Muirfield posed one of the sternest tests in Open Championship memory last week, and while many may want to wipe the experience from their memory, Steven Tiley is excited about the lessons he has learned ahead of his return to action at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge this week.
Spending a week surrounded by the greats of the game has clearly opened the Englishman’s eyes, and he comes to Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil confident that he now holds the secret to playing his best golf going forward, as he looks to earn a European Tour card come the season’s end.
The Englishman currently resides at 19th on the Challenge Tour Rankings, a tie for second at the Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts in June his best finish so far this season, but he believes there is more to come, having had a taste of what is on offer at one of the world’s greatest golf tournaments.
“The top guys are just so comfortable in their own skin,” explained Tiley, who finished in a tie for 26th at Muirfield. “They’re not worrying what everyone else is doing, they just get down and do what they do, and play their own game. They know it is good enough, they believe in it, and I think that’s what I need to do to get to the next level – be me, and not get phased by that.
“You definitely pick stuff up from the better players, you’d be foolish not to, they’re the best players in the world, and that is what I aspire to be. Just their whole demeanor, and talking to them, they are just so comfortable in what they are doing.
“They don’t try anything that might work, they know what does work, and they just keep doing it, and that’s what I learned. Everyday I’m just going to try and play my game, and if in 20 years it is good enough, then it is good enough, and if not, then that’s all I can do.
“The next step is to finish in the top 15 on the Rankings come the end of the year, but you just have to take it week by week. Any week can change things, you can make big jumps out here if you play well or win.”
The Englishman will be joined by a number of top Challenge Tour stars in northern France, with home hopes resting on the likes of Victor Riu, fresh off a maiden professional victory at the Swiss Challenge a fortnight ago, while two time winner in 2013 François Calmels needs just one more title to follow in the steps of Brooks Koepka and automatically graduate to The European Tour.
Ryder Cup star Oliver Wilson will also tee it up this week, alongside European Tour winner Rhys Davies, as both look to rekindle their best form on the Challenge Tour.
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