Bad Homburg, Germany – “I just wanted to enjoy every shot” - Robert Foley went into the final round of the Royal Homburg Open 2024 with a special goal. “Today I decided to go out and just have fun,” said the Swiss player with Irish parents. Foley felt no pressure in the decisive phase despite a long title drought. “I've never been as relaxed in a play-off as I was this time.” An attitude that had a positive effect on his result. The 27-year-old recorded the birdie on the first extra hole, won the play-off against Welshman Owen Edwards and was delighted with his first title on the Pro Golf Tour since the Raiffeisen Pro Golf Tour St. Pölten 2021.

Foley's rise was meteoric. He stepped onto the Pro Golf Tour stage for the first time in 2021. Thanks in part to his victory in Austria, he was promoted directly to the Challenge Tour. “Everything was going in the right direction. The year felt easy,” says Foley, who has only been playing golf intensively since the age of 16. But this was followed by two “very tough” years as a professional. “The hard work didn't pay off.” The man from Lausanne often let his own expectations get in the way. “I believe very strongly in my abilities and it's simply about managing expectations. You have to be able to reflect well to do that.” Things are now heading in the right direction again this year. Even before the victory at the Royal Homburger GC, Foley had finished in the top ten three times this season.

Leaderboard: All results at a glance
Order of Merit of the 2024 Season

Good energy with Foley

In the final round of the Royal Homburger Open, the focus was on having fun. “I went out on the course for the first time to just enjoy it. That was my strategy. I wanted to talk to my playing partners and create a good energy.” A recipe for success. Foley recorded five birdies in a row on the front nine. He was quickly in the middle of the title fight, but wanted to stay in the moment and not think about winning. With his second 60 (-6) in a row, he achieved a total score of -13. A short time later, his birdies in the play-off meant he was the winner. “That's the reward for staying positive.” Thanks to this success, Foley has moved up to fifth place in the Order of Merit and is therefore on track for promotion.

The fact that the winner was able to enjoy his time on the course this week was also due to the course at Royal Homburger GC. He described the unusual par 66 design as a welcome change to the Tour calendar. “I love that we can come to a tournament like this where we have to be in control of our ball flight.” Foley not only had control over his golf shots in Bad Homburg - but also over his thoughts.

The next stop on the Pro Golf Tour is the Iron Duke Belgian Open 2024 at Hulencourt Golf Club in Belgium (June 11-13).