Ruth equipped for BMW PGA challenge

James Ruth hopes a set of new irons will help him achieve his ambition of a strong finish when he makes his debut in the BMW BPGA Championship at Wentworth.

Although the TaylorMade clubs only arrived a few days ago the 31-year-old Devonian from Tavistock is confident enough to aim high in the most prestigious British tournament on the European Tour.

“I would be very pleased if I made the cut but my focus is on something far greater and if I can reproduce my form of last year I can attain my target,” he said.

Last year Ruth, was the leading money-winner in the West and claimed nine victories.

He finished third in the Order of Merit and became the only West player to derive the riches offered from the Play-Offs in Turkey in November.

Fourth place earned the Wentworth trip and three Challenge Tour starts and he came within one shot of qualifying for the British Masters at The Grove.

After a ten-year career as a tournament professional, making 20 starts on the European Tour and more on the Challenge Tour, Ruth settled down to life as an assistant club professional.

He has just completed his second year PGA Foundation degree course at China Fleet, just over the Cornish border at Saltash.

He is now practising hard at both China Fleet and Tavistock, the club where he was brought up by his golfing parents from the age of seven.

“I’ve had a long lay-off as I played a lot of events last year and I haven’t played over the winter because of my studies and the terrible weather so I need to catch up,” he said.

He paid his first visit to Wentworth during the Sunningdale Foursomes - he partnered Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional champion Paul Hendriksen - and simply walked around the course to get a feel of the surroundings.

The 2013 West Region PGA champion will arrive in Surrey on the preceding Sunday with caddy Ross Whitelock, a professional at St Mellion and a former Challenge Tour player who caddied a few times during Ruth’s European Tour days.

He is planning to stay for more than a week and still be shaping shots with his new irons on the following Sunday.