Hull’s Finch seeking Swedish spark in bid to retain tour card

The 35-year-old from Hull has lost the spark that golfers value so dearly and has no other option but to try and play his way back into contention.

This week’s Nordea Masters in Sweden is his 14th tournament of a busy year.

Yet out of the 13 events he has played, he has made the cut only five times. His highest finish is tied 35th. Finch has not made more than £10,000 at any event this season.

As a result, the Yorkshireman who won twice in the 2008 season and who earned in excess of £400,000 in each of the last three campaigns, is languishing in 145th on the ‘Race to Dubai’ standings.

The top 110 retain their status and although Finch has flirted with losing his rights to the top tier before in his eight years on tour, this ninth season is proving a grind.

Hearteningly, a couple of top-three finishes over the European summer will ease his concerns, but such form is proving elusive.

“Not really that bad, but not really that good either,” was his reflection on the season so far following another missed cut at last week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

“That’s why the low scores and the good results haven’t quite happened. If I’ve made the cut I’ve done all right-ish, and if I’ve missed the cut I’ve only just missed it.

“It’s been one of those spells where it’s not quite clicked.

“What’s missing? Shots aren’t going close enough and putts aren’t rolling in.

“Hopefully, it will click again, the penny will drop and I’ll be all right.”

Two years ago, the Nordea Masters was a happy hunting ground for Finch.

He finished second, having gone into the tournament in the same unremarkable form with which he returns to the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm.

After that, tournaments in Germany, France, Ireland – where he was a winner five years ago – and Scotland give him the opportunity to earn some much-needed prize money.

As for the order of merit which holds the key to his golfing future, Finch continued: “I don’t not look at it, but I don’t look at it avidly either. If you play well, the results take care of themselves. Staring at a list and wondering where you are doesn’t help at all.

“My focus is on practicing more and trying to play better golf.”

Sheffield’s Danny Willett, having successfully got four rounds under his belt in the prestigious BMW at Wentworth, is in the field in Sweden, alongside Malton’s Simon Dyson and Harrogate’s John Parry, who qualified for the US Open on Monday.

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