Golfing ace Alfie Plant is hoping to take a break to catch his Millwall side in FA Cup action
yann@slpmedia.co.uk
Diehard Millwall fan Alfie Plant says he may take a break from his bid to climb the notoriously greasy pole of men’s golf to watch his team take on AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup this weekend.
It will be a welcome distraction if he does make the trip to Kingsmeadow for the match, because his day job is proving even more demanding than he imagined.
That put him on a par with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, who are previous winners of the illustrious award.
But as even the very best sometimes discover, such a major milestone does not guarantee instant success if you turn pro and Plant admits it has been far from plain sailing.
“To be honest, it’s been quite a tough road and it hasn’t all gone my way,” the 26-year-old told the South London Press.
“I’ve had a lot of learning to do in a short space of time and had to make big changes – in mindset as much as technique.
“I used to be happy playing a lot of level-par golf on links courses, but suddenly you are up against guys who are finishing 20 under. You have to go for birdies much more. You have to gamble more.
“It has been quite a shock to the system, and it’s taken a bit of time to get used to my new environment and I think it is the same for everyone making this step up.
“I’ve played a few events on the Challenger Tour with the aim of getting onto the European Tour circuit at some stage.
I’ve also reached the second stages of the Q school, which are qualifiers for the European Tour. It’s felt a bit stop-start but I feel I’m slowly getting there.
“What started as a hobby for me is now my job and I can be playing seven days a week sometimes, or just practising five or six days a week, because I love the game so much.
“I am doing okay and paying my way, but it does not take much for it to become expensive.
“I get invitations to play all over the world and it is fine as long as you don’t miss the cut in four or five events.
“But I am really enjoying it and hoping to get another breakthrough.”
Dad Darren and mum Emma are keen on the sport -his dad playing off a handicap of seven at one stage – while his grandparents were mad on it too.
At Birkdale, his brother Albert ‘Bert on the bag’ as he was dubbed, caddied for him. There was also an entourage of about 150 friends and family – known as Alfie’s Army – who were there to cheer him on, so he feels well supported.
The trick now will be to harness that faith and his obvious talent, to progress.
His calmness and relaxed demeanour will stand him in good stead, but it may be absent if he attends that FA Cup tie:
“I don’t get to see Millwall as much as I used to, because of the golf,” he said.
“But I may get down to this week’s match. I’ve always loved going to watch the Lions. It’s a family love affair with the club. You could say it’s the same with the golf.”
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