Local Golfer Quits Professional Status

- Fri 23rd Apr 2004

STEVE RICHARDSON Hayling’s local Ryder Cup Player.




Steve admits he has spent the past seven years trying – and failing – to get his game into shape.





And now he is ready to admit defeat and give up his attempts to reclaim a place on the European Tour. Which this team thinks is a great shame.





He is to launch a new career as a coach and will join Jason Banting at Quindell Golf and Country Club in Fareham.






At his peak, Steve was one of the top talents in world golf.






He finished second in the Order of Merit, which booked his place in the European Ryder Cup team for the War on the Shore against America at Kiawah Island.






He picked up two out of three points on the desert course but the United States still won by 14½ points to 13½. Bernhard Langer missed a putt on the final green that would have won the cup for Europe.








But after rewriting the European Tour record books in winning more than £1m in prize money in record time, Richardson's game dropped off. He lost his card and had to go back to qualifying school to play in 1998, 1999 and 2000.






We wish Steve all the best in his new role as a golf coach and we look forward to seeing him around the village and on the golf course.

By forum user, Mat