Coach celebrates star pupil’s Solheim success

PGA Professionals Andy Gorman (pictured above) and Lee Scarbrow reflected on the star performance of pupil Charley Hull following her singles demolition of Paula Creamer at the Solheim Cup.

Teenager Hull played a major role in Europe’s historic first win on US soil with a 5&4 singles win over the experienced Creamer as Liselotte Neumann’s side romped to a 18-10 victory in Colorado.

And Gorman, who has been Hull’s putting coach since December 2012 in a team that also includes swing coach Scarbrow from John O’Gaunt Golf Club, revealed how perfectionist Hull was seeking answers for missed putts at 3am this morning – as her team-mates put the Americans to the sword.

“I sent Charley a congratulations text and typical of Charley she is asking me why she missed a few short putts, because she is a perfectionist,” said Gorman, whose putting academy is based at Queslett Park Golf Centre, Birmingham.

“I told her not to worry about it and go and enjoy the celebrations with the team.”

He added: “It’s all still a little bit surreal. I watched every shot over the weekend and it’s pretty special, especially as a coach as you work towards something with your players and to see them achieve that is what the job is about.

“I see myself as the gunner’s mate, just loading the weapon and then passing it on for the gunner to shoot.

“Charley pretty much hit the target and to see all that come together is great. She missed one or two short putts but also holed a 20 footer and one that was anywhere between 30 and 40 foot and everything else was virtually centre of the hole.

“Christina Kim said in her commentary that no-one knew who Charley Hull was at the start of the week and now the whole world knows.

“That performance, against a player in Paula Creamer that she really wanted to play against was the dream pick for her and will open up so many avenues for her and enable her to go on and play at the highest level week after week.”

Scarbrow, who also guided the early career of Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter, believes the pair share many traits.

“Charley has a combination of raw talent and lots of self belief. She is very similar in that respect to Ian. He had it naturally while Charley gets hers by putting in the hard work which fuels her self belief," he said.

“She videos nearly every swing she makes and sends me it nearly every day. She knows her swing inside out and can improve on it – she is only going to get better.”

Scarbrow, first set his eyes on Hull as a nine-year-old, and was impressed even then.

“Her dad bought her to me as a nine-year-old and she was already stunning, her attitude to learning was absolutely fantastic.

“I asked her what she wanted to do with her golf and she said I want to be world number one and she’ll get there.

“Her work ethic is ridiculous, it’s a pleasure to work with her. “

Gorman revealed that following Hull’s first missed cut of the season at the Ricoh Women’s British Open earlier this month, the two of them put some additional work in at Nailcote Hall just days before Hull joined up with the rest of the Solheim Cup team to fly to the US.

“We did a couple of days together, doing some putting drills and some psychological preparation, which I admit is not my field of expertise.

“We just spent some time talking through it and understanding why things just didn’t go as expected at St Andrews. It doesn’t do any harm to work these things through, especially if it helps.

“It was a case of dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s and getting the preparation right.

“We were communicating right until getting on the plane on Sunday and messaging through to the start of the tournament. I was making sure she was as comfortable and relaxed as she could be.

“I have 23 years coaching experience. I’m an old man, old enough to be her father, as I have kids either side of her 17 years, and that experience should count for something.”

Hull, who is in her rookie year as a professional, opened the campaign with a string of runner’s up spots as she instantly made her mark.

And Gorman, who was back coaching this morning, has revealed how his putting work with Hull is not going unnoticed.

“Players are always interested to know what’s happening and word of mouth is a major thing,” he said.