Former Town midfielder Jimmy Bullard has progressed through the first stage of the PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School as he tries to make the grade as a professional golfer.

The 34-year-old shot rounds of 75 and 76 on the par-72 Constable Course at Stoke By Nayland on Wednesday and Thursday to finish seven over par and make it through to next week’s final stage at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire by four shots.

“The first round was steady for me,” said Bullard, whose contract with the Blues was settled last summer.

“I felt like I could have played better but it was difficult in the wind. On Thursday we had a lot of snow but everyone is in the same boat.

“It was a little bit into the unknown for me. I am used to playing football so for me to come up here for the first time with a pencil and card in my hand was a different pressure but I really enjoyed it. I couldn’t sleep last night, I just wanted to get out there again!

“I entered PGA EuroPro Tour Q School as an amateur just in case I didn’t qualify, then I could go back and play some amateur events and some medals. But do I believe I can qualify? Yes, of course I do.”

Bullard hung up his boots earlier in the season due to injury after a short spell with the MK Dons and says golf has helped him to adjust to life away from football: “I have enjoyed it so much and it has given me a bit of direction in my life.

“I finished playing football in October and coming out of a sport you have played for 15 years it goes stone dead and it is quite a surreal feeling, quite a weird feeling I had going on in myself and golf has got me out of trouble a little bit.”

Photo: PGA EuroPro Tour/Matchroom Sport

Photo: Action Images

bobble added 23:34 - Apr 5 and u can have a few beers while playing golf....
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Sindre94 added 23:35 - Apr 5 haha, jimmy jimmy jimmy...
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strikalite added 23:57 - Apr 5 He's got a hell of a way to go if he only shot 75 and 76!
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Garv added 23:59 - Apr 5 Oh Jim.
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solemio added 08:16 - Apr 6 You may have noticed that it has been rather windy, to say the least, these last couple of days. Of course scoring will be higher than normal.
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wkj added 10:27 - Apr 6 Why do I just think of Happy Golmore when Jommy plays golf? a character like him surely has some hyjinx afoot
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wkj added 10:28 - Apr 6 Why do I just think of Happy Gilmore when Jimmy plays golf? a character like him surely has some hyjinx afoot. rather
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neillrumsey added 10:46 - Apr 6 Agree with Strikealite he's a million miles away shooting thoses scores around Stoke By Nayland. Sounds like a 4-5 handicapper to me ..
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Nazemariner added 11:41 - Apr 6 Bloody good effort Jimmy! It was blowing a hoolie on Thursday and he shot a 76 which was far better than many decent pros shot.
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TimmyH added 12:32 - Apr 6 As mentioned in those cold windy conditions 75/76 isn't that bad, wish him the best - I reckon he was playing golf half the time when he should have been training.
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yorksblue added 13:18 - Apr 6 Can't handle 90 mins , but can manage 3.5 hrs. Knees used and abused in both sports! At least there won't be spectators calling him a money-grabbing **** on the fairways.
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Taricco_Fan added 15:38 - Apr 6 19th hole specialist.
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Talbs77 added 20:17 - Apr 6 I always felt Jimmy was a little lost in life and football kinda kept him on the straight and narrow. One of those that I think needs to do somthing, if he doesnt he would be proping a bar up, but wouldn't we all if we had a few quid in our pocket, the mortgage was paid and we had time on our hands...we'll....I know I would!! Or is that just me????
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ipswich61 added 08:16 - Apr 8 jimmy bullards PGA TOUR 14 out soon on the PS3 AND XBOX360
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