Phelan joins Chubby Chandler's ISM

Andrew “Chubby” Chandler will be looking after Kevin Phelan when he turns professional after the Walker Cup. Photo: Kenneth E.DennisKevin Phelan will turn professional after the Walker Cup and join former Ireland team mate Alan Dunbar in Chubby Chandler’s ISM stable.

The Jacksonville based Waterford Castle man, 22, believes the larger than life Englishman is just the man to guide him through his first steps as a professional.

Kevin Phelan walks off the eighth green during the final round of the US Open. Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie“I’m going with ISM and I am looking forward to it,” Phelan said. “Chubby has been excellent. Very helpful so far and I am looking forward to have a good relationship there where we can do well for each other.

“With Alan Dunbar also in the ISM stable it will be great to have someone I know so well there for the odd word of advice.

“I am very happy with my decision to go with Chubby, so hopefully it will go well.”

The Walker Cup is first on the agenda for Phelan, who impressed by making the cut in the US Open at Merion.

“I’ll be turning pro straight after the Walker Cup and I will go to the tour school in Europe and the US as well,” he said.

“Because I made the cut in the US Open, I get straight through to the second stage of the US Q-School in November, so PQ1 in Europe will be first, then stage two in America and then PQ2 in Europe, if I get through Stage One.”

Phelan has yet to sit down and discuss potential sponsors invitations with Chandler but plans to do so after the Walker Cup.

As for his bid for a tour card of some description, he said: “I really have no preference where I play once I have a steady card and steady stream of events to play in. I like both the US and Europe and I am very fond of both places and I’d be delighted with either card.

“Hopefully I will have a chance of winning my European Tour card because I feel like I am playing well enough to do well at the Q-School, but we’ll just take it one week at a time, stick to our guns and hopefully do well.”