McGrane insists patience is key to card worries

Damien McGrane putts on the fourth green during the final round of The Celtic Manor Wales Open. (Photo by Eoin Clarke/GOLFFILE).Damien McGrane admits must take a leaf out of Darren Clarke’s book and remain patient as he battles for his European Tour survival.

The Kells man, 40, is a lowly 102nd in the Race to Dubai standings with only the top 115 set to avoid a trip to the Q-School in December.

Clarke won the Open at the 20th attempt and McGrane knows that he must show the same patience and wait for his game to kick into top gear.

McGrane said: “Darren’s win just proves the point. You’ve got to hang in there and hang in there and wait and wait.

“You just have to wait your turn and that’s exactly what Darren did. He waited his turn.”

The Meath ace has had just one top-10 in a season he describes as “boring” and “uneventful” but knows that he still has four months to ease his card worries.

Prepared to wait his turn, he said: “I have been working hard but just haven’t been getting it together. I haven’t been scoring well but it is just part and parcel of the game and you have to just take it on the chin and get on with it and keep at it.

“I have half a year left to get something together. I haven’t had a singe result yet this year but that is just the way it is. I just have to wait.”

Putting has been McGrane’s cross this year and he could have a new weapon in the bag for the second week in a row.

He left his trusty Odyssey Two-Ball putter behind for the trip to Sweden last week and had try a new putter en route to 16th place in the Nordea Masters.

He joked: “It’s like that movie ‘Home Alone’. I packed all my stuff and hit the road and left it behind.   

“I got a different one when I got there and it was okay. It had its good days and it was a fresh look as well.

“What will I use this week? I’ve no idea. I have to make up my mind. I might try a few new putters in the pro-am tomorrow.”