Mel Reid aiming high and grateful to new coach for getting her back on track

After the toughest two years of her life, Mel Reid is ready to ready to reclaim her place at the top of women’s golf with the new coach she has called her career saviour.

Kevin Craggs, a renowned PGA coach with over a quarter of a century of experience in the game, has resurrected the form of the 27-year-old from Derby and renewed her confidence to compete with the world’s best players on the Ladies European Tour.

Craggs, who was Scottish ladies coach from 2006-2014, has already played a pivotal role in developing two British amateur champions, six Curtis Cup players and Scotland’s first bronze medalist at the European Team Championships in 14 years.

By her own admission, Reid has struggled for form and motivation through the last two years.
The 2013 season was her leanest since turning professional in 2008, as she slipped to 67th on the order of merit and achieved only two top-10 finishes from the 12 tournaments she played in.

Last year was not much better – two top-10 finishes and 32nd on the money list.

The problem was not all about golf. Reid struggled to come to terms with her mother’s tragic death when her parents were involved in a head-on car crash near Munich while they were on their way to watch their daughter play in the 2012 Ladies German Open.

Joy Reid died the following day of her injuries and her husband, Brian, was seriously hurt.

Incredibly, Reid returned to the tour only four weeks later and though she took an emotional win in Prague, it was a decision she later regretted.

But now the winner of four LET events and 2011 Solheim Cup player is ready to move forward again with a new team behind her.

“Kevin has saved my career,” Reid said.

“He’s also become my mentor away from golf. My previous coach, Dave Ridley, did a good job but being based in America wasn’t working for me.

“I’ve changed my caddy as well, with Mark Wallington taking over from Johnny Scott.

“I’ve now got the best possible team around me, I’m settled in my personal life and my game is improving.”

The 2008 rookie of the year took fresh confidence into the winter when she finished last season on a high with a tie for fifth place at the season-ending Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the Emirates Golf Club.

Last week, Reid’s form improvement continued with an encouraging tie for 12th place at the season-opening ANZ Ladies Masters at the Gold Coast’s Royal Pines resort in Australia.

Reid carded rounds of 72, 73, 74 and 72 at Royal Pines to help set a platform for further improvement, starting at this week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Open at the Royal Melbourne course.

“Kevin has helped to completely rebuild my swing and I’m getting more and more confident with it in every tournament I play in,” Reid, a former Chevin GC player, added.

“I don’t have huge expectations for this year but I am still going to be hard on myself because that’s the way I am.

“The main thing is that I’m enjoying playing again and, with Kevin and Mark’s help, I’m learning to keep things as simple as possible.”

Reid has finished in the top three in three of six starts at the ISPS Women’s Open and has every reason to look forward to the event, which starts on Thursday and is one of the richest on the LET.

“I love playing at Royal Melbourne,” she said.

“Its my favourite course and my favourite tournament.”

*Credit to Derby Telegraph