Late entries being accepted
-
for launch of new tour at
-
Whitekirk on Thursday

Late entries are being accepted from male and female professionals for the inaugural event on the Xltec Pro Golf Tour.
The first event, over 36 holes at Whitekirk Golf Club, near North Berwick, tees off on Thursday.
Contacts:
Alan Tait - 07734 207119
Nigel Scott-Smith - 07939 015556
Chris Turner (110sport) - 07889 355856
Women professionals - of any nationality, and they do not need to be members of the Ladies European Tour or the WPGA -have to pay a one-off fee of £40 to become a member of the Xltec Pro Tour. A minimum of five female entries is required.
Competition entry fee for females per event is £50, all of which will go directly into the prize fund, plus a £10 administration fee.
DON'T DELAY - ENTER TODAY!
Discounted accommodation rates for competitors are available at the Marine Hotel, North Berwick

FIRST ROUND TEE TIMES
7.50am: Kenneth Glen (Royal Musselburgh), Eric Walker (Burntisland).
8.00am: Stuart Kerr (Strathaven), Norman Huguet (Musselburgh), Jonnie Cliff (Murrayfield).
8.10am: John Gallagher (Swanston Golf), Michael Rae (Alyth), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links).
8.20am: Alastair Thomson (Douglas Park), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Mark Kerr (Dalmahoy).
8.30am: Craig Everett (Caldwell), Stewart Savage (Dalmuir), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst).
8.40am: Graham Rankin (Drumpellier), Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw), Danny Wardrop (Didsbury).
8.50am: Chris Russell (RAW Golf Course Design), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Jason McCreadie(Buchanan Castle).
9.00am: Steven Hume (Murrayshall), Stephen Clark (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Graeme Stewart (Gleddoch).
9.10am: Chris Kelly (Cawder), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory).
9.20am: Reserved for late entries.
9.30am: Steven Duncan (Carnoustie), Craig Gordon (unatt), Steven Brown (Carnoustie Golf Links).
9.40am: Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Wallace Booth (Comrie), David Roger (Windyhill).
9.50am: Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park), Tom Buchanan (Duddingston), Owen Leslie (Edinburgh Leisure).
10.00am: Scott Henderson (Kings Links Golf Centre), Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation), Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo Golf Centre).
10.10am: Ben Irving (Kirkcudbright), Neil Cooper (unatt), Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar).
10.20am: Scott Henry (unatt), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Scott Catlin (Greenburn).
10.30am: Iain Hanna (Strathclyde Park), James McGhee (Turnhouse), Chris Currie (Caldwell).
10.40am: Craig Lee (Aspire Golf Centre), Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Euan Cameron(Hamilton).
10.50am & later: Late entries.

Charlotte Wild (Mere) and Nikki Foster (Pleasington), in action for England in the women's home internationals at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire last September (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

Girls' glory run ends in Sunningdale foursomes final

The glory run of Charlotte Wild (Mere) and Nikki Foster (Pleasington), playing off eight, ended only in today's final of the Sunningdale foursomes.

The girls, both England amateur internationals, were beaten by one hole by C Cowper (World of Golf) and N Reilly (Surbiton), a +2 partnership.

All credit to the winners but a big "very well done" to the girls to come through a huge field and reach the last stage of this prestigious event.

In the morning semi-finals, Cowper and Reilly bt S Lilly (Wellingborough) & A Lilly (Kettering)), playing off +1, by 5 and 4 while Wild and Foster beat M Morris (Walmley) and S Davis (Keddleston Hall), a +2 pairing, by two holes.

Irish find a way to give cash aid to THEIR

-

aspiring male and female professionals

-

FROM THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE
The Team Ireland Golf Trust this week announced grants totalling €217,000 to 17 aspiring male and female golfers who are pursuing their careers on professional golf tours.
Among the golfers receiving the top award of €20,000 are Alison Walshe, Tara Delaney and Martina Gillen.
Walshe, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, from Co Galway, who has a card on both the Ladies European Tour and LPGA in the United States, has decided to represent Ireland in the professional ranks after having competed as an amateur for the USA in the Curtis Cup match at St Andrews in 2008.
Delaney and Gillen will both play on the Ladies European Tour in 2010. Rebecca Coakley and Hazel Kavanagh will also receive grants of €15,000 to assist their campaigns on the Ladies European Tour and their efforts to qualify for the European Solheim Cup Team in 2011.
Irish golf enjoyed another very successful year in 2009. Team Ireland golfers made their mark with another series of successful performances on the major golf tours.
The Team Ireland Golf Trust, which is unique in Europe, plays an essential part in the development of professional golfers at the start of their tour careers, given the lack of commercial sponsorship.
The impact of these golfers in recent years is also a tribute to the excellent work of the ILGU and GUI in improving the standards of golf in Ireland. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr Martin Cullen TD, welcomed the allocation of the grants:
"I welcome the great work the Golf Trust has done over the years to assist and encourage talented young golfers to make the transition from amateur to professional international status. Without the initial financial assistance given to them, many of our successful international golfers would not have reached the successes they have achieved.
"Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Shane Lowry are among those who have benefited from the Trust. Padraig was a grant recipient from the original Golf Trust for a number of years, at the time when he was an amateur, and he has often talked of what a great help these grants were to him in his early career.
"I wish the Golf Trust every success as they further develop the talent of our young golfers pursuing their professional careers and, adding significantly, to our country's golf tourism profile abroad."
As part of the Trust’s support package, all golfers can avail of the world-class facilities at the GUI’s National Academy at Carton House. The golfers on the Trust scheme also have free access to the network of service providers such as physiologists, sports psychologists, biomechanists, physiotherapists, and doctors offered by the Irish Sports Council to the athletes on the International Carding Scheme.
Alison Walshe, reacting to her award, commented; “I am thrilled to receive this generous grant from the Golf Trust. I’m starting to play an extensive LET schedule this week in New Zealand and am really honoured to do it as a member of Team Ireland. One of my chief goals is to represent our country in the 2011 Solheim Cup and this support will help tremendously.”
This is the eleventh year of the Trust, which has provided €2.5 million in financial support to golfers to date. The Trust, which is administered by the Irish Sport Council, aims to contribute to an increase in the presence of Irish golf professionals on the various international tours.
It is a partnership between state agencies and the various golf organisations. Financial backing for the Trust is provided by the Irish Sports Council, Fáilte Ireland and the PGA European Tour.
Trust Chairman Padraig O’Huiginn stated: “The Trust was established with a very specific goal in mind, increasing the number of Irish golfers competing and winning on the top tours and hence promoting Ireland, north and south, as a golf destination.
"The proof of the success of the scheme is the presence of many successful Irish golfers in international competition. This brings enormous benefits to the game at home, not least by highlighting Ireland as an important golf tourism destination.”
Established players on the main European Tour, who have benefited from the Trust, are Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Gary Murphy, Michael Hoey, Gareth Maybin and Shane Lowry.
The Irish PGA, the Golfing Union of Ireland, and the Irish Ladies Golf Union, along with the state agencies are represented on the Team Ireland Golf Trust committee, which is chaired by Mr. O’Huiginn. John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council commented
“Irish golf is enjoying a period of unprecedented success. The Trust has played a major part in that success by providing support for top amateur players as they embark on careers as touring professionals”.
Team Ireland Golf Trust Grants 2010
Total €217,000
Jonathan Caldwell, Co Down (Challenge Tour) €15,000
Rebecca Coakley, Co Carlow (Ladies European Tour) €15,000
Tara Delaney, Co Carlow (Ladies European Tour) €20,000
Martina Gillen, Co Cavan (Ladies European Tour) €20,000
Hazel Kavanagh, Dublin (Ladies European Tour) €15,000
Niall Kearney, Dublin (Challenge Tour) €15,000
Richard Kilpatrick, Co Down (Alps Tour/Challenge Tour) €7,000
Brian McElhinney, Co Donegal (Europro Tour/Challenge Tour) €7,000
Michael McGeady, Co Donegal (Challenge Tour) €10,000
Colm Moriarty, Co Westmeath (Challenge Tour) €10,000
Paul O’Hanlon, Co Kildare (Europro Tour/Challenge Tour) €7,000
Peter O’Keeffe, Co Cork (Europro Tour/Challenge Tour) €7,000
Gareth Shaw, Co Antrim (Challenge Tour) €15,000
Simon Thornton, Co Down (European Tour) €20,000
Barrie Trainor, Co Down (Europro Tour/Challenge Tour) €7,000
Niall Turner, Co Cork (Europro Tour/Challenge Tour) €7,000
Alison Walshe, USA & Co Galway (Ladies European Tour) €20,000

Any comments? E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Laura Murray's attitude, worth ethic and personality impressed Paul Lawrie (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency, click to enlarge).

Laura Murray joins Paul Lawrie team for 2010

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Paul Lawrie has added Scotland women's amateur international Laura Murray from Alford to his Foundation team for 2010.
"Laura will wear our logo throughout the year on Glenmuir clothes provided for her. She will also receive Titleist balls and will be included in my team golf days where I play 18 holes four or five times a year with them," said the 1999 Open champion.
"I have been very impressed with Laura's attitude, work ethic and personality."
Already members of the Paul Lawrie Foundation team are David Law (Hazlehead), Scottish boys' and men's amateur champion, Tartan Tour pros Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) and Graeme Lornie (Kings Links) and Peterhead youth cap Philip McLean.
" I normally meet three of them at a time. We play 18 holes and have lunch. I pass on course management tips and which type of shots to play in certain situations. I try not to coach them as they all have their own coaches.
"Adam Hunter works on the short game with them all. They normally see Adam five or six times a year. We are currently trying to give them some funding but that's not confirmed at the moment."
Laura Murray, 21, is also a member of Murcar Links and Aboyne golf clubs. A former Robert Gordon University student, she is a full-time amateur who makes some pocket money, working as a swimming pool life guard at the Kippie Lodge Sports Club at Milltimber near Aberdeen.
Last week she almost became the first female to win a North-east Alliance competition. Her scratch 66 at Murcar Links was pipped by late finished Scott Larkin's 65.
"It's great that Paul Lawrie has made me a member of his team. That will be a big help to me. I am aiming to make this my last year as an amateur, playing in all the big tournaments and hopefully I'll be ready to have a go at the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School near the end of the year," said Laura.

Some good news about Tiger at last:

He's been reunited with his family

By NICK ALLEN

Tiger Woods has been reunited with his family for the first time in over a month after leaving a rehabilitation clinic.
The world's troubled number one golfer completed a programme in Hattiesburg, Mississippi from where he was picked up by his wife Elin Nordegren.
Despite earlier reports that the couple intended to divorce they are now said to be spending time alone to work on their marriage and intend to return to their home in Orlando, Florida.
Woods was reunited with his family in time for the first birthday of his son Charlie on Monday. The couple also have a daughter Sam, 2.

Reports that he had completed his course led to immediate speculation that he could return to the golf circuit within weeks.
There are suggestions that he could play in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona in a fortnight.
He would have to register by Friday for the tournament which is open to the top 64 players in the world.
However, his return appeared more likely to come in the Arnold Palmer Invitation in Florida, an event he has won six times, and which is played at the end of March, shortly before the Masters.

Tiger Woods giving up golf "indefinitely"

Tiger Woods, 33, has announced on his website that he is giving up golf "indefinitely" in an attempt to patch things up with his wife.
Read the full story by logging on to www.scottishgolfview.com

MacRae sets the Heather on fire to be lying joint

35th in a field 158 male professionals

Heather MacRae, playing over one of the toughest courses in Scotland and the only female in a field of 159, did very well indeed in the first round of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship today.
She had a three-over-par 75 to be lying joint 35th. The top 50 and ties after 36 holes will contest the weekend's two rounds.
Switch over to our other website, www.scottishgolfview.com, to read all about it and check ALL the first-day scores.

New Shire

champion Sara

and pro golfer

Terry to wed

in five weeks

New Aberdeenshire county champion Sara Thomson, who has changed her club from Murcar Links to Royal Musselburgh since she moved to Edinburgh to work as a graduate chartered surveyor with a company called Jones Lang LaSalle, and her fiance, Kings Acre assistant professional Terry Mathieson are getting married in five weeks, writes Colin Farquharson.

They are buying a flat in East Lothian.

Terry has confirmed that he has played a part in Sara's improvement as a golfer. The galleries at last Sunday's Aberdeenshire county final victory over Sammy Leslie (Westhill) with a last-hole birdie were most impressed with her short game.

"Yes, we have being doing some work on Sara's game. She's always been a very good player, but I've just being helping her understand how to get round a golf course better with a bit of work on her technique and short game," says Terry.

"Sara can be a bit off a perfectionist, but I have been trying to get her to relax and accept not every shot will be 100%! Far too many younger players that are coming through can swing a club well but can't play golf.

"I've been showing her how to play knock-down shots and how to control shots into the wind etc, which all came in very handy at a very windy Peterhead! I would love to see how good she could be if she played more because she certainly has alot of natural ability and she has shown she has the nerve and determination to win.

"She was also delighted to get the Thomson name on the trophy as it will be changing to Mathieson in five weeks' time!"

Callum Macaulay finishes second in European Tour event

Callum Macaulay from Kincardine birdied eight of the last nine holes to finish second - only one shot behind the winner - in this weekend's European Tour event, the Madeira Islands Open.
Read the report, see the scores by switching over to www.scottishgolfview.com

Sorenstam challenges Tiger to

television charity showdown

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
By JIM GORANT
While she was playing, Annika Sorenstam let her sticks do the talking, but now that she's "stepped away" from the game, she's running her mouth, sort of. Appearing as a guest speaker at the SMU Athletic Forum in Dallas, Sorenstam challenged her buddy Tiger Woods to a one-on-one, handicap-adjusted, televised showdown.
"If it's for a good cause, a good charity and it's good for golf, then I'm in," she said. "I haven't been playing much and he's probably in peak shape, so I would need a couple of months to get ready. Then I'd love to play him."
But she didn't leave it at that, saying that Woods has dodged her challenges before, including one for a pull-up throwdown. So far, Woods has not responded, but since both players are represented by IMG's Mark Steinberg, if there's any real interest in a match, it should be easy to set up.
Other than that, Sorenstam's enjoying her retirement, although she hasn't totally got away from the game. "I'm surprised," she said, "at how much I've watched on TV."

Credit Crunch biting LPGA Tour and

US Seniors Tour sponsors

The Credit Crunch is beginning to bite in all sorts of quarters ... including the LPGA Tour and the American Seniors Tour.
Ginn Resorts real estate company has announced that it is terminating all its golf sponsorships with immediate effect.
That looks like final curtains for the LPGA's Ginn Open and the men's Champions' Tour event, the Ginn Championship.
future.
Ginn Resorts is also ceasing its sponsorship of LPGA Tour player Cristie Kerr, the last player wearing the company’s apparel after Annika Sorenstam’s retirement.
“This wasn’t something that was done lightly,” said Robert Gidel, Ginn Development’s president and CEO.
“We got to a point where we had to give up on hope as a strategy. We just now have to figure out what’s in the best interest of our people, and I think that’s where a lot of companies are these days.”
Ginn said late last year that it was dropping the US PGA Tour’s Ginn sur Mer Classic because of the ailing real estate market. But the LPGA event in Reunion, Fla., and the Champions Tour stop in Palm Coast, Fla., were both to be played on Ginn courses.
Last week, though, Ginn ended its real estate sales and marketing operations “due to the loss of revenue” that was the primary source of funding the purses and buying television coverage for the LPGA and Champions Tour events.
“We did the best we could, but the economy got the best of us,” Gidel said.
Losing the Ginn Open will be a major blow to the LPGA Tour. The event’s $2.5 million purse was the third-largest on that tour in 2008, behind only the US Women’s Open and the Evian Masters.
If the Ginn Open is not replaced that will mean the LPGA scheule will have only 30 events this year, with nearly $7.5 million less in prize money than last season.

bunkered magazine

launches petition to

make Sandy Lyle

Ryder Cup captain

Scotland’s best-selling golf magazine, bunkered, has launched a petition to get one of the country’s most successful golfing sons, Sandy Lyle, installed as the next European Ryder Cup captain.

The magazine plans to collect as many signatures as possible through an on-line petition, which it will then present to the European Tour Players’ Committee in December.

A successor to Nick Faldo – European captain for this year’s loss to America in Valhalla – is expected to be announced by the European Tour in January, with the appointed candidate taking over the reins for the team in time for the next match at the Celtic Manor Resort, Wales, in 2010.

Lyle is understood to be among those in consideration for the post, along with Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal and Welsh legend Ian Woosnam.

However, bunkered believes that Lyle – the only one of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ of the 1980s to be so far overlooked for the honour – deserves the chance to lead the side.

“We believe that Sandy Lyle is long overdue the opportunity to captain Europe in the Ryder Cup,” said bunkered editor, Martin Dempster.

“Of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ of the 1980s, Lyle is the only one not to have been given this chance. Bernhard Langer, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam have all, deservedly, had their shot – now it’s Sandy’s turn, and we intend to do all we can to see that the European Tour give him the opportunity.”

Lyle was the first British golfer to win the Masters and was also the first Brit to win The Open for nearly 20 years when he triumphed in 1985.

It is expected that the 2010 match would be his last realistic opportunity to captain the team.

“I would urge all golfers to get behind our bid to get Sandy appointed by signing our petition,” added Dempster.

“No disrespect to any of the other names in the frame, we have the utmost respect for them all. It’s just that this is probably Sandy’s last chance and it would be a real kick-in-the-teeth to a true ambassador for European golf if he were to be denied this opportunity.

“We intend to gather as many signatures as possible and will deliver our petition backing Sandy in person to the European Tour in December.

“With enough support, we can get Sandy Lyle appointed.”

You can sign the petition up until December 5, 2008, by logging-on to www.bunkered.co.uk/sos

Heather has an 89 in World Hickory Open

Gullane assistant professional Heather MacRae, the only female player in the field, had an 89 using only six hickory-shafted pre-1935 golf clubs in the World Hickory Open at Craigielaw today.
Only Lindsay Mann from Carnoustie got within two shots of par. Read the full story and all the scores by switching over to www.scottishgolfview.com

Englishman who coached Morgan Pressel

awarded PGA Master Professional status

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY PGA.
An English golf coach who made his name across the Atlantic including guiding Morgan Pressel to become the youngest ever women's major winner, has received one of the highest accolades in the game.
Martin Hall, the former professional at Trentham in Staffordshire in the early 80s but now based at Ibis Golf & Country Club in Florida, has been awarded PGA Master Professional status in recognition of his brilliant coaching career.
The 52-year-old drew inspiration from great American coaches Jim Flick, Peter Kostis and Bob Toski. It was his subsequent friendship with them that led to him moving to the USA to pursue his passion for teaching and coaching.
Rated one of the best coaches by world famous Golf Digest magazine, Hall was also an instrumental figure in the Nicklaus/Flick golf schools, helping establish academies around the world and coaching in 16 countries from Japan to Canada.
More exciting for Hall was spending time with Nicklaus and also Tom Watson, and being able to pick their brains."It gave me a close up profile of what a world class champion is like outside of the ropes," says Hall.
"Not withstanding their enormous athletic ability, both were very certain, very sure of themselves and tremendously determined and competitive. I asked Jack how he could win 18 major championships?
"He said he knew he was never going to hit it left in the last nine holes of a major. That has given me great insight, under pressure he was absolutely intent that the toe of the club didn't pass the heel until after impact."
To me that knowledge really has clout, it's not something you read in a book."
Two other key figures in his life have been his wife, Lisa, the two-time Solheim Cup player and four time Tour winner, and Pressel whose victory in the Kraft Nabisco Championship last year made her at just 18, the youngest ever to win a major.
"I knew she was really good when she shot two 77s after qualifying as a 12-year-old for the US Open. She's quite a player," he said.
His own golf career began at 12 after his family moved to the countryside from Stoke."I wanted to be a footballer but we moved to the country and there was nothing to do," he said."One day in the summer holidays, when my parents were out, I took my mother's clubs, took a bus to Newcastle Golf Club in North Staffordshire and headed straight onto the first tee and played nine holes."
A life-long love-affair with golf duly began. His first job was as an assistant at Wentworth but he also played three years on the European Tour.
But it's in coaching where he has really made his mark and he's become a much sought after speaker with guest slots at both the US PGA and PGA teaching and coaching conferences under his belt.
"It's a big honour to get this PGA Master Professional award particularly because I've been out of the country for nearly 25 years," said Hall."It's when something like this comes along that it makes you realise all the hard work was worth it."

R&A Press Release

DEADLINE FOR CHEAPER 2009

OPEN TICKETS APPROACHES

Time is running out for spectators to take advantage of discounted season tickets for The Open Championship, at Royal Birkdale from Sunday 13 to Sunday 20 July.
Until the end of April, £200 buys a season ticket which gives entry for the eight days of practice and Championship play, a saving of £115 on the full price daily tickets.
“The R&A's policy has always been to make The Open Championship affordable to all spectators,” said David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships.
“As ever, it will be possible for spectators to pay at the gates, but until the end of this month we are offering an excellent discount on our season tickets, which allows access to Royal Birkdale for the entire week of the Championship."
During the four days of the Championship a daily ticket will cost £55, with concession tickets available. Children under the age of 16 will again be admitted free-of-charge, either by applying to The R&A in advance or if accompanied by a responsible adult on the day.
Birkdale’s 18th is one of the most dramatic holes on The Open rota, and for those who want the best possible view of this demanding finish there are a limited number of tickets left for the reserved grandstand by the green. 18th Green Reserved Grandstand tickets are priced at £230 each for the week and must be used in conjunction with a ticket permitting course access.
Ticket applications should be directed in writing to: Ticket Office, The R&A, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, KY16 9JD; by telephone on: +44 (0) 1334 460010 or through online purchasing at http://www.opengolf.com/.

SCOTS BEAT AMERICANS

IN WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren have won the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in a thrilling climax to the four-day, 28-nation tournament in China.

Last year, Monty and Warren lost to Germany in a play-off for the title.

This year, they caught the long-time leaders, America's Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum, over the final round to tie on 25-under-par 263.
In the play-off, the first two extra holes were halved in par 4s.

Then the Scots won the third hole and the prestigious title with another par.

Well done, boys!

At last a Scotland team that are champions of the world.

***Read the full story of the final-day triumph on www.scottishgolfview.com

FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4 x 72)
263 Scotland 63 68 66, United States 61 69 66 67 (Scotland won a sudden-death play-off at the third extra hole).

264 France 64 71 62 67.

265 England 63 68 67 67.

267 South Africa 63 69 66 69.

268 Sweden 66 70 66 66, Netherlands 65 69 65 69, Germany 62 71 66 69, Argentina 65 70 64 69.

269 Denmark 65 68 68 68.

271 China 65 71 67 68, Korea 65 69 69 68.

273 Spain 67 71 65 70, Finland 63 74 65 71.

275 Paraguay 66 73 67 69, Thailand 63 76 63 73.

276 Austria 64 75 69 68, India 65 75 65 71, Italy 65 68 69 74, Canada 66 72 64 74.

279 Australia 66 72 68 73.

280 Philippines 67 73 68 72, Wales 63 76 67 74.

281 Ireland 66 72 65 78.

282 Japan 67 73 69 73.
283 Colombia 68 78 68 68.

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO TOUR
PRO MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ
WINS HONG KONG OPEN

Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort tour professional Miguel Angel Jimenez today won the UBS Hong Kong Open. Full story on http://www.scottishgolfview.com/
Miguel might well pay the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival a visit in February ...

+We have been unable to put fresh golf news items on www.scottishgolfview.com since early on Sunday evening. We apologise for this glitch at Blogger headquarters. In the meantime, all our news items will be displayed on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

HUTTON SPLASHES HIS WAY

TO A 62 AT LANARK IN

CALLAWAY CHALLENGE

Downfield’s Kenneth Hutton, pictured right, shot one of the low rounds of the Tartan Tour season – and eight-under-par 62 – to lead by four strokes at the halfway stage of the 36-hole Callaway Challenge at Lanark Golf Club today.
Hutton’s brilliant effort was one below the amateur record of 63 set by Callum Macaulay in winning the Newlands Trophy tournament recently but his card does not qualify to be regarded as a new professional course record as preferred lies were in operation.
This followed very heavy rainfall around dawn which delayed the start by half-an-hour while the greenkeeping staff removed what excess water they could from the course.
Hutton, amazingly, managed to return his great score despite being first off the tee and having the greens squeegeed in front of him as he made progress round the course.
His figures were:
OUT: 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 – 31.
IN: 3 5 3 4 3 5 3 3 2 – 31
Incredible that Hutton could go round in a slow as 62 and still have two bogeys on his scorecard – 5s at the 11th and 15th.
He had birdies at the first, second, fifth, eighth, ninth, 12th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th.
Hutton, originally from Muir of Ord, won three pro-ams – Scotscraig, Eastwood and Nairn Dunbar – last year but has not won any this year.
His closest challengers with one round to go are Derek McIntosh (Eldereslie) and Gordon Law (Uphall), both on four-under 66. McIntosh bogeyed three of the last four holes in an inward 34 while the last of Law’s five birdies came at the 10th before he parred the last eight holes for 33 home.
Former European Tour leading light Ronan Rafferty, playing out of Doonbeg, did not find it quite so easy as the leaders. The Irishman’s round of 76 included a double bogey 6 at the fourth, a double bogey 7 at the eighth and a triple bogey7 at the 14th.

FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 70
62 K Hutton (Downfield).
66 D McIntosh (Elderslie), G Law (Uphall).
67 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle).
68 C Nicoll (Prestwick).
69 E Cameron (Hamilton), S Gray (Hayston), C Gillies (Kingsfield), G Duncan (Westin Turnberry), C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre).
70 A Crerar (King James VI), R Valentine (Craigielaw), C Elliott (Haggs Castle), B Wallace (unatt), C Kelly (Cawder), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), S Robin (Kilmarnock Barassie), S Savage (Dalmuir).
71 P Wardell (Whitekirk), G Fox (West Kilbride), D Orr (East Renfrewshire). B Mason (Drumoig), G McInnes (Murcar Links), A Mackrell (Gary Michell Golf), R Cameron McDonald Ellon), M Urquhart (Inverness).
72 E Davie (Dunblane New), T Burgoyne (Gotastroms), P Wytrazek (Burntisland), S Grieve (Kings Acre), G McFarlane (Clober), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), P Brookes (Pitreavie), J McKinnon (Irvine), A Oldcorn (Kings Acre).
73 Billy Marchbank (Auchterarder), D Robertson (Mearns Castle), D Patrick (Mortonhall), S Morrison (Glenbervie), A Erskine (Ratho Park), L Vannet (Carnoustie), J Cliff (Murrayfield), S Cairns (Westerwood), E Thomson (Largs), G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
74 S Pithie (Carluke), J Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House), N Huguet (Musselburgh), S Rettie (Royal Troon), C Doak (unatt), S Reekie (King James VI), A Hunter (Mearns Castle), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), S Catlin (Greenburn), F Mann (Musselburgh).
75 J Hedberg (Archerfield), S Gillespie (Burntisland), R Gray (Torrance House), P Jamieson (Dunblane New), A Lockhart (Ladybank), S Garrett (East Renfrewshire), A Waugh (Clydebank & Dist), L Mann (Carnoustie).
76 R Rafferty (Doonbeg), K Glen (Royal Musselburgh), J Wales (Kings Acre), J Porteous (Craigielaw), C Gordon (Edinburgh GC). H Wong (Burntisland), C Ronald (Carluke).
77 K Campbell (Machrihanish), S Lamb (Broomieknowe), S Duncan (Balbirnie Park), J Stevenson (Braehead), D Williamson (Kirkhill), A Gorman (Cluny Clays), J Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey), C Campbell (Carnegie Club). 78 S Forbes (Deaconsbank), C McCalman (unatt), S Spence (Wellsgreen), N Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), C Boyle (Lanark).
79 P Malone (Braid Hills), C Smith (Royal Musselburgh), M King (Kingsfield), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), J McGhee (Turnhouse).
80 G Hardy (unatt), S Johnston (Macdonald Cardrona), A MacKenzie (Liberton), K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle).
Retired – M Loftus (Cowglen).

US OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR RUSSELL

Florida-based Russell Knox shot 21-under-par 267 to head the qualifiers at one of the US PGA Tour's Qualifying School pre-qualifying tournaments over 72 holes at Cypresswood Golf Club, Spring in Texas.
Knox, who spent four successful years on the US college golf circuit as a student at Jacksonville University, Florida, had rounds of 66, 65, 66 and 70 - and still led the 37 qualifiers by only one shot.
Knox now moves on to Stage 1 of the Q School, 72 holes at one of 10 venues between October 23 and November 3.
From there the leading qualifiers advance to Stage 2, again over 72 holes, from November 14 to 17.
The US PGA Tour Final Qualifying School will be held over 108 holes from November 28 to December 3 at Winter Garden, Florida.

A FEW DOLLARS FOR FOR SCOTT JAMIESON
ON THE NGA HOOTERS TOUR

Glasgow's Scott Jamieson picked up a $1,820 pay-out for joint 25th place in the latest NGA Hooters Tour event, The Charleston Miracle League Open at Westcott Plantation, Summerville, South Carolina at the weekend.
Jamieson, who looked like missing only his second cut of the tour after a first-round 75, had a roller-coaster recovery with scores of 66, 73 and 69 for a five-under-par total of 283.
Over the four rounds, the former Scotland amateur international from Cathkin Braes had 17 birdies, one double bogey and 10 bogeys.
He has boosted his Hooters Tour earnings to $22,665 with his latest cheque.
To survive on this satellite circuit, a player has to shoot under par almost every round. The latest winner of the $33,566 first prize was Ryan Blaum from Florida with 72, 67, 67 and 63 for 19-under-par 269.

PRESS RELEASE

+We are currently unable to display the latest golf news on www.scottishgolfview.com. All items will be posted on www.kirkwoodgolf.com until further notice.

HSBC World match-play championship field
confirmed for Wentworth next month

Henrik Stenson and Søren Hansen have secured the final two places in the 16-man HSBC World Match Play Championship field as the leading two European Tour players, not already qualified, on the European Tour Order of Merit, as of today.
The following players have qualified and accepted their invitations to compete for the largest first prize in golf of £1 million at the West Course of the Wentworth Club,11-14 October:
Defending Champion
1. Paul Casey
2007 HSBC Major Championships Ranking:
2. Padraig Harrington (IRE)
3. Angel Cabrera (ARG)
4. Ernie Els (SA)
5. Woody Austin (USA)
6. Justin Rose (ENG)
7. Retief Goosen (SA)
8. Rory Sabbatini (SA)
9. Jerry Kelly (USA)
10. Andres Romero (ARG)
11. Niclas Fasth (SWE)
12. Hunter Mahan (USA)
HSBC European Tournaments Ranking:
13. Anders Hansen (DEN)
14. Colin Montgomerie (SCO)
2007 European Tour Order of Merit:
15. Henrik Stenson (SWE)
16. Søren Hansen (DEN)

Now in its 44th year, the tournament is officially sanctioned by the European Tour with the results counting towards the European Tour Order of Merit and Official World Golf Ranking Points. Total prize money will be £2,440,000 with all matches being decided over 36 holes.
For more information on the qualification criteria for the HSBC World Match Play Championship please visit www.hsbcgolf.com

+We have been able to put up any new stories on www.scottishgolfview.com since early Sunday evening. This is another one:

US WIN PGA CUP BY A SINGLE POINT IN GEORGIA

United States won the 23rd PGA Cup match by 13 1/2-12 1/2 against Great Britain & Ireland in the so-called club professionals' Ryder Cup match at Reynolds Plantation The Oconee Course, Atlanta in Georgia on Sunday.
The Americans took a 9-7 lead into the final day of singles after winning the Saturday afternoon four-ball matches 3-1.
GB&I, the holders of the Llandudno Trophy, won the singles 5 1/2-4 1/2, failing narrowly to make up the 2pt overnight deficit.

+We have been unable to put up new items on www.scottishgolfview.com since early Sunday evening. Here is another of the stories.

PGA CUP AT THE CARRICK AT CAMERON
HOUSE IN SEPTEMBER 2009
The Carrick at Cameron House, Loch Lomond will stage the 24th PGA Cup, the club professional's equivalent of the Ryder Cup in 2009 with provisional dates of September 14-20.The announcement was made at the current matches being contested at Reynolds Plantation, Georgia.
It will be the fourth time that the famous Llandudno Trophy, donated by Peter Alliss, has been contested north of the border with the last visit 11 years ago at Gleneagles in 1996.PGA chief executive Sandy Jones admitted he was delighted to see the event return to the Home of Golf and declared The Carrick a fitting venue for one of the most prestigious tournaments on the PGA schedule.
The course which was designed by acclaimed golf architect Doug Carrick measures 7,068 yards from the men's championship tees and is part of the five-star Cameron House hotel.
The venue is already on the international golf circuit and last week staged the Ladies European Tour's De Vere Scottish Open.

+We have had a problem putting stories up on www.scottishgolfview.com since early Sunday evening. Here is another of these stories.

ROBERT ARNOTT WINS TOP PRIZE AT LADYBANK

Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) won the £900 top prize in Sunday's Ladybank Golf Club pro-am with a three-under-par round of 68.
He birdied the fourth,s eventh, 11th and 15th and had one bogey, at the 10th.
Arnott won by one stroke from Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).
Kevin Stables (Elgin) led "The Sharps" trio of George Sharp senior (handicap 14), George Sharp junior (9) and Fergus Sharp (16) to victory in the team event with a net score of 13-under-par 58.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
68 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs).
69 P McKechnie (Braid Hills).
70 C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), A Crerar (King James IV), L Vannet (Carnoustie), F Mann (Musselburgh).
71 K Stables (Elgin), G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
72 G McFarlane (Clober), D Robertson (Mearns Castle), K Hutton (Downfield).

MONTY AND GAYNOR TO MARRY

EARLY NEXT YEAR AND SET

UP HOME IN PERTHSHIRE

FROM "THE SCOTSMAN" WEBSITE

GAYNOR Knowles probably doesn't know an eagle from a birdie - so she's unlikely to be able to talk about golf with Colin Montgomerie.
Friends say that ignorance of the game has allowed him to take his mind off things when they are together, which has helped turn his career around.
And they will be together a lot more soon - because they are getting married.
The golfer proposed to Mrs Knowles, 40, in the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire in front of the seven children they have between them. She said yes, and the wedding could take place as early as January.
His fiancée has also persuaded Montgomerie, 44, to move back to Scotland, with friends saying the couple will set up home somewhere in Perthshire.
Last night, the golfer, who is due to play in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles this week, said: "We are just thrilled and looking forward to the future together. We have not yet made any formal plans but will be planning with the respective families in the coming weeks."
Friends say the new relationship has helped lift the storm clouds that have blighted Montgomerie's form since the acrimonious divorce in 2004 from childhood sweetheart Eimear, his wife of 14 years.
A WINNER AGAIN

Last month, he won the European Open in Ireland - his first title in 20 months.
Mrs Knowles was left £20 million following the death of her husband, George, the head of the Sterling Furniture Group, who had a heart attack while celebrating his 41st birthday jet-skiing off his yacht at Puerto Pollensa in Majorca in 2003.
The broadcaster Dougie Donnelly, a close family friend of Mrs Knowles and her late husband, said: "My wife Linda and I introduced Colin to Gaynor at Gleneagles Hotel two years ago. We had dinner with them in the Strathearn Restaurant at Gleneagles and just last weekend Colin and Gaynor went back to the same restaurant where he proposed to her.
"The two of them and the seven children had been on holiday in France last week, where they all got along famously. The kids all like each other, which is great.
"Colin will come up here to live after they are married, which we expect will be sometime next year. I am sure he will move up from England sooner rather than later after the marriage. I think they are likely to settle in Perthshire, though not at Gleneagles."
Montgomerie asked his children, Olivia, 13, Venetia, 11, and Cameron, nine, for the go-ahead for the marriage, then pleaded with them to keep it a secret before presenting Mrs Knowles with a diamond engagement ring. The children are understood to have told their mother about it when their father took them back to her this week.
Eimear, 37, who is on holiday in Belgium with her new boyfriend, millionaire Nick Cooke, 55, said she was delighted by the news. "I haven't met Gaynor, but I am told by the children that she is very nice and they like her a lot," she said.
In September 2006, during their courtship, Montgomerie attracted criticism by breaking off mid-tournament from the BMW international open in Germany to make a 2,000-mile round trip by private jet at a cost of £30,000 to join Mrs Knowles and one of her daughters at a sell-out Robbie Williams concert at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
A CALMING INFLUENCE
Gaynor's late husband was an avid collector of classic cars and he left 70, including a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and an Aston Martin.
She lives in a £1.5 million mansion at Drum of Garvock near the village of Dunning, a few miles south of Perth, with her four children - son George, 18, and daughters Lindsey, 15, Christie, 12 and seven-year-old Aimee.
She has admitted having little knowledge of golf but has supported Montgomerie at major tournaments. Her calming influence has been said to have helped Montgomerie regain his golfing form.
During their courtship the couple have been spotted shopping in Harrods and entertaining friends in top London restaurants.

MONTY WINS - READ ALL ABOUT IT

Colin Montgomerie has won his first European Tour event for 19 months - the European Open in Ireland.
Read the story and the scores by switching over to www.scottishgolfview.com

R&A PRESS RELEASE

£4.2 MILLION PURSE FOR THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Total prize money for The Open Championship at Carnoustie will be £4.2 million, an increase of £200,000 on the 2006 figure. The 2007 Champion will receive a cheque for £750,000, an increase of £30,000 from last year.

The additional £200,000 will be distributed amongst the field of 156 players with an average rise of 5%.

“We are pleased to announce this year’s Open Championship prize fund” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A.

“Equating to US$8.4 million, this increased prize money reflects our goal of maintaining the position of The Open Championship at the forefront of world golf.”

The player who finishes in 70th place will receive £9,500 while the competitor in 156th place will receive £2,100.

When Paul Lawrie won The Open in 1999, he received £350,000 from a prize fund of £2 million.

Woods releases pictures of Sam Alexis

Pictures of Sam Alexis Woods were released on Tiger Woods’ website. Tiger is shown holding Sam, born June 18. He is joined by wife, Elin

“Both Elin and Sam are doing well and resting peacefully,” Woods wrote on his website last Monday night. “We want to thank our doctors and the hospital staff for all their dedicated and hard work. This is truly a special time in our lives and we look forward to introducing Sam to our family and friends over the next few weeks. We thank everyone for their well wishes and continued respect of our privacy.”

Tiger becomes a dad on Monday:
On the tee ... Sam Alexis Woods

Tiger Woods is, of course, "delighted" with the birth of his baby girl on Monday and that "mother and daughter are doing just fine."
Woods said on his website "tigerwoods.com" that he and wife, Elin, have named their first born Sam Alexis Woods.
"Both Elin and Sam are doing well and resting peacefully," Woods wrote. "We want to thank our doctors and the hospital staff for all their dedicated and hard work.
"This is truly a special time in our lives and we look forward to introducing Sam to our family and friends over the next few weeks. We thank everyone for their well wishes and continued respect of our privacy."
Woods did not say what hospital the baby was born in but he and Elin have a home in Orlando, Florida. He would only say the baby was born early Monday morning.
The due date had been a closely-guarded secret by the celebrity couple. Earlier this month, Woods spoke to organizers of the 2007 US PGA Championship, telling a luncheon gathering in Tulsa, Oklahoma that the upcoming birth had helped heal his heavy heart.
"This year is totally different," Woods said. "From losing a father to certainly becoming a father. My life is in two totally different places — a polar 180 from one another."
Woods has been keeping his schedule understandably open-ended. It's anybody's guess when Woods will play next as he has already said he planned to take a break and stay close to home after the birth.
"I'm pacing myself already just because of the fact that I have a baby coming up," Woods told the Tulsa group.
"I don't know how much I'm going to play after that or how much I'm going to play before that.
"A lot of that is depending on what happens and the health of Elin and our child."
Woods also said he would forego playing in a major during the period straddling the child's birth. The next major on the schedule, the Open at Carnoustie, is set for July 19.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

PRESS RELEASE

R&A REPORTS STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND
NEW ASIA-PACIFIC FOCUS IN 2006 ANNUAL REVIEW

The R&A, golf’s world rules and development body and organiser of The Open Championship, reports a strong financial performance, including increased support for golf development projects, and a new focus on the Asia-Pacific region in its 2006 Annual Review published today.
Operating profit, for the year to 31 December 2006, stood firm at £9.1m (£9.1m) after increased grants totalling £2.9m (£2.3m) were awarded to external golf development bodies. The surplus was again taken to reserves to ensure continuity in The R&A’s global governance role at no cost to the sport.
Also, at the year-end, The R&A’s founding club, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, made the last in a series of asset allocations to The R&A Foundation, taking its net assets to £13.3m (£11.4m). The Foundation made increased awards in the year totalling £1.6m (£1.4m) to golf-related educational programmes.
More work in the Asia-Pacific region is reported where The R&A has its first Regional Director in post and where initiatives such as an agreed programme with the China Golf Association, to train over 100 new Chinese golf referees, is underway.
STRONG COMMERCIAL SUCCESS
Commenting on the year under review R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson said:
“The Open at Hoylake was both a great Championship and a strong commercial success. We forecast £50m in golf development funding and other governance benefits for the game, by the end of the decade, when we adopted corporate ownership structures in 2004 and we will deliver on this ahead of time.”
“Our golf development funding totalled £4.5m (£3.7m) in 2006 and our governance contribution to the sport is valued at a further £4m (£3.8m) for the year’’, added Dawson.
Highlights of 2006 included:
The Open returned to Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake after a gap of 39 years and attracted almost 230,000 spectators, including 20,000 under 16’s.
Tiger Woods achieved the first back-to-back wins since Tom Watson in 1983 and declared the event to be one of the greatest championships ever staged.
57 broadcasters aired Open Championship coverage, reaching 410m households in 162 territories and making The Open one of the world’s largest annual televised sports events.
R&A governance contribution to the sport reached £4m (£3.7m): Rulemaking £2.5m (£2.4m), Championships support £1m (£1.1m) and sustainable course management funding £0.5m (£0.3m).
R&A AFFILIATE NEWCOMERS
National Golfing bodies in Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, The Caribbean and Jordan affiliated to The R&A taking the number of countries that host R&A Affiliates to almost 120.
R&A Equipment Test Centre opened on the St Andrews Links and submissions of new clubs from manufacturers to test for conformity to The Rules increased by a third to over 1000 pieces.
R&A Rules Schools are staged in Chile, Guatemala, Peru, Poland and Japan in the year and the annual Referees School in St Andrews attracted 80 delegates from 38 countries.
Landmark R&A referee training programme agreed with The China Golf Association to train and accredit new Rules officials in China: 100 primary and intermediate level by autumn 2007, 60 national level Rules officials by the end of 2007 and two international referees by February 2008.
The biennial Junior Open attracted 100 players (boys and girls, 12-16 years) from 61 countries.
Support for the Faldo Series in Europe and Asia reached £110,000, in annual funding, split 70:30 in favour of the Asian Series.
Support for university golf programmes exceeded £250,000 in annual funding, covering 13 institutions from St Andrews to Pretoria and over 50 individual student golfers, including reigning US Amateur Champion Richie Ramsay and Icelandic Women’s Champion Helena Arnadottir.
GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT WORK
1000 sets of TaylorMade Kids Clubs were sent to developing golf nations including Botswana, Croatia, Honduras, India, Rwanda, Tanzania and Trinidad & Tobago.
R&A support for the grassroots development work of The Golf Foundation reached £600,000 in annual funding.
R&A best practice website (www.bestcourseforgolf.org) that promotes sustainable golf course management in five languages has become an active community of over 2000 club and course managers, greenkeepers, agronomists and environmentalists.
R&A completed the restoration of what is believed to be the oldest golf match on film, dating back to 1898, the challenge match between Open Champions Willie Park and Willie Fernie.

MICHELLE AND MICKELSON RETIRE WITH WRIST INJURIES

MICHELLE WIE AND PHIL MICKELSON BOTH RETIRED WITH WRIST INJURIES BEFORE THE END OF THEIR TOURNAMENT ROUNDS TODAY.
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