Last year the pressure was on Steven Brown heading into the Portugal Masters with the Englishman needing a top three finish in the final full-field event of 2019 to retain his playing privileges for this season. Brown spectacularly rose to the occasion, securing a maiden European Tour triumph with a one-stroke victory at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course to avoid a trip to Qualifying School.
“The win in Portugal last year was beyond great,” said Brown, who pocketed €250,000 for his victory. “I’d dreamt about it happening for so long, so for it to happen in that situation was amazing. It was a tough season with lots of downs so to bring it back and have a massive high like that is something I’ll never forget. I want to win again now though, it’s just very hard to do whoever you are.”
Brown now finds himself in his third full season on the European Tour having first earned his Tour card back in 2017 with a top 15 finish on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit. Before cutting his teeth on the Challenge Tour the 32 year old was a regular on the Alps Tour and believes the experience of playing the mini tours helped him adjust to life on Europe’s biggest stage.
“I’ve had the experience of playing through all the levels of the game which makes it easier for me to see how lucky we are to be competing on the European Tour. We get to travel around the world to amazing places and do what we love to do, so I think it’s important to pinch yourself and not take it for granted.” – Steven Brown
With sporting schedules all across the globe currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic there will be no travelling for Brown for the foreseeable future as no European Tour events are set to take place until June. So, what does a typical European Tour pro get up to when they can’t compete in tournaments?
“I’m currently in London and being really strict with the social distancing and lockdown so I feel safe,” he said. “I’m trying my best to keep busy and enjoying spending time with my girlfriend, we’ve both started doing yoga – which is a lot harder than it looks – but we’re really enjoying trying something new.
“The game is ticking over as I’ve got a net in the garden and I’ve been trying to stay fit with some home workouts. I do really miss the competition of tournament golf as that’s what I love doing and being around your mates all the time in the great places that we get to go to.”
