The Duke of Roxburghe will be looking on with great pride on Thursday as his son Ted Innes-Ker makes his European Tour debut.
Unexpected European Tour debut for Duke of Roxburghe's son
The Duke of Roxburghe will be looking on with great pride tomorrow as his son Ted Innes-Ker makes his European Tour debut in the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
Two years after watching on as a spectator as Europe won back the Ryder Cup, the 28-year-old has described it as "a dream come true" to be playing in the same event as Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal and four of that side on the Welsh lay-out.
"It's the most unbelievable opportunity for me and completely surreal," said Innes-Ker after partnering his father in the eve-of-tournament pro-am.
"I'm used to playing in smaller events, not one where the prize money is £1.8million.
"I'd always wanted to turn professional, but my parents urged me to go and get a degree first."
It was while at university that he became a close friend of Pippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Innes-Ker went on to work as an event assistant for the European Tour, joined WSM Sponsorship and then was given the chance to turn professional by this week's title sponsor.
He has already played in three Asian Tour events and has ambitions to try for a European Tour card - helped by the fact that the first qualifying event is at his home course, The Roxburghe, in the Scottish border country.
"My game's improved enormously in the last year, but this event is a big step up for me and just making the cut is going to be a tall order," Innes-Ker said.
"To really enjoy it - that's my main aim for the week."
He plays the first two rounds with Spaniard Carlos Del Moral and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo.
