Reflections on 2024: A Summer of Wins, Challenges, and Baker Tilly Team Spirit

Hello again! It’s great to be back giving you an update on my 2024 season as part of the BTCI Team.

It’s been a very busy, but really satisfying summer for me playing on the DP World Tour in Europe.

I started back playing in Belgium at the end of May and I hit the ball really nicely tee to green to earn myself a 7th place finish. I felt like my game was in a really good place and was excited to get straight back into competition in Hamburg the following week at the European Open. I opened up with rounds of 68 and 66 for a score of -12 and a 3-shot lead going into the weekend, before closing with 72 and 73 for a 2-shot win; my first on the DP World Tour after a few close calls… I was buzzing!!!

I’ve been asked a lot about my win, and whether I approached it differently to times where I have had the lead in the past (and not won), or if there was anything specific I could put my finger on that helped me get over the line. The truth is, after winning, I realised more than ever that the result is entirely a consequence of being diligent and focused on your own process; and to win a golf tournament, you need the chips to fall your way. The task for me going forward is to become even more focused and refined in how I approach the game, and to let the results happen. The frustrating part of golf for players of all levels is the more you chase it, the more elusive it becomes! In the past my obsession with wanting to win actually became the obstacle I was trying to avoid on the golf course. In Hamburg, I was able to remain more present on the task at hand, and it had a huge effect on me being able to get over the line. It’s a great lesson for me in moving forward.

The win in Hamburg opened some doors for me on the playing side, and I was able to qualify for the Open Championship at Troon a month later. This was my 5th Open, and I feel like I’m starting to better understand how to prepare for these championships now. It’s so easy to over play and practise and leave yourself a little short of energy going into the event, so I try to front load my preparation on the Monday and then have a couple of relaxed days going into Round 1 on Thursday.

After steady rounds of 71 and 74 I made the weekend, which meant dragging Ewan and Gayle out of their plush hospitality on the Saturday and following me in some torrential rain! They helped inspire me to a good round of 70 in tough conditions, which meant I had a satisfying afternoon on the sofa watching myself climb the leaderboard with a cup of tea in hand. Going into Sunday I was 6 shots back of the lead, which gave me an outside chance of getting close to the lead. Unfortunately I got off to a slow start, and finished with a 74, for 25th place. 

A couple of weeks later, the real highlight of the golfing calendar took place at the sensational La Moye GC in Jersey… The BTCI Golf Day!

I absolutely loved my 2 days in Jersey. On Day 1, myself and Ewan took on 2 of the Islands’ most promising juniors in Ryan and Annabelle at Royal Jersey GC, a beautiful and historic Links Course. Ewan spent the 2 weeks in the build-up telling me how badly he was playing, and how many balls he was likely to lose, so I was a little bit surprised when he was 2-under par for his first 6 holes and beating me off scratch! He managed to carry us to a win against the juniors, although I’m sure they will want their revenge next year….

The Golf Day at La Moye was brilliant, the weather was perfect and I was able to rotate through all of the groups and play some holes with everyone. Putting an event together like that takes huge effort, and a massive thanks to everyone who made the day the success it was, and went out of their way to make me feel so welcome on the island. A particular highlight for me was sharing a drink with some of the BTCI Team in the evening on the beautiful terrace at the golf club followed by a sunset nearest the pin competition! 

Going in to the end of my season, I’m working towards earning my PGA Tour card for the 2025 season. At the moment I am on the bubble for earning my card, so I’m working towards some good play before the final event in Dubai in the middle of November. It would be a great way to cap off the season for me.

I hope to have more updates for you on that in the winter, in the meantime, I hope you can enjoy the last of some golfing weather.

Laurie