David Higgins at Srixon Play-offs
David Higgins won the 2010 the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING and Failte Ireland, for the second consecutive year, playing a masterful round of 66 at the season finale at Mount Juliet, to see off the challenges of his closest rivals, Damian Mooney and David Mortimer.
Having won the Irish PGA Order of Merit last the previous year, Higgins was probably the favourite to retain the title, but wisely, he was aware that for most of the season the points differential was so small that a handful of names could have taken the number one spot. However in display of grit, balance and skill on a sunny day last October Higgins claimed the title with a rich vein of form, clearly proving that the Waterville professional should still be playing on a higher stage.
Unfortunately the earlier part of the season his results at the BMW PGA Championship, The Open Qualifying and European Tour School saw him fall short leaving him with some undoubted disappointments.
Hailing from a golfing family and with his Father Liam, who still plays on the European Senior Tour, it was no surprise that by the time David was twenty one he was the country's leading amateur. Following match play victories over Pádraig Harrington in the finals of the South of Ireland and the Irish Amateur Close championships he decided to turn professional in 1994.
In his Rookie season in 1996 Higgins earned £67,000 finishing just inside the top 100 on the Order of Merit. The following year he broke his left wrist and right elbow in a horse riding accident and failed to rediscover his form on his return to the game dropping down to the Challenge Tour in 1999.
In 2000 Higgins won three times on the Challenge Tour and was ranked 2nd at the end of the season earning his playing rights back on the European Tour for the following season. Having been unable to make the breakthrough over a few years Higgins returned to the Challenge Tour in 2005 finishing 12th - earning playing rights for the European Tour once again. However he lost his card at the end of 2007.
In 2009 he qualified for The Open Championship in Turnberry and in winning the Irish PGA Order of Merit earned a place at the 3 Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - but failed to make the cut at all three events. At the Final Stage Q School in December 2009 at the PGA Catalunya the Waterville professional man also missed out on a return to the main Tour
However, during the 2010 season David was very consistent on the Irish PGA Region winning five times - including the Quinn Insurance Pro Am and a second place at the Southern Championship in Powerscourt behind Eamonn Darcy - both of which set him on his way to another Irish PGA Title.
Late in the season David linked up with a new coach, his Uncle Ted Higgins Senior, and also saw his long time caddie, Andy Daly, leave for Australia.
In 2011 David Higgins has automatic invites to the BMW PGA Championship in May and, the Irish Open in Killarney, in the short term, awaiting possible invites on the European Challenge Tour before he considers a return to Q School in September.
Place of Birth: Cork.
Attachment: Waterville GC
Turned Professional: 1994
Career: 1989 Irish Boys Championship
1994 Irish Amateur Closed Championship, South of Ireland Championship
Challenge Tour 2000
NCC Open;
Günther Hamburg Classic
Rolex Trophy
NCC Open;
Günther Hamburg Classic
Rolex Trophy
