Time files

Oliver Wilson turned pro in 2003 and has experienced many highs and lows in his eventful career. Here, he reflects on that and the 2008 Ryder Cup, and assesses Europe's chances in New York

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A Ryder Cup and multiple professional wins... there have been numerous highs in your career but it's fair to say a few challenges, too...

Yes there have been some ups and downs - pretty tumultuous in places with losing my tour card and all the struggles that come with that. But you just have to keep working. In 2013, I was playing Challenge Tour and I was terrible. I really struggled, to the point where by 2014 I had just about had enough.

But I changed coaches and got some great information from Robert Rock, and had the chance to go and play in the Dunhill Links before Q-School that year, so thought I would give it a go. From my lowest moment came my first career win. It was incredible.

Is your best still good enough to win on tour?

My good golf is better than it has ever been, and I really mean that, so yes, I believe it is. But I am a different person now, so it is just understanding that I can still play golf with a slightly different attitude and different priorities, I guess. Family life puts things in perspective and can actually help. Now I have two boys and it is lovely for the kids to see me play well and that is a motivator for me - to play well in front of them.

When do you think you played your best golf?

Well, obviously the build-up to the Ryder Cup was great when I won my place on the team for Valhalla in 2008. But I probably had my best year in 2009 and I got my PGA Tour card to play in the Majors and WGC events. But I made a decision to stay and play in Europe as I was focused on making the 2010 Ryder Cup team, and that was when things started to become a struggle, both with illness and subsequently, my form.

How proud are you of your career and the resilience that you have shown to come back from losing your card to winning twice on the DP World Tour?