TALENTED PGA professional Fern Grimshaw has embarked on a dual programme of extensive work on her fitness and long game to increase her chances of retaining the WPGA One-Day Series title.

The seven-tournament series, which will be staged at a string of testing venues, kicks off at Dunham Forest on May 17 and concludes on September 17 at Little Aston.

In between times, it will visit Salisbury & South Wilts (May 29), Chestfield (June 8), South Herts (July 4), Kedleston Park (July 20) and Forest Pines (July 31).

“It’s a good looking line-up of courses,” said defending champion Grimshaw. “And there are some new ones I haven’t played, so I’m really looking forward to the season getting underway.”

And the 24-year-old, who is based at the Wessex Golf Centre in Weymouth, is leaving nothing to chance in her preparations – a far cry from a year ago when a freak gym accident ruled her out of action for five months.

Grimshaw explained: “I fell off a fitness ball and pulled ligaments in my hand, which put me out from January to May.

“But I’ve had a good winter this time around, practising hard and working on my long game.”

That is the result of Grim-shaw being horrified by watching a video of her swing at the end of last season.

“It was shocking,” she admitted. “I don’t know how I got the ball around the course so with my coach I have worked at making that a bit tighter.

“I am looking forward to trying to defend my title but it will be difficult because there are a lot of good players out there.”

Grimshaw is coached by PGA Cup player Jon Bevan and she revealed the pair, together with three other players from the Wessex Golf Centre, are regularly running to boost their fitness.

She added: “I played with Tracy Loveys from Bigbury last year and she hits it miles. Hopefully the work on my swing, plus the fitness, will help me hit the ball a bit further.”