Wardrop Joins the Winning ISM Stable
Danny Wardrop, a member of England's amateur elite squad for the last two years, has turned professional today (October 3, 2003). Wardrop, whose mother and father Mike and Julie manage Didsbury Golf Club, ended his amateur career with one of his best ever returns. The 20-year-old shot 68-68-70 at the De Vere Mottram Hall to finish second behind Jon Cheetham in the MEN Open. "The time is right for me to end my amateur career and see just how far I can go in the professional ranks," said Wardrop.
"I want to take my game on to the next stage and am excited about joining the stable that includes Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and a host of other winners," he added. ISM head Chubby Chandler welcomed Wardrop's decision to join a team whose combined wins is now approaching 50 in just 12 years. "Danny is an exciting young prospect I expect to develop into a major player on the world's fairways in the next few years," said the managing director. Wardrop made his full England debut this year in the triumph over Spain and hopes to play the Challenge and other mini-Tours next season after cutting his professional teeth in South Africa this winter. "I have a big learning curve ahead of me, but I can't wait to get started. I am joining a stable with a host of big names and I just hope to follow in their footsteps and make an impression myself," he added. Wardrop and Westwood, who won the dunhill links championship last weekend already have something in common. They have both benefited from working with top swing guru David Leadbetter.