Moor Park’s Matt Wallace is the latest English star to sign up for the Betfred British Masters at Southport’s Hillside GC. Picture by GETTY IMAGES
HERTFORDSHIRE’S Matt Wallace will be targeting a victory on home soil when he tees it up at the Betfred British Masters, next month.
The Moor Park ace has confirmed he will join tournament host Tommy Fleetwood, defending champion Eddie Pepperell and Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton in the field at Hillside Golf Club, from May 9-12.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed a meteoritic rise through the ranks, claiming four European Tour titles in the past two years after beginning his 2017 campaign on the European Challenge Tour.
Wallace, who won five times on the Alps Tour in 2016 to earn promotion to the Challenge Tour, will be looking to improve on his 16th place finish at last year’s British Masters.
Matt shared the early lead alongside Fleetwood, Pepperell and Alexander Levy after the opening round at Walton Heath, in October.
The World No. 36 accumulated six top 10 last year and already has a runner-up finish to his name in 2019 after impressing at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Now the Englishman is looking forward to showcasing his game in front of the Lancashire fans in Southport, having watched the event as a spectator just three years ago when Luke Donald hosted it at The Grove.
“Growing up playing in England, I know Hillside is a great course and that Tommy will be a great host,” said Wallace.
“The fans love him, and he will be supported massively, especially having the backing from Betfred. It is a big thing for the North West having this event up there.
“I played Hillside for the British Amateurs and I remember the back nine being one of the best I’ve ever played.
“I think Greg Norman has said it is the best back nine in golf, so it’s a pretty special place and I’m really looking forward to going up there and playing in the British Masters.
“I went to the one at The Grove when I was on the Alps Tour and my friend Callum Shinkwin played in it just down the road from where I was living at the time.
“I’ve watched lots of golf tournaments in England over the years, so it’s great to now be playing in all of these and having them on my schedule because they are tournaments I want to do well in of course.”
The Englishman believes the home soil advantage and local support at Hillside could play into his favour next month if he can harness what he has learned from his playing experiences in the UK over the past few years.
Moor Park’s Matt Wallace went to the British Masters at The Grove as a spectator in 2016 – three years later he is one of the favourites. Picture by GETTY IMAGES
Wallace added: “Home soil is key. To be able to do it in front your own fans – your countrymen – is huge, and it’s something that drives me.
“I got my first experience at Wentworth, which was probably my second tournament on the European Tour, and just the support and love we get from the English and UK fans is mega.
“English golf is just booming at the moment. I think there were 10 guys inside the top 40 in the WGC Match Play in Austin, and that’s quite special.
“It’s great that I am one of those guys and hopefully we can kick on from here.”
Fleetwood is following in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen Ian Poulter (2015), Donald (2016), Lee Westwood (2017) and Justin Rose (2018) when he hosts the Betfred British Masters in his native Merseyside.
Tommy said: “Matt has shown over the past couple of years just how talented he is to win four times on the European Tour and I’m excited that he is joining Eddie Pepperell and Tyrrell Hatton in the field.
“Matt, Eddie and Tyrrell are proven winners on the global stage, and all sit inside the top 40 in the World Rankings, so it’s great that we are showcasing some of the best young British players at the Betfred British Masters.”
Tickets to the 2019 Betfred British Masters hosted by Tommy Fleetwood at Hillside Golf Club, from May 9-12, are available by clicking here.
A range of hospitality packages are also available by following this link for more details.
