Rigby ready to provide senior service at Gleneagles

Wigan amateur Derrick Rigby admits he is still trying to take in the ‘big feat’ of getting to the grand final of The Lombard Trophy.

The retired bakery worker (pictured on left) will tackle next year’s Ryder Cup course at Gleneagles, at the age of 72.

Rigby, of Hart Common Golf Club in Bolton, will partner North West Golf Academy PGA Professional Steve Parry (right) for the showpiece event.

The duo will take part in the £43,600 grand final over the PGA Centenary course on September 3-4, and Rigby admitted the size of the event is only hitting him now.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to this - I still can’t believe I’ll be playing the course - I’ve never even played golf in Scotland before and now I’ll be at Gleneagles.

“I think this is a big feat for a man of my age, a great achievement.

“I know there’ll be one other player who’s in his 70s from Liverpool, so that’s two of us and I think we both deserve a lot of credit for making it this far.”

Rigby confessed to being nervous about playing in the final.

He added: “It is slightly worrying thinking about it, I’m sure I shall be a bit nervous, but Steve was very good with me when we qualified at West Lancashire Golf Club.

“He steered me around and told me what shots to play. And I did my little bit on the day, but we wouldn’t be there if we didn’t deserve to.”

Golf is the second sport Rigby has competed in; he first picked up a golf club when he was forced to quit football at the age of 40.

He explained: “I was a footballer for a long time, playing at an amateur level, but then my legs went and I turned to golf.

“I needed another sport to occupy my time and that’s what it’s done.”