Eales slips into player mode

Renowned coach Paul Eales will be looking to practise what he preaches as bids to land the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship at Stoke by Nayland this weekend.

The Hillside based PGA pro has showed some fine form over the opening two rounds with returns of 68 and 69 to sit just three shots behind leader Mark James at the halfway stage of the £235,000 tournament.

When not competing on the European Senior Tour, Eales, the former Royal Lytham St Annes pro, is support coach to England national boys under 18s and is also coach to the England north west under 16-18s squad.

Coaching is very much his passion and he will be hoping to utilise some of that knowledge to his own benefit as the heat of competition ramps up in Suffolk.

 “I think what you are trying to do on a golf course is practice what you preach, and it gives me a great appreciation once I’m playing to actually understand what the students are going through when you are talking to them,” he said.

“What we sometimes think, as coaches, as an easy simple message is different  under the pressure and emotion of playing a round of tournament golf so it has been an interesting journey trying to put myself under that pressure.”

Eales’ coaching and media work, where he delivers insight into some of golf’s biggest tournaments including the Open Championship and the Ryder Cup, has given him a broader perspective on his golfing life.

“I’m nowhere near as driven as I was when I was younger and played on tour,” he added. “This (playing in the PGA Seniors) is different, it’s not a sideline because I’m still trying to perform as best I can but the intensity is not the same as it once was when playing was all I had to do.

“Now I have got the coaching and the broadcasting as well, so it is a nice balance.

“But I find it fascinating to compete here and to be able to play with great guys who can golf the ball round the course is a lovely situation to be in.”

Of his own golf he believes there is room for improvement as he strives to shake off the winter rust.

“It has been a little bit ragged  having not played much golf through the winter so I’m hitting the ball okay but the little touches around the green you find yourself giving silly shots away and making silly mistakes but that goes for everybody as it is the first event for everybody.

“I’m in there, and have made it to the weekend which is always the first aim.”

An avid user of technology and social media, Eales keeps in touch with his young England charges by following them on Twitter although he’s not sure if they reciprocate.

“I follow them more than they follow me but I’m sure they’ll be giving me some stick if I rack up any double bogeys.”