Staff WriterJames Allan arrives at the Interwetten Open with the kind of swagger that only comes from almost tasting victory—and the kind of humility that comes from being slapped back into second place.
After a runner-up finish at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, the Englishman is charging into Schladming-Dachstein Golf Club with renewed purpose, a cooler head, and a fire lit firmly under his FootJoys.
The Interwetten Open, nestled in the postcard-perfect Austrian Alps, may look serene, but for Allan, it’s the next step on a climb that’s been anything but tranquil.
“I had no form going into last week whatsoever really, but I changed a few things in my preparation, and I felt so much more comfortable,” he said. “I was so committed to my decisions and that really paid off on the course.”
Comfort and commitment—two things you don’t always hear in the same breath from a man who spent last season stuck in the golfing wilderness, unsure if his swing or sanity would hold up. But a top finish in a four-man playoff behind David Horsey appears to have done more than boost Allan’s bank account. It’s boosted his belief.
“I’ve taken a lot of confidence from last week and it has validated that I am working on the right things and I’m on the right track.”
It hasn’t been a straight road for the 30-year-old. After graduating to the HotelPlanner Tour in 2022 by topping the PGA EuroPro Tour’s Order of Merit, Allan’s game became as unpredictable as a pub quiz after five pints. That is, until he hit the brakes.
“I didn’t touch a club from November after Qualifying School to the start of March this year. I had a reset which was needed, and I have come back with a real hunger and I am enjoying my golf again,” he said. “My enjoyment for the game now is greater than it has ever been.”
That time away seems to have done the trick. Now, with a DP World Tour card in his sights, Allan’s not just swinging freely—he’s dreaming big.
“I feel like I’m good enough to compete for a DP World Tour card this year. I haven’t really shown that until last week but hopefully I can kick on now and start to climb the Rankings.”
He’ll need to. This week’s Interwetten Open field reads like a who’s who of continental talent. Renato Paratore, who leads the Road to Mallorca rankings, headlines the draw. Austrian duo Maximilian Steinlechner and Lucas Nemecz will have the crowd behind them in Oberhaus, while Justin Walters, Curtis Knipes, George Bloor and John Axelsen arrive fresh off securing their spots at The Open at Royal Portrush.
Allan will tee it up at 9am local time in Thursday’s first round, playing alongside Steinlechner and France’s Félix Mory. If the form from last week holds, expect fireworks before brunch.
The Interwetten Open may not be the final stop on Allan’s road back, but it’s a crucial checkpoint. And for a man who’s rediscovered joy in the grind, that’s a pretty good place to be.
