Dredge eyes home prize

12:04pm Thursday 29th May 2008

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BRADLEY Dredge once again finds himself in the firing line as he bids to end the wait for a Welsh winner at the Celtic Manor Wales Open, which was set to begin this morning.

Dredge, arguably the best-placed Welshman to finally triumph in the home event, was scheduled to tee off this morning at 7.55am with playing partners Soren Kjeldsen and Colin Montgomerie.

However, once more Dredge is facing criticism from the British press over his refusal to play more tournaments in order to qualify for the US Majors.

Dredge, runner-up at last year's Wales Open, also declines to attend qualifying events for the US Open.

He explained: "I understand some people have an issue with the way I do things, but everyone has their own way.

"My goal at the moment isn't to play in the US Open - although obviously I would love to win the Majors - my goal is to get into the top 50 in the world.

"I see it as a ladder you have to climb and I am not there at the moment.

"Once you get established in there then you get into the Majors automatically and accordingly.

"At the moment I have to try to qualify and if I try that for the US Open then I won't play the following week on the European Tour (because of fatigue).

"Which one do I miss out? At the moment I prefer to miss the qualifying and play in a tournament."

Despite criticism, Dredge is confident he can go one better than he did last year on the Old Roman Road course.

This year is the first time that the Wales Open has been played on the new Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course and Dredge feels it will provide a good fit with his game.

"It is a strong course here and I tend to play better on the tougher courses," he said.

I don't know why that is exactly. I tend to keep the ball in play; my short game is good and length isn't a huge issue so I can get round the longer courses.

"Hopefully I can play well and the course will suit me."

Dredge is refusing to relive the disappointment of last year when he was denied a playoff by missing a six-foot par putt on the 72nd and final hole, South African Richard Sterne winning out.

Instead the Bryn Meadows man is keen to look ahead to the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor.

"Because this is a Ryder Cup year I think everyone is starting to think about 2010," he said.

"It will be important to get a Welshman in there. It doesn't matter who; we all have to start playing a bit better than we are.

"If we do that then we might have more than one in the team and that would be absolutely ideal."