Forrest believes it’s now his turn for success as he eyes an impact on the big stage
Scotland’s Grant Forrest during day two of the 2013 Open Championship(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Motivated Grant Forrest says the success of fellow Tartan golf terrors drives him for a return to the winners circle.
But the Scots star admits life as a father has offered a fresh perspective on life and work.
Bob MacIntyre is leading the country’s efforts across the globe with two PGA Tour wins in 2024. Ewen Ferguson was successful in Germany last year and Calum Hill secured a triumph in South Africa less than two months ago.
Forrest’s last win came at the Hero Open in 2021, but he’s determined to get back on top and says his compatriots offer motivation. He explained: “Yeah, definitely. It’s coming up for four years since I won and the hunger is still there to win again.
“I struggled a bit last year apart from a couple of results towards the end of the season and now I’m trying to get my game back on track and at a place where I feel I can be a bit more consistent.
“Golf is such a fickle game. You could easily miss a cut then win the following week, so I think it helps when you see your peers doing well as I know I can do it as well.
“I don’t see it as adding more pressure. It’s more encouraging as you know that the next player could be you.”
Forrest has been working with coach Pete Cowan, but an association with veteran caddy Dave McNeilly ended last weekend. He said: “There’s not been much to shout about results-wise this year. Things haven’t really clicked yet.
“I’ve had some better signs, but other parts of my game, putting especially, have let me down at times when it is usually one of my strengths.
“Golf is hard. You are sort of spinning plates all the time hoping that everything comes together. It’s not really happened yet, but I’m still quite optimistic for the rest of the season. There was a lot of good stuff the past couple of weeks.”
Forrest has huge events such as the Genesis Scottish Open looming in the summer and also another appearance at the Irish Open where he has a terrific recent record.
Grant Forrest with his Scottish Amateur trophy
He joked: “I always keep that [Ireland] in my back pocket to get me out of jail every second year! But, yeah, it’s been tough.
“Having the little man as well now, life has changed a bit. It’s a big adjustment trying to get everything back on track.”
That little man that Forrest referred to is baby Spencer, who arrived last November to offer dad a fresh outlook. He said: “There’s nothing really prepares you for it. It changed things a lot for me.
“All of a sudden, golf isn’t the most important thing any more and it’s trying to adjust to that. But we [him and wife Christy] are both loving being parents.
“I don’t think it changes you as a person, but I think it brings an additional side to you that you didn’t know you had. The feeling when he was born is like nothing I had ever experienced before. It’s hard to describe, but it was amazing.
“Regardless of what I do on the golf course, I want to be the best dad I can be.
“Whether I play well or play poorly, it’s not going to change how good a dad I am so I try not to see it like that. And you want to do well all the time anyway.”
