Texas in view

Maria Martindale has set her sights on going to Texas as a member of the WPGA Cup team but fears poor putting could scupper her dream.

Four of the places in the five-strong team to contest the multi-national competition in Texas next year will be determined by performances in the 2018 and 2019 Titleist & Footjoy Women’s Professional Championship.

And should Martindale reprise last year’s display which saw her finish tied second at Trentham next month she will be on her way.

The worry for the 38-year-old, however, is finding a cure for the glitch in her game that resulted in her having to settle for second place at The Berkshire and not first.

Having earned a place in a three-way play-off with Alison Nicholas and Alison Gray after posting three birdies in the last four holes, Martindale appeared set to win the tournament at the first sudden death hole.

“I was the only one on the green,” she recalled, “but I three-putted and that was that.”

The problem was apparent in the first WPGA One Day Series tournament of the season at Little Aston last month when she finished tied sixth with a three-over-par score of 77.

“Thirty-six of those shots were putts,” she added. “I need to sort my putting out desperately. I’m struggling with it.”

To that end, Martindale has enlisted the help of James Jankowski, a PGA pro at Old Fold Manor.

“He specialises in putting. He’s got all the equipment – a Quintic Putting Lab – that type of stuff – I was immediately on the phone to him after I finished at Little Aston.”

In addition, to seeking a  cure for her putting ills, Martindale plans to play a practice round at Trentham with Alison Nicholas, the former US Women’s Open Champion.

Nicholas, who prevailed in the play-off last year to win the event for the first time, will be playing at Trentham, as will Gray her vanquished opponent.

Gray, who won in 2003 and 2004, the first two years the tournament was staged will be joined at the Staffordshire course by former champions Catherine Panton-Lewis, Tracy Loveys, Alex Keighley and Suzanne Dickens.

As well as vying for the £1,000 first prize, all, and the rest of the field, will have the eyes on the bigger picture – a place in the Great Britain and Ireland Women’s PGA Cup team.

“It would be a great honour to represent The PGA in something like that and have the experience,” added Martindale. “There’s certainly more incentive now and I want to be going to Texas next year.”

“We don’t have a massive amount to play in so to be have something like that to practise for and strive towards makes things even more important is a fabulous opportunity.