Purcell primed for pro debut: "There's no point in hanging around too long and delaying it just trying to turn at the perfect time"

Conor Purcell in action at the Carey Cup. Picture: MGA

Portmarnock's Conor Purcell believes now is as good a time as any to take the plunge into the paid ranks.

He has signed no management deals just yet and does not have status on any tour and yet looking at what some of his peers have achieved, there's no reason why he can't dare to dream of becoming golf's next rookie sensation.

The Walker Cup star (22) will make his professional debut in the AVJennings New South Wales Open in Sydney tomorrow (draw) before facing majors winners Adam Scott, Jason Day, Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia in next week's star-studded Emirates Australian Open.

And after discovering he didn't have to remain amateur to avail of the precious invitations he was awarded for winning the Australian Amateur title in January, he's excited to follow in the footsteps of former amateur rivals such as Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, who won €2 million en route to claiming this season's Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award.

"It's nice to see people you have played amateur events with start to do well," said Purcell, who will be following the footsteps of his father Joey, the former head professional at Portmarnock Golf Club.

"You can then start to compare yourself and relate to their standard. If they are able to achieve it, then there is nothing stopping you from doing the same.

"I think it's nice to have familiar faces around. I am playing this week, and I am bumping into all the Aussie guys I have played with or seen in amateur events over the past few years and they are now doing good things in the pro game. Having that familiarity with the people you are playing with helps. You are not just out in a big ocean of players."

Purcell could have remained amateur and competed worldwide as a leading member of the Golfing Union of Ireland's High Performance programme.

But he believed there was no point in delaying the inevitable and opted to take advantage of two golden opportunities to get his career off to a positive start.

He sat down with his family and the GUI's National Coach Neil Manchip a few weeks ago to reflect on the Walker Cup and decide his future.

"I can be quite stubborn and if I get something in my head and feel it is the right way to go, I am confident it will be the right thing," he said.

"When you weigh up all the options, it's about what appeals to you most and what drives you to work harder and achieve more things."

The 2019 season was a mixed one for Purcell, who played very well early in the campaign by following his win in Australia with a couple of top 10 finishes in South Africa and runner-up finishes in the West of Ireland and Flogas Irish Amateur Open.

His form was less impressive in the summer and he had a mixed Walker Cup, winning one of his four matches.

He did not enter the European Tour Qualifying School, even as an amateur, but after reflecting on the year and looking at the opportunities he now has in Australia, and doubts he might have had about turning professional at 22 have faded.

"I had the two events here and found out recently that I could avail of the exemptions a pro if I wanted to play them as a pro," he said.

"So I had a sit-down and thought about what I wanted to do in my career and the coming year. I had the option to stay amateur for a bit longer but felt this was a good place to start considering the success I had at the start of the year. So everything is feeling good and I'm excited to get going.

"There were a lot of factors but at the end of the day it came down to asking myself what I wanted to do in the golf world and becoming a pro is something that was inevitable at some point. I could have stayed on a couple more years and played the amateur scene but there is no point beating around the bush and the fact that I had a few invites helped.

Conor Purcell in action at the Carey Cup. Picture: MGA

"Originally I was coming down for the Australian Open but to have two events is really good to justify travelling down this far. It's a great event to start out at because there is a strong field this week and next week is even bigger. So we will take these two weeks as they come and then take a break over Christmas after what's been a hectic year."

Manchip has clearly had a big influence on Purcell's decision.

"Neil is very close and we keep in touch. I have had a few sit-downs with him and bounced a few ideas off him. My family was also a big influence and if I feel something's right for me, I am stubborn in my own way. If I get something in my head and feel it is the right way to go, I am confident it will be the right thing.

"It doesn't feel rushed or anything like that. It was nice to digest everything after the Walker Cup and to sit down after all those events and have some quiet time, and reflect on the year and the past few years and think about what's going to happen in the next few years, it all fed into my belief that now is a good time to turn pro.

"At the latter end of January, I will start up again whether that's with some warm-up events in Portugal or Spain or one of Q-Schools for the Sunshine Tour or Mena Tour. Hopefully, I will get a few Challenge Tour invites, and I can try to turn them into something more and get some experience under my belt.

"Christmas will be the time to sit down and plan things rather than rush things. I am taking these two weeks as they are, and once I avail of these two chances, I will start to think of all those other things such as management and sponsorship. It is exciting times ahead, and I am just looking forward to starting life as a pro.

"I've played with all the guys who've turned pro in recent years, but there's no better experience than dipping your toe in the water. It's just exciting. Playing amateur golf, you might achieve a few more things, but if the end goal is to turn pro, there's no point in hanging around too long and delaying it just trying to turn at the perfect time. It's a good time for me and we will take each event as it comes and play what we can play.

"When I sat down with Neil a few weeks ago we thought, why not avail of these. It's quite rare, whether it's an Irish person or not, that someone get to start their career in two high calibre events. It's nice to start down in Australian too, where I won at the start of the year. So I have fond memories of being down here."

Purcell last played competitively in the Carey Cup in New Jersey, where the GUI selection lost to the MGA and believes he's playing well enough to do well over the next fortnight.

"We had a nice trip there to the Carey Cup, and I came down here early practice and sharpen up the tools," he said. "The game is good."

With the world at his feet and youth and ambition on his side, his great adventure is just beginning.