Last Updated on July 2, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
James Nicholas achieved a major milestone this weekend by earning his first professional top-5 finish at the 2024 Italian Open.
Securing DP World Tour status is an impressive accomplishment; making the cut in a DP World Tour event is noteworthy (something James has accomplished multiple times this season), but a top-5 finish is a major step forward.
James is one of the most engaging players to follow because his resilience and skill level complement each other perfectly, as evidenced by his performance at the Italian Open.
Stick To The Plan
Entering any professional golf tournament, players must accept that they’ll encounter bogeys, poor swings, and unfortunate putts. Success hinges on how they respond to these setbacks.
James started his first round at +2 after four holes, thanks to a double bogey on the fourth.
While this wasn’t the start he hoped for, his response is what matters: he made seven birdies in that round, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to his game plan and refusal to give up.
This resilience is a valuable lesson for amateur golfers: a rough start doesn’t doom your round. As James says, “stick to the plan.”
The Closer
James’s ability to close out rounds is particularly noteworthy. His third round was solid, and he finished with three birdies in the last four holes, keeping himself near the top of the leaderboard.
On the final day, he finished two shots behind the winner. Although those two shots were within reach, leading the field in scrambling highlights his exceptional short game and strategic play.
This has been a theme for James all year. He’s currently 8th in scrambling for the season on the DP World Tour.
James’s end-of-tournament recap highlighted his excellent scrambling, supported by impressive stats like +1.91 strokes gained total and +1.13 strokes gained putting.
Dig A Little Deeper
As golf fans, we’re often focused on the big stories and the winners. However, it’s equally important to look deeper down the leaderboard. Players like James, who are achieving their first top-5 finishes or making crucial birdies to make the cut, make professional golf relatable and remind us why we love this game.
James is competing this week in the BMW International Open in Munich. For an inside look at life as a DP World Tour rookie, follow James on Grandstand. You’ll be glad you did.
