McGovern gears up for Senior service

Brendan McGovern is rescheduling his diary after securing a card for this year’s European Senior Tour at the first attempt.

The Headfort professional came through the four-round test over the Pinta Course at Pestana Golf Resort claiming the third card of five on offer after finishing level par for the week.

It offers a new chapter in the 50-year-old’s career, renowned as one of the most consistent players in Ireland.

Reflecting on the achievement he said: “It feels pretty awesome. A lot of preparation went into this and to get over the line feels really good.

“To be honest with you I had one thought in my head all round and that was Christy O’Connor Jnr. I couldn’t make his funeral but I had a chat with him last September at a Pro-Am at Galway Bay and told him what I was doing.

“One man who would always give you a bit of a boost was Christy Jnr and he was in the back of my head – the drive for me today was ‘this is for Christy Jnr’ and I never lost focus. He was one of the great figures of Irish golf and this was for him.”

Hear more from Brendan McGovern here.