Paul Broadhurst hopes a change of coach will turn around his disappointing season.

The Atherstone golfer has parted company with Bob Torrance, who he has been working with since 2001, and is now being advised by Scottish coach Gary Nichol ahead of this week’s Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

Broadhurst has become increasingly frustrated by his indifferent form over the past 18 months. His inconsistency was evident last week at the European Open when, after surviving the cut with rounds of 72 and 71, he finished with disappointing rounds of 78 and 77.

“I have been working with Bob for sometime but I just felt the things I have been doing were not working for me,” said Broadhurst, who tees off alongside Sutton Coldfield’s Sam Walker for his first round at 8.10am this morning.

“I have been seeking advice for a few weeks now and everyone I have asked has said the same thing, that I should be doing something different. I have had a couple of practice sessions with Gary now and I am going back to what I was doing 18 months ago. I have not made a long term commitment to Gary, he is just advising me for the Scottish Open and we will see how it goes.”

Broadhurst told Bob, father of Sam Torrance, last Sunday but said there was no animosity and the two have split on good terms.

“It is a bit awkward for Bob as Marc Warren has also left him and that got a bit nasty,” Broadhurst said. “He hasn’t said anything about me and there are no hard feelings. I just feel I haven’t been playing to my potential for about 18 months now. It feels like a fresh start for me now.

“After the Scottish Open I have four weeks off, which will give me a chance to recharge my batteries. I then have ten events left to turn a poor season into an average one.

“Gary has already given me a few pointers. It isn’t as if I haven’t been on the driving range, I have been there all year, but maybe I was working on the wrong things. I feel like I have wasted the last eight months.

“I have a decent record at Loch Lomond and have finished in the top ten a few times so I am hopeful. We will just have to wait and see.”
Walker has had a poor season and has only made one cut so far this season but Broadhurst said he wouldn’t be offering him advice during their round today.

“I will probably be asking him for advice,” said the former Ryder Cup star. “I have played practice rounds with Sam but this is the first time I have played in a tournament with him, so I will get a good look at him then.”

This weekend’s tournament will be the last chance for Midlands duo Steve Webster and Peter Baker to find some form and gain some confidence before next week’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Baker, from Wolverhampton, and Atherstone’s Webster will be carrying the hopes for the region and both are praying the weather in Scotland doesn’t affect their preparation.

“I haven’t really thought about the Open yet as I am concentrating on this week and just trying to do as well as I can,” said Webster. “If I can get a good result here then I will go into next week with confidence. After the Open I am in America for the World Golf Championships and the US PGA, so this really is the start of four big weeks for me.”

Baker added: “The course is a bit soft but it isn’t problem. It is in good condition. Let’s just hope the rain stays away. I want to get four good rounds under my belt and if I play half decent I will go into the open with some confidence.”