Sussex County Golf Ltd
Sussex Spotlight: Paul Way
If you grew up playing golf in Sussex during the 1970s, you might have heard the name Paul Way whispered within the golfing world. Born in Middlesex but forged on Sussex fairways, Way’s journey from a talented junior to a Ryder Cup hero reads like something out of golfing folklore.
It all started at The Nevill Golf Club, where an 11-year-old Way stunned the junior captain by shooting a gross 69. The captain’s reaction was simple and immediate: “You’re in but you're not playing off the ladies tees again!” By the end of the decade, Way was making his mark on the county scene, winning the Sussex Boys Championship in both 1979 and 1980, and then competing in the Sussex Amateur at Mannings Heath with sparkling rounds of 71 and 66.
County appearances followed when national duties allowed, and national honours weren’t far behind. In 1981, Way lifted the Brabazon Trophy at Hillside, to earn his England place in the European Team Championship at St Andrews in which they beat Scotland. He was then selected for the Walker Cup at the iconic Cypress Point. Representing Great Britain & Ireland, he won two of his four matches, one singles match against Dick Von Tacky 3&1 and one foursomes match against Jay Sigel and Hal Sutton on 1 extra hole.
One of his fondest early memories, though, came not in competition, but watching Seve Ballesteros work magic at a corporate day for Levi’s at Woburn. Seve threw three balls into a bunker, took a 1 iron, and proceeded to hit one close, one even closer, and then hole the third. “Pure genius,” Way recalls.
Turning professional at just 18 in late 1981, Way wasted no time in announcing himself on the European Tour, winning the KLM Dutch Open at only 19. A year later, he qualified for the 1983 Ryder Cup at PGA National in Florida, forging an immediate and famous partnership with Ballesteros.
In 1985, Way claimed one of the biggest prizes in British golf – the PGA Championship at Wentworth – after a playoff victory over Sandy Lyle. That same year, he played a pivotal role in Europe’s Ryder Cup win at The Belfry, partnering Ian Woosnam to great effect. The pressure was immense, especially with the match on home soil, but Way rose to the occasion, helping secure Europe’s first win in 28 years. Across his Ryder Cup career, he amassed an impressive 6-2-1 record from just nine matches.
Now, when asked what advice he would give young golfers, Way keeps it simple: “Keep practicing and learning every day.”
From a promising junior at The Nevill to a history-making Ryder Cup player, Paul Way’s story is proof that with talent, dedication, and a bit of Seve-style magic, local dreams can become global achievements.
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