Golf: European Tour Q-School awaits Kieran Muir

AIMING HIGH: Omokoroa pro golfer Kieran Muir is chasing a European Tour card. PHOTO: GEORGE NOVAK

Kieran Muir's desire to make it on the European Tour has never diminished.

The 29-year-old professional golfer from Omokoroa is having his second attempt at the three stages of European Tour Qualifying School beginning in September.

To gain a coveted European Tour card Muir will need to finish in the top 25 out of more than 1000 entries.

He missed out last year at his first attempt at Q-School.

"I have mixed emotions. I didn't get through at the first stage. I shot two over and missed out by three shots. I didn't do what I can do well but it was nice to put myself alongside the other guys and know that I was easily as competitive," Muir said.

"One of the guys I played with got in and two went through to the final stage so I know I am there or there abouts which is nice."

Muir finished 10th in the New Zealand Open in 2014 and won the New Zealand Order of Merit title last year with six victories. He has won another three titles this year, including the Fiji Open which gets him a start in the $1.6 million Fiji International next month.

He has been playing on the Australasian Tour since he turned pro seven years ago but a crack at the big time is what drives him. Financially there is no comparison between the tours.

This month Kiwi Ryan Fox earned more than $800,000 in two events on the European Tour.

Muir has played with Fox for years in Australasia and said that was the pathway he always wanted to follow in Europe.

"To be honest I have survived and made a living. I have played well enough to make slightly more than I spent. Unless you are at the top end of the scale winning every year on the Australasian Tour you are not going to buy a house or invest money.

"So if you want to secure your future you need to go further overseas. Luke Toomey and Hayden Beard (also from Tauranga) are going to Q-School as well."

Muir is hosting a fundraising Ambrose teams golf day at Omokoroa Golf Club this Sunday to help get him to Q-School.

He grew up in Omokoroa and joined the club 20 years ago when he was nine. Sunday's fundraiser has sold out with 42 teams of three having a shotgun start at 11am.

"The members have always been there to support me, whether it is picking me up in down times or financially," Muir said.

"I love that I can still go out there and play with them on a Saturday and have a beer. It is a little reminder of why I play the game and why I enjoy it. It keeps you honest.

"I have met a lot of fantastic people and a lot of generous people over my career and the response for Sunday has been unreal."