Roe has mixed feelings despite career milestone
England’s Mark Roe reached a significant milestone in his European Tour career today – but wished he was at home instead.
Like Spaniard Santiago Luna, the 42-year-old from Sheffield plays his 500th tour event at the Abama Canaries Open on Tenerife this week.
“I am very proud of it,” said Roe. “It’s something I wanted to achieve and it was not until yesterday that I was told I had reached it. I thought I was nowhere near.
“But it’s also the fifth birthday of my twin girls and that is where I would rather be.
“I can’t be, though, because this is an important week for my future.”
Roe, an avid Sheffield United fan, stands 117th on the Order of Merit and in two weeks’ time the top115 keep their membership for next season.
“I shot 75 at St Andrews on Sunday when a 72 would probably have put me safe. I am playing fine, but I am also feeling under the cosh because this is still what I want to do. It’s my job.
“I have to come here because at the end of it all whatever I earn this week could make all the difference.”
There is “only” a first prize of just over £51,000 (€75,000) on offer compared to more than £700,000 (€1m) at the American Express Championship in San Francisco, but not one member of the world’s top 100 is in the Canaries field.
Those who are present find themselves tackling a new course – designed by Dave Thomas – which is going to test their fitness as well as their golfing skill.
“I was told it was hilly, but I was not told I needed mountaineering gear,” commented Roe.
Some of the climbs are so severe that players and their caddies are being offered buggy rides from three of the greens to the next tee.
For yesterday’s pro-am buggies were used throughout the round, but one caddie, worrie what the next four days might do to him, stated: “This makes Madeira seem flat.”
