'Team Gurney' is definitely one to watch; Fairway FOCUS.

Byline: PETER RICKETTS

RICHARD Gurney is going about the business of earning a living in tournament golf in such a professional and dedicated way it's almost frightening.

The 21-year-old former Worcestershire No.1 amateur has been at it for two years now, having turned pro at the tender age of 19.

And he doesn't regret any part of the decision. He hasn't reached the heady heights of, say, Rory McIlroy, but he is steadily building a base for future success.

Golf is his work and his pleasure, he says, and he spends about 24 hours a day trying to improve.

He called me this week in high spirits, having had a very good start to the year.

"I won my first tournament of the season and three days later I was second after a play-off with the European Tour player Roger Chapman," he said.

The first event was the Golf Analysis 5000, a fourball event at Cumberwell Park, Bath, and he shared the pounds 5,000 first prize with his partner. Along with the cash came golf contracts with Ecco shoes and Bridgstone and a holiday in Spain.

The second was a 36-hole Players Tour stroke play tournament at Prestatyn where he shot 72 and a best score of 68 to tie with Chapman.

He said: "We both birdied the first extra hole then he got another birdie to my par and that was that. My prize was pounds 825, not a lot but it was a great start to the season and I'm very happy."

Gurney plans to concentrate on the EuroPro Tour this summer and sees no problem in having to get through the qualifying school in early April. His confidence knows no bounds and is the result of a great deal of hard work through the winter.

From November to February he worked out in a gym twice a day and added a stone to his slender 6ft 1in frame and he's built "Team Gurney" around him. They are:

Coach Kevin Hayward at Kings Norton.

Gurney's sister Joanne, who runs a fitness clinic in Cardiff.

Dai Davies, who played football for Everton and Swansea and won 52 caps playing for Wales and who now has a natural health clinic at Llangollen.

Alison Dyer, a sports psychologist.

Graeme Leslie, a stats guru who can spot the weaknesses and strengths of Gurney's game.

Dad Philip, who has backed his son all the way through since the lad got the golfing bug at seven years old.

"Team Gurney met for a fourhour conference at my club, Kings Norton, last October and my winter programme was laid out," said Gurney. "It's meant a lot of hard work but it seems to have paid off."