortable winner.
"I am pretty tired – I am looking forward to coming home," said Wood, who turned professional after finishing in a tie for fifth at the Open Championship in July.
"I came out here to get my Tour card and I've got it.
"It feels like a massive weight off my shoulders – I've been trying to get my card since the Open. It has been a long slog.
"I played pretty solid all week, although I never got going on the greens. If I had holed my fair share of putts I could have run away with it.
"I felt like my game improved every day. To shoot four under par on the final day was a good sign – it was the biggest day of my career and to play that well was good.
"The last nine holes were pretty good – the three-ball I was playing in was great, we were all going to qualify."
Wood was grateful for the presence of his father Richard, who travelled to Spain to support his son.
He now has a few weeks off before travelling to South Africa for two tournaments in December.
"I will be getting together with my coach and my trainer, but next week I am going to treat myself," said Wood, who celebrates his 21st birthday on Wednesday.
"My dad was out with me last week and this week.
"It is a long couple of weeks and it was good to have someone there with me.
"I will play in the two South African tournaments just before Christmas.
"They will be my first couple of events, but I haven't had a chance to sit down and plan the rest of my schedule."
