Cullen back in business

By Brian Keogh

Big Gary Cullen is bidding to complete an amazing comeback from injury in the Q-School this week.

The giant Dubliner, 31, has been working at Dublin retailer Golfworks for the past three years after a nightmare injury threatened to wreck his career.

But the former Irish Amateur Open champion is fighting fit again and feeling good about his putting after some breakthrough sessions with a Dublin mental coach.

Set to do battle at PGA Golf de Catalunya near Girona, Cullen said: "I was out for three years with a back problem until last October and things are going well.

"This is my first full year back at it and I have played on the Europro tour to get myself match fit for the Q School and I have done alright with two top tens and finished in the top 20 anytime I made the cut.

"If I can keep that up this week I will get through. Otherwise it is back to the head scratching and wondering what to do next."

Six foot five Cullen has the game to become a giant on the European Tour since he recovered his putting touch.

He said: "Sean Farrell has helped me a huge amount with the short putter. He has just got me thinking the right way and I am holing a lot more putts now, thank God."

Older brother Neil was set to caddie for Cullen at PGA de Catalunya, where Richard Kilpatrick, Mark Campbell, Noel Fox and Simon Thornton will also tee it up.

Cullen explained: "Neil broke his hand last Sunday and couldn't come. But I have a local caddie now. It was quite funny. I went to meet him and he pulled up in a Porsche."

Philip Walton will be hoping to get motoring alongside Chris Devlin, Michael McDermott, Glen Robinson and Gareth Maybin at Arcos Gardens near Jerez.

Michael McGeady, Alan Murray and amateur Peter O'Keeffe tee it up at Sherry Golf while Michael Hoey and Damian Mooney complete the 15-man Irish contingent at Costa Ballena.