Pro overcomes broken driver and traffic jam to qualify for Asian Tour event

The chance to compete against golf’s biggest names on your own turf doesn’t come around often.

This prospect nearly passed Rob Paterson by as he sat in traffic on his way to the St Andrews Bay Championship qualifier on the Asian Tour.

The vehicle jam was indicative of his recent fortunes as the story, originally reported by Monday Q Info, began when he discovered his driver was broken in the lead-up to the qualifier.

“I was playing in a practice round on Sunday with some friends and on the 15^th hole, I hit a drive that looked like I topped it, it went about 60 yards,” he told NCG. “I thought that was a bit strange, I don’t normally do that.

“I teed up another a ball and did exactly the same thing and I was like ‘That’s the driver broken’. Luckily, a friend works at the North Berwick pro shop and got me a replacement head the next day, which was pretty helpful.”

The crack in his TaylorMade Stealth driver explained why he’d been “hitting it all over the place” off the tee.

But with his big stick fixed, he headed to Fairmont St. Andrews on Tuesday to earn a place in the field in which next week Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Paul Casey and a host of LIV Golf players are entered.

The assistant professional at Kilspindie Golf Club left Edinburgh at 7.15 am to give himself plenty of time to make his 10 am slot.

But a crash ahead caused a significant pile-up and left him stranded for roughly two and a half hours.

“All the cars were on each side of the road to let the emergency services come past. We were just waiting around there and that was about 8 o’clock, and it was about 10.30 am when it cleared up,” he added.

“I’d basically given up on it because I’d lost my tee time, and that’ll be it.”

Paterson contacted the tournament about 15 minutes into the delay to tell them his situation, which was understood as he wasn’t the only player in the traffic jam.

“If you miss your tee time in golf, that’s kind of tough luck, you’re out. Luckily, they (the tour) were very good and there was another guy in the field in the same situation, and they said it’s not your fault.”

The 27-year-old is familiar with the Fairmont links having played there during his time at Aberdeen University. He also played a PGA event at the course in 2022.

Paterson eventually teed off at 1.30 pm and despite admitting his hopes weren’t high, he carded a 5-under 67 to seal a place at next week’s event alongside some stars of the game.

The St Andrews Bay Championship will be the biggest event he’s played in so far, having competed in one EuroPro Tour event, as well as PGA Scotland tournaments and on Paul Lawrie’s Tartan Tour.

Paterson, a member at Kilspindie since the age of 11, will now pack in the practice with a pro-am at Dumfries before heading back to Fairmont on Monday to fully prepare for his Asian Tour debut.

“There’s absolutely no expectations basically,” he added. “I’m just going to enjoy myself and if I play well, great. If I don’t, it’s a great experience.”

The St Andrews Bay Championship will be played on the Torrance course starting on August 24 – one week after a handful of LIV golfers tee it up at the International Series England event at Close House.

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Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.