Stuart Manley: Former Manchester United trialist aiming for comeback in DP World Tour.

Welsh Golfer Stuart Manley on His Journey from Football Failure to Golfing Triumph

Stuart Manley was a former youth player of Cardiff City and Swansea City, with a trial stint at Manchester United. Despite his love for football as a teenager, he strongly believes failing to make it in the sport was actually the best thing that happened to him.

Now aged 44, Manley has played almost 250 events on the DP World Tour (formerly known as the European Tour) after holding a card at the top level of European golf eight times. He currently plays on the Challenge Tour and his recent victory at Open de Bretagne places him one step closer towards regaining his spot in DP World Tour next season.

Average Start to Season Ended With Victory

“It’s been an average start to the season,” said Manley when speaking about how he had done so far this year. “But [the victory] elevates me now in the order of merit to get that golden ticket back to DP World Tour, so I am very pleased.”

The golfer who resides in Aberdare turned professional two decades ago and won Walker Cup winner in 2003 while also securing his first European Tour card via qualifying school later that same year. Since then, he has progressed through qualifying school six times and booked DP World Tour place twice through performances on Challenge tour.

Dreams Do Come True!

Manley never gave up on his dream even after failing to keep hold of a place at European golf’s top table.

“I know I can compete out there,” he says, “but I haven’t done it consistently enough.”

He is part of the Welsh contingent battling it out on this year’s Challenge Tour, with finishing in the top 20 come the end of the season securing DP World Tour place in 2024.

A True Champion

Manley’s recent win in Brittany was his first since 2021 and the fourth of his career on the Challenge Tour. He jumped from 53rd to 14th in the rankings, putting him within touching distance of a place at next year’s DP World Tour.

Although he struggled over the weekend, a fantastic final putt secured two-shot triumph over Lee Slattery and Manuel Elvira.

Determined for More

After celebrating quietly on Sunday evening, all eyes are now focused on this week’s Challenge Tour event that also takes place in France before returning home to try to claim a place at next month’s Open Championship via Royal Porthcawl ‘s 36-hole qualifying event taking place on Tuesday, July 4th.

In Conclusion: Only time will tell if Manley can make it back into European top tables consistently but with grit determination and perseverance you never know what is possible!