Former Masters champion, Trevor Immelman delivered Alan Dunbar a blunt message of ‘practice hard’ as the young Ballymoney golfer now heads into the pro ranks.
Dunbar, 22 ended his amateur career with maiden Masters rounds of 83 and 77 and will take his first steps as a professional in the Euro 160,000 Challenge de Madrid starting on April 24th at the El Encin Golf Hotel course in the Spanish capital.
The reigning British Amateur champion will then have a week off before teeing-up in the Maderia Islands Open and before his first full European Tour invitation in contesting the Nordea Masters in Stockholm commencing on May 30th.
However first on Dunbar’s mind was regrouping after the huge disappointment in ending his first Masters with a 16-over par tally that included just one birdie but also 14 bogeys and a second hole triple bogey.
Immelman’s second day effort was only slightly better in posting a 75 but for a one under par cut that will see the 2008 Masters Champion play all four rounds of the 77th Masters.
“I can remember when I made my amateur debut here in 1999 and playing with Gary Player and Steve Stricker the first two days, and only just managing to make the cut right on the number,” said Immelman.
“But I really felt for Alan yesterday because he had a really brutal start bogeying the first and then taking triple at the second, and you don’t want to wish that on anybody.
“You could see he looked uncomfortable and not very happy but all credit to him as he played the back nine yesterday very solid, and he played a little better today.
“But he just seemed to be really struggling with the snap hook and that’s not ideal.
“And having only just learned he’s now turning pro my only advice to him is to practice hard.”
Dunbar arrived at Augusta in good form having won the Georgia Cup in nearby Atlanta and intends remaining in the ‘Crow’s Nest’ over the weekend to watch the event unfold.
He will take home a number of Masters shirts, commemorative flags and so on he purchased for family and friends, along with the dinner menu from the Amateur’s Dinner on Monday night and his Masters Player’s badge.
“I’ll remember the whole week for a long time to come as it was a great week,” said Dunbar.
“I got off to a bad start yesterday, but I enjoyed it and I hope to get back.
“I hit a lot of good shots over the two days, but didn’t hole many putts. “
