Kirsty Taylor set to make comeback

after brain tumour surgery

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
By BETHAN CUTLER
England’s Kirsty Taylor is set to return to competitive action next week when she tees up in The Oxfordshire Ladies English Open from July 4-6.
Taylor, the 2005 Wales Ladies Champion of Europe, underwent brain surgery in January followed by a six week course of radiotherapy.
She is still awaiting the all -clear but feels ready to make her first appearance on the Ladies European Tour since the Dubai Ladies Masters in December.
“I like the Oxfordshire Golf Club but in golfing terms I have no expectations,” said Taylor, who was a joint runner-up four times on tour last year. “It’s more of a test to see where I am fitness wise and concentration wise; to enjoy the week and to see everybody.”
Taylor’s home in Gloucestershire is just an hour and 15 minutes’ drive from The Oxfordshire Golf Club in Thame and her husband Alastair will caddie for her throughout the tournament.
“If I get tired and get a headache then Alastair will encourage me to come in as I would be daft to carry on,” said Taylor, who successfully played in the ISS UK Charity Golf Day at Stoke Park Golf Club on June 2.
“The next step is a scan in August and I'm having to wait until then until everything calms down inside my head. I saw the oncologist on Friday and the blood tests she had done came out really well,” she added.
Following a successful year of golf in 2007, when she finished the year ranked 18th on the New Star Money List, Taylor had to withdraw from January’s Women’s World Cup of Golf, played at Sun City in South Africa. She was due to partner Trish Johnson in the event but Danielle Masters went as her replacement after Taylor was diagnosed with the brain tumour.
Taylor, Masters, Johnson and Becky Brewerton had been playing in a pro am at Desert Springs Golf Club in Spain when, on the morning of January 9, the day that they were due to fly back to England, Taylor had a fit.
She had her first surgery on January 18, with another operation 10 days later. “It hasn’t been the best year of my life. I’ve just turned 37 and I’m hoping that my 38th year is going to be better than my 37th,” Taylor added.
She can’t drive for now and has taken up gardening to keep herself busy, with some cycling to Minchinhampton Golf Club, which is five miles away from her home.
“The support I have received has been unbelievable. I’ve had flowers, cards, texts from players and other people in the golfing world and members of clubs have all been fantastic, especially as I can’t drive; that is a bummer.
“I’ve missed the people and the competition but I can’t say I’ve missed the airports and the travel. I don’t think I’ve ever had a period at home like this since I was very young.
“I’m not going to be one of those people who says: “I’m lucky to be here”. It’s changed my outlook on life but I’ll probably still get annoyed if I have a bogey! It’s made me appreciate how lucky we are with what we do for a living.”
After the initial test at The Oxfordshire, Taylor may also tee up in the S4/C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe at Machynys Peninsula Golf Club from August 14-17, the scene of her spectacular victory in 2005, where she set a Tour record eleven-under-par 61 in the first round. “At the moment my plan is to play the English and the Welsh but that may change depending on how I feel. I don’t need to be dashing around the place at this stage,” she said.
She is the first to admit that she is unlikely to produce fire-works at The Oxfordshire next week. However, teeing up in all three rounds would be a huge achievement indeed.
To support Taylor and all of her fellow professionals, including the defending champion Becky Brewerton, come along to The Oxfordshire Golf Club in Thame next week.
++The Ladies European Tour has confirmed that amateurs Roseanne Niven (Crieff) and Carly Booth (Comrie) have both accepted invitations to compete in the The Oxfordshire English Ladies Open next week. The Scottish professionals in the field are Kathryn Imrie, Clare Queen, Lynn Kenny and Jenna Wilson.