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Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 00:30
Wood shot the second best round of the day – a four-under-par 68 – to finish fifth overall in the Final Stage of qualifying with a total score of 15 under par.
The Long Ashton professional needed to finish in the top 30 at the PGA Golf de Catalunya course, near Girona, to guarantee his place on European golf’s premier tour next season.
“I was a bit nervous at the start, but I shot four birdies in the first seven holes and I was cruising from there. I still holed nothing long and my birdies were all tap-ins again, but I’m really very happy now,” said Wood.
“I’m celebrating my 21st birthday this Saturday with some friends and I can’t wait to get away from golf for a while.”
Although Wood was never close to missing out this week after the two solid opening rounds, he admits that his battle through Q School in northern Spain has taken its toll.
He said: “It’s been horrible. I don’t want to be here ever again. It’s so long and although I’ve played very steady all week, I got no breaks. You don’t have to do much wrong to slip out of the top 30 and all that kind of thing goes through your mind.”
Wood will now start his season on the Tour with two events in South Africa next month. His impressive performance in Girona will mean he has one of the best Tour cards available from Q School, entitling him to play at least 25 of the leading tournaments.
“I’ve played more than 250 holes since First Stage of Q School in September and come through it all, so that’s a pretty good achievement. Now I just can’t wait to get started. I’ve worked really hard for this and I feel like I deserve everything I get,” he said.
Wood says this Q School achievement ranks alongside his silver medal win at the Open Championship in July. He added: “At the time, the Open was as good as golf ever gets, but knowing I’ve got a whole year ahead of me on the European Tour, it’s just as good. I’m going to relax finally.
“I’ve worked really hard for this so I feel like I deserve everything I’ve achieved, but this does cap a pretty amazing year for me.”
Wood was one of a record eight players who won Tour cards after playing all three stages of Q School. The Final Stage event was won by Sweden’s Oskar Henningsson with a score of 21 under.
Former Ryder Cup players Joakim Haeggman and Andrew Coltart will both return to the main tour after qualifying comfortably, but there was disappointment for Spain’s Carl Suneson, who shot 75 to miss by two shots, and Ireland’s Michael McGeady, who bogeyed the last hole to miss by a single shot.
Despite until now having to rely on invitations to play on the European Tour, Wood has already earned 99,706 euros (approximately £84,000) since turning professional this summer.
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