Finding His Feet: Liam Nolan’s Rookie Season in the Professional Ranks

Irish professional golfer Liam Nolan has just wrapped up his first full year in the paid ranks, and if there’s one clear takeaway from his rookie campaign, it’s that he belongs. In this week’s episode of the Bogey Men Golf Podcast, Liam sat down to reflect on the highs, the lows, and everything in between—and the result is a refreshingly honest look at what it really takes to break through in modern professional golf.

Liam Nolan has just wrapped up his first full year on the Hotel Planner Tour

Right from the beginning of the season, Liam proved that the transition from elite amateur to professional wasn’t going to phase him. Retaining his status on the HotelPlanner Tour is no small feat, and as I put it when we started our chat, “You’ve had a great year.” It’s a sentiment Liam echoed himself later, summing it up simply: “It’s been a very big year — a very successful year for sure.”

Of course, the road wasn’t perfectly smooth. Liam was candid about the challenges that cropped up throughout his first season. “What I struggled with this year is just managing everything — the schedule, the travel, the expectations,” he admitted. Like many new pros, he quickly discovered that life on tour involves more moving parts than outsiders realise. As he put it, “It kind of took me by surprise how much goes into a full season at this level.”

But it’s clear these hurdles didn’t shake him—they shaped him. Liam’s perspective matured as the year progressed, and he learned what structures and habits work best for him on the road. That growth was matched by moments where his talent broke through and reminded him he can compete with anyone in the field. Early in the season that was made clear to him, after getting two invites from Golf Ireland to play in South Africa and making the most of the opportunities he said, “To get that feeling of contending early in the year was huge. It showed me I can compete out here.”

Those flashes weren’t isolated results either. As his season continued, Liam found more rhythm, more consistency, and more comfort on tour. “I was able to plan better as the year went on,” he explained. “You learn fast out here — you have to.” And even though there were weeks that didn’t go his way, he maintained perspective: “It wasn’t a negative year at all. It was actually very positive for me.”

Now, with a valuable rookie season behind him, Liam is turning his attention to what comes next. There’s no hint of complacency—only quiet confidence and purpose. “We’ll see how it goes next year, but I’m excited. I feel like I’m building something.”

That’s exactly how Liam's rookie season felt. If 2025 was the foundation, then 2026 is shaping up to be the year Liam Nolan truly steps into his own. The lessons are learned, the belief is building, and the path ahead looks brighter than ever.