CHARLOTTE ELLIS had made up her mind to quit life as a professional golfer on the European Tour – and then she came through last-minute qualifying for the Ricoh British Open, one of the world’s biggest tournaments for women which starts tomorrow (Thursday).

Charlotte, who lives in Avening, has not played in a tournament for five months while battling with an involuntary spasm in her forearm.

Indeed the two qualifying rounds she played to get to Woburn were the only ‘competitive’ rounds she has played during that period.

Last week she went for her first interview for ‘a real job’. Then she surprised herself by earning one of the last 16 spots in this week’s world class field by shooting three under par in Tuesday’s qualifying competition at the John O’Gaunt Golf Club in Bedfordshire.

So unprepared is Charlotte that her great friend and former Tour player Lucy Williams will this week act as her caddy – and then only with a small carry bag rather than one of the huge bags favoured by pros because Lucy is so tiny.

While Charlotte feels she has not entirely conquered her spasms, they are under greater control as a result of visiting celebrated sports scientist Dr Michael Lee at his practice in Sheffield.

Lee counts Premiership champions Leicester City among the elite sports teams for whom he has worked.

“The problem came to a head while I was on a short run of tournaments in Australia and New Zealand in February,” said Minchinhampton GC member Ellis who topped the national lady amateur’s Order of Merit in 2010.

“I was getting this involuntary muscle spasm in the forearm – not the yips exactly – but a physical issue over which I had no control.

“It was awful and I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.

“My long game was fine but it was affecting my chipping and putting. I just could not find a way of getting the ball in the hole. It was devastating. And then it started to affect my long game.”

Charlotte came home early after missing the cut in the New Zealand Open and took a break from playing competitively, but she kept her hand in practising and playing in a couple of pro-ams.

Physiotherapy and acupuncture wasn’t helping and then her chiropractor recommended she see Dr Lee after being impressed on one of his courses.

“Dr Lee is an amazing guy,” said Charlotte. “He diagnosed the problem as an overuse of the muscle but he also said my breathing was far too shallow and I was not using my core enough.

“I took some resistance and visual tests and they backed up his diagnosis.

“The problem has not disappeared completely and we are just going to have to see whether it stands up to the pressure of the Ricoh Women’s Open.

“But I feel it’s an achievement to get this far.”

Ellis played in her first Major when the Ricoh British Open took place in Scotland last year. She briefly topped the leaderboard in round one and is very keen to repeat the experience.

As for her future, she said: “A touring golf pro has no social life nor any guaranteed income.

“I’m 30, I have moved into my own place for the first time, and I now have this physical issue so maybe it is time to look for something else to do.

“I recently joined a golf recruitment agency and had my first job interview.

“Also, with all the atrocities around the world, I’m not comfortable with the travelling that this job demands.”

Of what might be her last hurrah on the Tour, she said: “Lucy and I will be in the last group out on Thursday, teeing off at 3.28pm which means a very late finish.

“We won’t be looking very professional either with Lucy just carrying a pencil bag because trolleys are not allowed.

“But I shall be very relaxed having Lucy around. She is a schoolteacher now but was an ex-touring pro herself and a qualified PGA coach.

“We’re determined to have a laugh and see where it takes us.”