LOCAL golf professional Paul Dwyer is heading east to try and kick-start his career as a member of the Asian Tour.

Dwyer, who is attached to Clitheroe, flies out on Friday in an attempt to win his tour card.

That will involve winning through three tough qualifying stages over 10 rounds in Malaysia.

But landing one of the 40 tour cards would make it all worthwhile for the 26-year-old Simonstone-based player, who missed the cut when trying to win his full European Tour place at the back end of last year.

"I went for my European Tour card and missed out on that.

"And while I had a good season in the Mastercard Tour last summer, and I'm exempt for that again next season, I just want another option," Dwyer explained.

"If I do get a card and get a year over there it will be some more experience for me and the money is a lot better than on the Challenge Tour.

"And if you do well on the Asian tour it can be a route into others like the European, US or Canadian Tours.

"It could be another step towards getting where I want to be."

The 20-event Asian Tour kicks-off in February at the end of the qualifying stage, where Dwyer will be joined by a number of other English-based professionals trying to be among the top 30 finishers over the first three rounds.

The top 60 then progress from the next stage before 40 make the final cut from the 72-hole final.

"To get my card I will have to play well throughout," admitted Dwyer, who hasn't played a competitive round since bowing out at the second qualifying phase of the European tour school in Spain and has spent the last few weeks putting dishes in the sink rather than sinking putts in his part-time cafe job. "From what I've seen on the television they've got some good players out there and the standard on the full tour is probably similar to the Challenge Tour here. I have got a week out there to practice and get acclimatised and used to the greens, which are bound to be different," he added.

Dwyer, who has a full summer schedule on the Mastercard and Challenge Tours lined up if his Asian bid falters, plans to finance his latest tilt at the big time by selling shares in himself.

He is trying to raise £30,000 to cover his playing and living expenses for the year by selling shares at £1,000 a time to businesses and £250 to individuals.

His prize money will go back to the investors, who stand to make a profit or loss according to the performances of the player, who won £12,500 last season on the domestic circuit.

"If I get my Asian tour card and the chance to play for more money, hopefully my income should go up.

"I will be giving my full prize money back to the people who buy shares because if they make a bit out of it that will stand me in good stead for next year," added Dwyer, who can be contacted on 01282 777091 or 07977 478281.

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