Conor Purcell is set to continue his successful start to the Challenge Tour season at the 25th edition of the Challenge de España, held at Real Golf Sevilla Club.
The Irish golfer currently ranks 17th on the Road to Mallorca after securing back-to-back top-10 finishes in the United Arab Emirates last month.
Reflecting on last season, Purcell shared his thoughts on narrowly missing out on promotion to the DP World Tour.
“Last year obviously gave me some confidence knowing that I got very close to getting my DP World Tour card,” he said.
His experience has motivated him to aim higher this season, especially with the strong start he’s had.
However, he maintains a balanced approach. “I also know we’re only eight events into a season of 29 events.
A lot can happen between now and the end of the year so I’ll just keep working away.”
He emphasizes the importance of pacing himself while also acknowledging a shift in his mindset.
During his recent performances in the UAE, Purcell found success by staying focused and avoiding distractions.
“My headspace was very good for those two weeks in the UAE. I was quite disciplined with not really looking at leaderboards, and I did a good job of just focussing on myself”.
“The less I take notice of what other people are doing, I tend to do okay,” he remarked.
This season, Purcell has made the cut in all six Challenge Tour events, finishing inside the top 25 in five of those.
As he returns to Europe for the first time this season, he expresses enthusiasm about the venue.
“It’s lovely here,” he commented. “The course is in perfect condition and it’s really nice visually, so I’m looking forward to it.”
He adds that the greens are small with multiple sections, which requires precise iron play.
“The greens seem like they’re fairly small and there’s a lot of sections to them”.
“They’re quite quick as well, so I think having a decent proximity with my irons will be important throughout the week.”
Purcell will compete against a strong field, which includes the current Road to Mallorca leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, defending champion Martin Couvra, and four-time DP World Tour winner David Horsey.
The tournament begins tomorrow at 8:00 am, with Purcell’s group teeing off at 1:20 pm alongside Frenchman Gary Stal and Swiss Benjamin Rusch.
