Career
Since turning professional in 1980, Philip has gone on to have an illustrious and celebrated career in golfing.
Introducing Philip Golding
Philip started his playing career competing on the Challenge Tour winning three times, after turning professional in 1981 and qualifying as a PGA instructor in 1984, he has since dedicated his time coaching at different golf clubs whilst also playing in regional tournaments winning numerous events and setting many course records. Philip succeeded in getting his 'Tour Card' in 1994 which enabled him to compete on the European Tour winning the French Open in 2003. He continued playing and coaching and then joined the Seniors Tour in July 2012 making his debut at The Open at Turnberry, Scotland.
In 2013 Philip won his maiden title winning the Wales Open at Royal Porthcawl GC and in addition had seven top 10's finishing 6th in the OOM. In 2014 Philip won again, this time the French Riviera Masters with three runners up positions ending the season 4th in the rankings for Europe. In 2015, he finished 6th in the OOM with three top 5 places and two top 10's and then repeated finishing top six in the rankings with again three top 5's and twice in the top 10 in 2016.
In 2017 Philip won the Swiss Open in July followed by winning the Travis Perkins Masters in September and finished fourth being the top British and European in the OOM. He marked his rookie season in Europe by finishing runner up in the Wales Open and then again runner up the following week in The Scottish Open finishing the year 17th in the OOM from just six tournaments whilst achieving the record of three consecutive rounds of 64.
Whilst still currently playing the Seniors Tour (Legends Tour) Philip continues to coach and also takes groups of golfers away to different parts of the world passing on his passion and skills to those that join him in this wonderful game.
Winner of the 2003 French Open
Christmas came early for Philip during the 2003 French Open, and as a result Christmas may never be the same again. Golding, the journeymen's journeyman, who has paid a record 16 visits to the European Tour's qualifying school, yesterday won the French Open, his first victory in 14 years.
It was his 201st event as a tour professional and in the previous 200 his best finish had been sixth, in 1996. A final-round 69, three under, at the Paris National course gave him a 15-under total of 273, to beat David Howell by one and Justin Rose and Peter O'Malley by two.
He won £290,971 which compares very nicely with the £297,523 he had won in his entire career before this year. He finished off in style with a birdie on the 72nd, his second over the greenside lake, the stroke of his life.
But the shock of his life awaited him, as for the first time in European Tour history dope tests were applied to three of the leaders, Golding, Howell and O'Malley, Rose being excused presumably on the grounds that he has been suffering from a virulent cough and cold all week.
Golding, from Luton and with no prior experience of contending in an event of this stature, played the final nine holes knowing that Rose had set a 13-under benchmark. That meant he needed to complete them in at least one and probably two under par to win, a daunting proposition even for the best.
But Golding stuck to the classic formula. 
Speaking after his win, he said:
"I just played one shot at a time," he said. "I wasn't afraid to look at the leaderboard. I was conscious of it. I saw that David had birdied the last, so I said to my caddie 'Four to win', which you always dream of.
"I trusted my swing, hit the fairway and then hit a six-iron 167 yards over the water. I tried not to think of my family. I knew they would be going mental every time I holed a putt and I knew I would get emotional if I thought of them. It was undoubtedly the longest weekend of my life and winning at the age of 40 is absolutely incredible.
"I know that last year, after Malcolm Mackenzie won after 509 attempts, people were saying, 'If he can win, so can I'. Well, now they'll be saying, 'If Phil Golding can win, so can I'." So the man who has never finished better than 119th on the Volvo Order of Merit can now contemplate the car of his dreams. "A Porsche," he said, "I've always wanted one of those."
The win spelled an end to what had become his annual attendance at the tour qualifying school. He was exempt from all qualifying as a result of this win for the following two years, and the man who once said that he would not know what Christmas was like without the school went on to experience much bigger and better celebrations.
Career Best Finishes
Have a Question?
If you have any questions, would like to enquire about coaching, or anything else, please get in touch.
Attached - Sandy Lodge Golf Club
© 2022 All Rights Reserved | Philip Golding