Emily’s insight into life at the top
The teenager played for Britain in the Enjoy Jakarta Junior World Championship at the weekend, cheered on by her family.
Lyle, 15, finished 12th in the 54-hole tournament in sweltering heat.
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Hide AdDad Andrew followed his daughter’s progress in what he described as challenging conditions.
He said: “The course was in fantastic condition, with the fairways soft and very well kept, the greens hard, very fast and true. The course was well designed with bunkers and water features. It punished the golfer who caught the hazard and rewarded the golfer that took the risk, but not without the correct club selection in the humid heat and wind.”
“We walked the course watching other players as well as Emily where possible, and realised how difficult it was, the heat being around 96F with the humidity in the 80s and 90s, it was very draining just watching.”
“They provided caddies to look after the juniors, to make sure they were drinking constantly and eating fruit when possible. Emily was drinking more than two to three litres of water per round.”
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Hide Ad“We felt that 12th place was a great result against some top junior players.”
While the trip gave his daughter the chance to mingle with fellow juniors from all over the world and experience different cultures, there was a downside for Andrew.
He explained: “The only disappointing side to taking your sport out of the UK, is that we are one of a couple of countries that don’t invest and support our juniors.”
“The British Junior Tour is run independently, by a person who also has a full-time job and invests his own money to help others.”
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Hide Ad“Most of the other countries had golf bags, golf clubs all the same, with different strips each day, team managers and a coach – and all the British team had was two t-shirts to last the week and a team manager.”
“The lack of support has a big impact on the future of British sport.”
The gap in resources aside, budding golf sensation Lyle believes the experience will stand her in good stead.
The county champion, and member at Worksop and Lindrick, said: “It has given me a fantastic insight to where I need to be both physically and mentally to better my game for the future, it will make me a better player back in the UK and will help me in my development.”