Offaly golfer's wife offers heartfelt explanation of return to amateur ranks

OFFALY man Stuart Grehan and his wife Carla Reynolds have responded to withering comments about his return to amateur golf from professional ranks in the wake of his sensational run of form this year.

Tullamore man Grehan gave up on his dream of making it in professional golf last year after seven years, getting approval from the governing bodies to return to the amateur game.

A very successful amateur golfer before turning professional in 2017, the big breakthrough eluded Grehan as he was confined to the subsidiary European tours. It was a tough few years and Grehan opted out in 2025, taking up a career in finance in Louth where he now lives and becoming a member of County Louth Golf Club in Baltray.

Ironically, he has reached a level of fame in the past year plus that was out of reach in his few years as a professional, winning one of the game's iconic titles, the British Amateur Championship this year and inspiring the Great Britain and Ireland side to a fantastic come from behind win against the USA in the Walker Cup at Lahinch last week.

A former member of Tullamore Golf Club and the son of John and Helen Grehan, his success in the British amateur means that he will compete in three of golf's biggest events next year, the British and US Opens and the US Masters but he must do so as an amateur.

Grehan performed heroics in the walker Cup as he came back to beat the world's number one, Preston Stout in the singles on both the Saturday and Sunday. Grehan was in the first match out both days, his exploits galvanised his team mates, particularly on the Sunday when they trailed by 9.5 to 6.5 points heading into the afternoon singles but snatched a dramatic 13.5 to 12.5 win.

Grehan's former status as a professional was queried by some in the wake of his British amateur success earlier in the year and was brought into the public domain again in the Walker Cup last week.

His heroics on the Saturday prompted renowned USA commentator Dan Rapaport to have a go at Grehan's former professional status, posting on X: “An awesome comeback. From a man who played professional golf for seven years.”

It was a cheap shot by Rapaport as Grehan competed in subsidiary tours and only managed what was described this week by his wife as “liveable wage”. While the rights and wrongs of professionals returning to the amateur game are being debated by some and it is a legitimate source of conversation, several of the US team would be competing at a full time level and come from wealthy backgrounds – even if they aren't playing for cash prizes in big tournaments.

There is also a formula for unsuccessful professionals to return to amateur golf, Grehan fulfilled that criteria and is playing in the game on merit and according to the rules.

It is an amazing time in Grehan's wife and him and his wife, Louth woman Carla Reynolds have now addressed the scrutiny on his former professional status.

In a heartfelt and emotional post on Instagram, Carla Reynolds gave a revealing insight into the strain that came on Stuart and their relationship after the birth of their son Kai a couple of years ago as he had to leave home for days at a time to compete in professional tournaments abroad.

She outlined how the path from amateur to the top in professional golf was not “linear” as he had expected and that the game he “loved playing so much was starting to drain his spirit and therefore mine”.

In a very honest assessment of the pressure they were under, she stated that by August 2024 she had lost the “ability to provide the emotional support to his career that I had been giving since we met in 2013”.

Carla stressed that the decision to give up professional golf wasn't just a financial one, though that was a consideration. “It was a well-being one,” she wrote, stating that they asked was this the lifestyle either wanted for their new son.

An early return after a disappointing tournament was the catalyst for a heart to heart discussion in a car outside their home. “We sat with tears in our eyes,” Carla stated, recalling that she suggested him returning to amateur golf and trying to make the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team. Her comment was tongue in cheek but was “also partly in desperation that he might consider an end to the addictive style of professional golf that was starting to yield cracks in our family.”

It was an option Grehan hadn't considered but she could see the whees turning in his head. “A glimmerof that spirit already returning. A weight had already been lifted,” was her desciption of that seminal conversation.

After assessing their options, he duly became an amateur again in 2025 “with a detour to buy some shirts for a new career in finance”.

Stating that no one could have predicted what happened since, she described the Walker Cup in Lahinch as a “dream”.

“To see Stu lead out Team GB&I for every session, with a crowd willing on his every shot, was incredible. The joy he has brought to us, our families, his clubs and golf supporters in Ireland makes me so proud.”

She described the enjoyment he has found in golf again, showing his talents but coming home “more or less” every evening.

“Golf is a game for life. Giving the professional ranks a go shouldn't mean high performing players are exempt from that. What does “”making it”” even really mean? We still don't know. We just know that we're not chasing it any more – and we're all the happier for it.”