​Owen Edwards believes Welsh golfers need more support as they look to establish themselves in the professional game [Getty Images]Owen Edwards was within touching distance of a breakthrough in his career and a moment to savour for Welsh golf.With six holes remaining in final qualifying for last month’s Open Championship, Edwards had a healthy lead over the best field he has ever competed against.But a place at Royal Birkdale slipped from Edwards’ grasp in agonising fashion, as seven dropped shots down the stretch saw the 34-year-old miss the chance to make a major championship debut.”It was brutal,” Edwards says.”There was a lot of pain afterwards. You think ‘how has this happened?’.”Edwards’ dispiriting finish denied him a landmark moment in a career spent trying to establish himself in professional golf.For Wales, meanwhile, it meant a third successive year without so much as one player in the Open field.The nation’s recent record at Britain’s men’s major championship is dreadful, while the world rankings make for miserable reading too.As it stands, Edwards’ friend Jack Davidson is the highest-placed Welshman, in 989th.Edwards, meanwhile, is ranked 1,511th.Where is Wales’ next male golf star coming from? Gareth Jenkins, performance director at Wales Golf since 2024, told BBC Sport last month that the governing body is attempting to produce more players capable of thriving in the professional game – but that it may take five years for work being done now to deliver results.Edwards, who came through the amateur ranks with Wales Golf before turning professional in 2018, believes there are changes which, if made, would make a difference for Welsh players attempting to reach the top echelons of the sport.”When you turn pro, there just isn’t support,” Edwards says.”I do want it to be clear that I am very grateful for what I got from Wales Golf and the support they provided for me.”There’s a lot of good work going on. I think the problem is a resource issue in Wales, whether it’s enough money or reach.”‘It’s not helping Welsh players get better’ Born in Cambridge, Edwards has spent much of his life in the Netherlands.But this son of parents from Carmarthen – who moved around due to work – is a passionate Welshman.Edwards really began to focus on golf after going to university in Birmingham, first in the Wales Golf squads and then as a professional.He has spent time on the now defunct PGA EuroPro Tour, the Pro Golf Tour and the MENA Golf Tour, and played Hotel Planner Tour events in his attempts to reach the DP World Tour.He has encountered golfers from numerous countries along the way – and believes that for various reasons, some are given a better chance of making the grade than players from Wales.”We meet guys from many different nations,” Edwards said.”I don’t know too many others who haven’t heard from their national union since they turned pro. I haven’t had contact with Wales Golf, so I don’t know if they’re trying to help or if it’s im