Four Years after horror crash, Denison closes on Euro goal

 

BACK in 2007, Leeds-ace Danny Denison had the golfing world at his feet – only for a horror car crash to leave him with serious injuries.

Four years on, in France, the comeback from a brokenleg is gathering pace – a second-placed finish in the St Omer Open leaving Denison 44,000 euros richer and on the brink of joining the prestigious European Tour.

Now 26, Denison has shot up to fourth place in the Challenge Tour order of merit and a top 20 finish will earn him automatic elevation to Europe’s grand stage in 2012 and an opportunity to rub shoulders with the Rory McIlory’s of this world.

However, back in 2007 Denison’s own world was turned upside down when a horrendous crash, while golfing in Austria, left him hospitalised and unable to walk for the best part of a year.

A career that promised so much had been cruelly de-railed. Denison had only turned pro the previous year and had his eyes set firmly on a European Tour spot only for disaster to strike with the Yorkshireman in the passenger seat as the driver fell asleep at the wheel.

It’s been a long road back but now all routes seemingly lead to success with a brave and heart-warming comeback almost complete.

Reflecting on the pain-staking steps to recovery, Denison told the YEP: “Frustrating has been more the word to describe it.

“There was never really any talk of me never being able to play again so, from that point of view, it was just about me trying to focus on getting back to fitness and seeing where my game is at.

“Obviously I have had to work hard, but I have come back pretty well and now I’m quite optimistic.”

And why wouldn’t he be – Denison finishing second from a huge field in France – a finish that significantly swelled the coffers but, more importantly, shot the Howley Hall player into the Challenge Tour’s order of merit top four.

“France was just great,” said a delighted Denison. “Coming second was amazing and the prize-money is a massive increase compared to what we play for week-in, week-out on the Challenge Tour.

“Financially, it’s a big boost and it’s just a massive jump on the order of merit which is the main goal for the year.

“I think I’m up to fourth now and I’m chuffed to bits to be where I am.

“The top 20 gets you on the European Tour but the top 10 is the main goal because that gives you a better ranking.

“Once you get below that – 11 to 15 is still okay – but from 16 to 20 it’s not really that great a ranking as you don’t tend to get into the events.

“But I’m in a great position now to try and crack on and get into that top 10.

“I’m 26 and the European Tour is the only place I really want to play.

“Obviously the PGA tour in America has got more money to play for, but Europe has always been the goal and it would just be a dream come true.

“Playing golf, you look at the guys like Nick Faldo and Sergio Garcia playing on the European Tour and that’s where you want to be.”

Joining Garcia and Company is now a huge step closer, but Denison has had scant time to reflect on his superb second-placed finish in France with the Leeds-born ace flying back to Yorkshire the same evening as Sunday’s final day – arriving home just in time see McIlory’s back nine to glory at the US Open.

“Awesome” was Denison’s assessment of the Northern Irishman’s display but after a well-deserved Monday off Denison had his own game on his mind with the former Bruntcliffe School student embarking on a six-hour drive to Aviemore to compete in the Scottish Hydro Challenge which began today.

Events in Sweden, Italy and Switzerland then come thick and fast but you won’t find Denison complaining at the busy schedule – not considering his Austrian horror story.

Recalling that dark day, Denison explained: “I’d just arrived in Austria. Someone else was driving and he fell asleep at the wheel.

“I was in the passenger seat and saw him nod off towards the window but by then it was too late.

“We went straight through a left-hand bend and through a garden wall which flipped us over God knows how many times.

“Then, when the car came to rest, luckily we were all conscious and we were just checking making sure everyone was okay.

“It was probably a minute or so until I realised how bad my leg actually was and I think I remember being trapped there for an hour or so.

“Then when they took me out I was airlifted to hospital and knocked out for 12 hours or so while they rebuilt my leg.

“I woke up and didn’t really remember much about it but it all just gradually came back to me and the medical staff out there were fantastic.

“They got my leg moving straight away – I couldn’t walk for 10 months or so – but no-one ever said I would never play again, so I just had to try and focus on getting back to fitness.”

Denison’s second-placed finish in France is indeed proof that not just full fitness but top form have been achieved and now 15 more Challenge Tour events stand between the former English Amateur strokeplay champion and a place on golf’s grandest stage of all next term.

Of those remaining 15 events there are three that matter most – the Rolex Trophy in Switzerland (August 24-27), the Kazakhstan Open (September 8-11) and the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy (November 2-5).

The ‘big three’ boast significantly more prize money compared to the other Challenge Tour events and total prize money won is what will determine

Denison’s finishing place in the order of merit.

The 5ft 10 in player admits a place on next season’s European Tour would be the ultimate and his chances of achieving that goal are much better but, whatever the outcome, Denison knows he is lucky to be playing golf at all.

“People say how unlucky it was what happened to me – I had only just turned pro and I was doing all right at the time,” he said.

“But, when I look back at it, we were incredibly lucky to get out of the car at all.”