Scot's best Masters since 1988 victory

Swing changes put

Sandy Lyle on track

for top 20 finish

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Former champion Sandy Lyle evoked thoughts of Masters tournaments past when he rolled back the years with a vintage performance at Augusta National to rekindle memories of his own Green Jacket 21 years ago.
The 51 year old Scot European Senior Tour Member produced four majestic rounds of golf to finish in a tie for 20th place – his best performance at the Masters since his famous victory in 1988.
One of the many highlights of the Scot’s stunning display was a run of five consecutive birdies on the back nine of his second round en route to a 70. Whilst making the cut for the first time since 2004 would have been an achievement in itself, Lyle maintained his momentum with further round of 73 and 71 to end the tournament on two under par 286 and record his best finish in major championship since he tied for 18th place at the Open championship in 1998.
Lyle memorably became the fourth non-American player to capture the Masters when he escaped a fairway bunker on the 18th hole with a seven iron and birdied the final hole in 1988 to win by a stroke over Mark Calcavecchia.
That followed his previous major championship success in the 1985 Open championship and cemented his place among golfing greats. Lyle’s top 20 finish on Sunday came after he finished in a share of sixth place at the European Senior Tour’s first tournament of 2009, the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by the Stapleford Forum, and he attributes his fine form to a change in his swing.
“I've played here 30-odd times, so I know how to play the course," he said. "It is just picking your shots. My ball striking has improved and it's nice to play without putting too much pressure on myself.
“I was just happy to finish below par. I had a double bogey in the first round, so to finish at two under was pretty good. The changes I've made mean I am blocking out half the course, which is something I have been trying to do for about 12 years.”

Cabrera cool under pressure when


the heat was on in the Masters

FROM THE TIMES.ONLINE WEBSITE
By John Hopkins, golf correspondent
Angel Cabrera's Masters victory will have been welcomed by no one more than an elderly and increasingly frail Argentinian sitting at home in a suburb of Buenos Aires.
In the 1968 Masters Roberto de Vicenzo appeared to have tied with Bob Goalby at 11 under par. De Vicenzo, however, had made a mistake with his scorecard, recording a 4, a par, at the 17th hole which he had actually birdied and thus he lost by one stroke. "What a stupid I am" he said, memorably.
It will be a relief to Cabrera, pictured above, that he won this championship. With his victory in the US Open in 2007 as well he is half way to winning all four of golf's major championships. The Open and the US PGA remain. This victory should now lessen the sting that De Vicenzo undoubtedly felt 41 years ago.
Cabrera has the rolling gait of a sailor on shore leave, the shoulders of a weight lifter and the face of a clergyman, someone with whom you could easily plead for forgiveness. But he is not a particularly cool customer. Watch him and you will see him occasionally cupping a cigarette in his huge hands and muttering to himself in Spanish.
Yet he was cool under pressure in the excited atmosphere on Sunday afternoon at Augusta National.
The way he recovered to get back into the competition after falling behind Perry and Campbell over his first nine holes was significant. He had three birdies in his last six holes.
So was the way he pitched close and holed from five feet to get into the play-off and so was the way he hit his second shot to the heart of the green of the second play-off hole after Perry's second had drifted left of the green.
The X factor that Cabrera had over Campbell and Perry was best explained by Perry, a man of considerable charm and grace. "Great players make it happen and your average players don't," Perry said. Left unsaid was that he (Perry) is an average player and Cabrera is something from an altogether higher drawer.
It was generous and apt, a fitting tribute to the burly Argentinian.

Law has 2011 Walker Cup in his sights

- but he might be a pro before then!


FROM THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By NICK RODGER
(with additional words by Colin Farquharson)
New Scottish boys' match-play champion David Law admitted he'd love to return to Royal Aberdeen as a Walker Cup player in 2011 – but revealed the lure of the pro game may be too hard to resist.
The Hazlehead teenager - he'll be 18 on May 4 - landed the biggest win of his blossoming career over the Balgownie links in his native city of Aberdeen on Saturday when he edged out good friend Paul Shields – the conqueror of Lothians hopeful Danny Kay in the semis – by one hole in a closely-fought final battle that went all the way to the 36th green.
Paul Lawrie protege Law has stated his ambitions of playing for GB&I in the prestigious Walker Cup when the biennial clash with the US heads for Royal Aberdeen in two years' time.
But the Scotland boys' team skipper admitted he could be tempted to start his career in the paid ranks before that if his rapid rise continues. Law said: "The Walker Cup, especially as it is in Aberdeen, is a big target and it's something I would love to play. If I managed to make it then I would probably turn pro after that.
"But if I feel I'm ready to turn pro before that then I will. That is my goal, to be a tour player. I have a good team behind me, with Paul and my coach, Neil Marr, and I'm sure they will advise me and put me on the right track.
"I was the backmarker in the championship and playing at home but I didn't feel that added up to a burden of pressure. Quite the opposite. I liked all the attention, all the fuss, being interviewed by the media and things like that and comming through all that and winning the title gives me a bit more belief."
Law thinks his comparatively rapid rise to the pole position in Scottish boys' golf dates back to the Scottish boys championship a couple of years ago when he started out in a tie against Michael Stewart (last year's champion) feeling he would do well to avoid a heavy defeat but in fact was not beaten until the 23rd.
"I came away from that match against Mikey, suddenly realising that I could play with the best of my age and the self-belief I derived from it has been the key to my play since then," said David.
Law was presented with the trophy by his mentor Lawrie after a thrilling 36-hole joust with Shields. And former Open champion Lawrie added: "It was a fantastic win for David, especially as it came in Aberdeen. I felt a big win for him was just around the corner and now it has arrived.
"There's no question that David is a better player than I was when I turned pro. I had a handicap of 5 then (Law's rating is +2) - and I was never good enough even to get into the field for a Scottish boys' championship," said Lawrie.
"David's biggest assets are his attitude and his temperament. I wish I had these qualities! If he keeps that up I believe he will go a long way in the game. The next two years or so are very important.
"He has to take his game up the next level. He knows that he has to improve his chipping and putting. That's not being hyper-critical of David. He's already a fine player but he recognises that he has to improve his short game and the only way to achieve that is to practice and then even more practice."
Top seed Law had been four up after the morning round on Saturday but Kirkhill youngster Shields hit back in the afternoon with an outward half of 35 to Law's 37 to and went on to level the match on the 35th hole when his rival thinned a chip into the greenside bunker.
All square coming down the 36th, Law rolled in a knee-knocking six-footer for his par on the last to pile the pressure on his opponent. And Shields, runner-up in last year's championship, suffered more final agony when his effort from five feet, to force a play-off, lipped out.
Law said: "Paul is one of my best friends. It's never easy playing against a pal and it was a sad way for it to end with his putt. But I have to be pleased for myself as I've never won an event as big as this.
"It's always tough coming down the closing stretch when you're trying to win a tournament and Paul really made it hard for me."

St Andrews Links quartet make

Golf Digest Top 100 courses

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST
Four of St Andrews Links’ seven courses have been listed in the prestigious Golf Digest Top 100 Courses ranking for the first time, prompting the magazine to name the town as the world’s “pre-eminent destination” for golf.
After only four months in operation the Castle Course has been named at No 65 in the list, two places behind the New Course. The Jubilee Course has moved into the top 100 at No 92, while the Old Course is in second position overall.
Golf Digest is one of the leading golf publications in America. Its authoritative biannual ranking of the top 100 courses outside the US is compiled by more than 900 golf course panellists, the editors of its 23 editions around the world and a range of golf experts.
The poll appears in the May edition of the magazine which describes St Andrews as “the game’s pre-eminent destination.”
The magazine praises David Kidd for his work on the Castle Course and suggests it demonstrates the “continuing evolution at the Home of Golf."
Alan McGregor, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust, which manages and maintains the seven public courses in St Andrews, said: “It is a wonderful achievement to have four courses recognised in such a definitive ranking. For The Castle Course to be included so soon after it opened is remarkable. It is also pleasing to see some well deserved recognition for the Jubilee Course. This is no mean feat when you see the calibre of the courses from around the world included in the ranking.
“A great deal of hard work goes into maintaining the courses at St Andrews Links in top condition and recognition such as this from one of the world’s leading golf publications is something of which St Andrews and Scotland as a whole should be proud.”
The recognition for the Castle Course follows hard on the heels of several awards. It was recognised by Travel & Leisure Golf magazine in America as the New Course of the Year and was named International Development of the Year by Golf Inc magazine in America pipping the Els Club in Dubai to the title.
The Castle Course was named as the 2008 Turf Professional Project of the Year by the Institute of Groundsmanship, the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and some leading turfcare journalists.
Golf World magazine in the UK included the course in its top 100 ranking almost as soon as it had opened.
The Old Course was once again the top course in Scotland according to the ranking, finishing ahead of Muirfield in third position, Turnberry at No 5, Carnoustie at No 8, Royal Troon at No 15 and Kingsbarns at No 18. The poll was topped by Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.

Law, Shields,
Robb, Scott
in McEvoy
Trophy field

David Law (Hazlehead) will have his first competitive outing as the new Scottish boys' champion in this week's Peter McEvoy Trophy, one of the "majors" on the British boys' golfing calendar.
A four-round stroke-play tournament, it tees off at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull in Warwickshire on Wednesday.
Past winners of the event include Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Peter Baker.
Three other Scots in this week's field are Paul Shields (Kirkhill), beaten finalist in the Scottish boys championship this year and last, Chris Robb (Inchmarlo), who reached the semi-finals before losing to David Law, and Jack Scott (Deeside).
Law is adamant that accepting a golf scholarship from a United States college is not for him. Robb says he is concering going there in the autumn of 2010 if he can get fixed up with one of the leading US colleges, and Shields, although less certain about his immediate future, does not think he will end up in the States.
All three would be welcomed with open arms by American college coaches, not to mention the likes of Stirling University who are very active in recruiting teenage Scottish golfers.
"America would be a great experience, I have no doubt, but I would have to commit to a four-year stay over there to get the best out of it. By four years' time, I would hope to be good enough to have turned professional so my ambitions in that direction would be marking time if I went to an American college until say 2013/2014," said Law.
+David Law is pictured above in action late in the second round of the Scottish boys' championship final at Balgownie. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click on it to enlarge.

Omega Mission Hills World Cup:

Change to qualification process

NEWS RELEASE
The 18 exempt nations for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be known earlier than in previous years with the leading player determined by the Official World Golf Ranking as at Monday, June 22, 2009.
The leading players then have until Friday, July 3 to commit to playing in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup, which takes place at Mission Hills Golf Club from November 26-29. The 18 nations that qualify automatically and their leading player are therefore confirmed on July 3.
The leading player may select any player of his choosing from the same country provided such player was ranked within the top 100 on the Official World Golf Ranking as of either June 22

or August 17.

If there was no other player from that country within the top 100 on the OWGR on either of the dates, the exempt player’s partner shall be the next highest ranked available player from the same country outside of the top 100 as of August 17.

If there is no other available player from that country within the top 500 on the OWGR as at August 17, the exempt player may select a professional of his choosing from the same country, without regard to the chosen player’s World Ranking.

The deadline for the leading player to select his partner is August 28, 2009.
For European nations competing in any of the World Cup qualifiers, eligibility is determined by The European Tour’s Race to Dubai in the first instance. If a European country does not have a player in The Race to Dubai, then the Official World Golf Ranking will apply. If any nation does not have a player in The Race to Dubai or with World Ranking Points, then the player will be selected using criteria determined by their local federation.
Sweden won the 2008 Omega Mission Hills World Cup as the European Tour No 1

Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson combined in the team event for a three-stroke victory over the Spanish pairing of Miguel Angel Jiménez and Pablo Larrazabal.

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

TOUGH TIMES AT ROYAL ABERDEEN

The Clackmannan county challenge for the Scottish boys' championship at Royal Aberdeen faded in the second round last week. Dollar’s Gary Chalmers, playing a bit below his best, was no match for Euan McIntosh (McDonald Ellon), losing by 5 and 4.
It was success for the other two, Grant Dowie started brilliantly in his match against Steven Watt (Old Course Ranfurly), being eight up after 10 holes and eventually winning by 7/6.
Lawrence Allan (Alva) had a much closer match, reaching the 17th green before defeating Jamie Burrows (Pitlochry) by 2 and 1. Lawrence led by two holes at the 10th, was pulled back and, thanks to some fine short game play, made it to Round 2.
In their second-round ties, neither could produce the golf needed for wins — Grant going down by 2 and 1 to Steven Smith (Deeside) and Lawrence by 6 and 5 to Daniel Kay (Dunbar).
It's all a bit more learning for Lawrence at the age of 14. He still has three more years to make a mark in the event.

CLACKMANNAN ON TOP AT BRAEHEAD

After two disappointing losses in the Provan Salver series, the Clackmannan team finally came good at Braehead with an emphatic 10-5 victory in the local derby match against Stirlingshire. Four team members — Scott Moffat, Mike Rust Jamie Aitken and Lawrence Allan -- were all undefeated in both the foursomes and singles.
Clackmannan selectors had made the bold decision to include two juniors in the team and the youngsters did not let the county down. They were paired together in the foursomes, starting with a pitch-in from Lawrence at the first and ending the match at the 17th with a solid par 4.
With a sound 4 – 1 lead in the foursomes, the team tackled the afternoon singles with great enthusiasm, eventually coming out on top there as well by six matches to four.
Team captain John Gullen was highly delighted with the result: “A first-class result with good golf from the Clackmannan players. Great to see 14-year-old Lawrence making a winning debut for the men's team … probably a record.”
It was also good to see rising European Tour star Callum Macaulay calling in a lunchtime to give the team a bit of encouragement.
Results (Clackmannan names first):

CLACKMANNANSHIRE 10, STIRLINGSHIRE 5

FOURSOMES (4-1)
Steven Horne & John Maxwell bt Steven Aitken & Chris Lawton 2 and 1.
Mike Rust & Iain Munro bt Ross Kane & Kenny Anderson 3 and 2.
Scott Moffat & Jamie Aitken bt Jamie Lynch & Ryan Campbell 5 and 4.
Darren Hulston & David Milloy lost to Mark Hislop & Lindsay Blair 1 hole.
Lawrence Allan & Grant Dowie bt Tommy Wilson & Derek Fish 2 and 1.
SINGLES (6-4)
Moffat bt S Aitken 2 holes.
Rust bt Lawton 3 and 2.
Benvie bt Wilson 3 and 2.
Maxwell lost to Anderson 2 holes.
Munro lost to Lynch 1 hole.
J Aitken bt Kane 5 and 4.
Hulston lost to Campbell 2 and 1.
Milloy bt Hislop 3 and 2.
Allan bt Blair 1 hole.
Dowie lost to Fish 2 holes.

The Clackmannan team now have a free weekend before taking on Fife in the final Provan Salver match at Burntisland.

HONOUR FOR GRANT

Grant Dowie (Alloa) made his own golfing headlines recently. Playing in the Elmwood College four-man team, he helped them to a third place finish in the British Colleges Championship over the Fairmont course at St Andrews.

CRAIGMILLAR PARK OPEN
The Craigmillar Park Open is the traditional opening 72 hole event counting for the Scottish Order of Merit title.
Dollar’s Scott Borrowman lay just five shots off the pace at the halfway stage with rounds of 67 and 68. He slipped back with a two over par round 72, then finished strongly with a four-under-par 66, giving a seven-under total of 273, 12 shots behind the winner, after a play-off against Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm), Gavin Dear (Murrayshall).

CLACKMANNAN SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
The postponed Clackmannan seniors championship for 2008 will be held on Wednesday of next week.

Hugh Hunter