With the exception of perhaps long time friend, Rory McIlroy and a few others, there was one player who secured his 2012 Race to Dubai tour card earlier this week that for five rounds virtually went unnoticed at the European Tour School.
American-born Scott Pinckney shot an equal best score of 65 in the sixth and final round to join McIlroy on next year’s European Tour.
Pinckney went into the last day in tie for 66th place, to eventually take card number 24 among the total of 37 players to earn full 2012 Tour membership.
Pinckney carded earlier scores of 66, 73, 70, 71 and a fifth round 75 that looked to have spoilt his chances of Tour membership.
But eight birdies including six over his closing 10 holes gave Pinckley a 65 and an eight-under par tally and just two strokes away from the disappointment of missing out on his card.
Certainly among some of the early text messages of congratulations received by Pinckney would have been one from McIlroy.
Pinckney and McIlroy have been best of friends ever since McIlroy’s parents sent their talented young son to Orem, Utah, in the summer of 2000 to live with Pinckney and his family for three months.
A picture of nine year old Rory McIlroy with a similar aged Scott Pinckney. Both will compete next season on the 2012 Race to Dubai.
Rosie and Jerry McIlroy’s view was that their then 9-year old only child would do better working on his game in the sunshine of Utah than being forced to stay indoors in a Northern Ireland winter.
Pinckney and McIlroy lived and breathed golf representing Doral-Publix Junior High in Utah junior golf tournaments.
McIlroy won the 10-11 age competition and Pinckney finished runner-up.
Ever since, the now pair of 22-year olds have kept in contact.
While McIlroy’s talent was glaringly obvious Pinckney took a little longer before obtaining a scholarship to Arizona State University and eventually proceeding to become a All-America, capturing last year’s Trans-Mississippi Amateur.
Earlier this year, Pinckney lived out a dream in sharing the leading honors at a U.S. Open qualifier that eventually led to him teeing up in June’s Congressional field.
“When I qualified, I was so excited that I was going to see him,” Pinckney said to Golfweek
“That was the first thing I thought of, that I can’t wait to see Rory. I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep for a couple of nights.”
The pair finally met in an elevator within the spacious Congressional clubhouse and later went out shopping together and then sharing dinner.
McIlroy wound-up his U.S. Open preparations by organising for the two of them to play a 9p-hole practice round together.
But while McIlroy was on his way to stardom, Pinckney was among those cut from the tournament after shooting scores of 79 and 75.
Pinckney didn’t leave Congressional but stayed around to be among the first to congratulate his good friend before having his photo taken with McIlroy and the gleaming U.S. Open trophy.
McIlroy returned home a hero but didn’t forget his friend and spoke to organisers of the Irish Open who kindly afforded Pinckney an invitation to compete at Killarney.
Pinckney also contested this year’s Scandinavian Masters finishing in a share of 35th place.
And given there long friendship it was McIlroy who suggested Pinckney sign on with the U.K based ISM Sports Management.
However McIlroy’s departure to Horizon Sports Management won’t mean the end of their friendship.
You can be assured that whenever their respective paths cross the two will be playing a practice round together.
And how good would it be if the clock could be turned back a dozen years or so to see the sight of Pinckney and McIlroy playing together in the final round of a European Tour event.
