9:45am Tuesday 29th September 2009
By Paul Fraser
LIFE is a rollercoaster for Graeme Storm. After missing out on an appearance at the Vivendi Trophy by one spot, he will learn today whether his request to play with Ronan Keating for the third year in a row at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has been granted.
But after suffering slight disappointment in not making the Great Britain & Ireland team in Paris at the weekend, Storm is looking to end the season on a number of highs.
After hopefully partnering Keating in Scotland this week, Storm aims to have earned another substantial boost to his earnings in the hope of climbing further up the rankings in the Race to Dubai.
Rather than looking to claim the points that will count towards next year’s Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor in Wales, Storm’s intentions are purely of a more short-term nature.
The 31-year-old sits 44th in the Dubai rankings and feels he needs another 400,000 euros to establish himself in the top 30, which would secure automatic qualification into next summer’s Open Championship.
A further ten places up the standings would secure entry into the World Golf Championship, while a top 15 finish would earn a place in the US Open. He is, though, taking things one step at a time, but Ryder Cup golf is not something he is worrying about.
“It would obviously be fantastic to play in the Ryder Cup, but the position I’m at, at this stage of my career, I’m not really worrying about breaking into the Ryder Cup team,” said Storm.
“It’s a dream of mine, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t, but I’m not going to put that sort of pressure on my shoulders now.
“To go out every week thinking I need the points to be in the Ryder Cup team would not do me any favours.
“I made the Seve Trophy (the former name of the Vivendi Trophy) team two years back and I narrowly missed out by one spot this time around, like I did when it was held at Wynyard in 2005, so I know that I’m not too far away.
“But I just want to focus on my own form, improving my position in the standings, and force my way into the top 30.”
Storm feels “95 per cent sure” that he has already done enough this season to finish in the top 60, which will ensure he plays in the inaugural Dubai World Championship on November 19.
Firstly he wants to concentrate on turning in another decent display in Scotland, starting on Thursday and will be told today if he will be playing alongside Keating.
“I first met him in at the Seve Trophy in Ireland two years ago, when I finished my round he was watching another group and he actually came to me and introduced himself,” said Storm.
“It’s just developed from there really and when I played at the Dunhill that year he requested to play with me. I didn’t want to impose myself on him, but he insisted.
“I finished tied 15th in 2007 and then we played with each other again last year, when we led after the first day, even though I ended up tied 86th.
“You don’t know who you are playing with until the Tuesday before the tournament, but we put in a request to play with each other again because it seems to work well.
“Ronan plays off 11 and for a bit of fun, but he is also respectful of what I’m trying to do too.”
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