MURRAY AND O’HARA LINK UP WITH

SCOTLAND SQUAD TRAINING CAMP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

European Tour players George Murray and Steven O’Hara will link up with the Scotland Men’s Elite Squad training camp on Thursday as part of the SGU’s warm weather training programme in the United Arab Emirates.

Murray, pictured, who finished eighth in the Challenge Tour rankings this season, is travelling to Abu Dhabi en route to South Africa where his first European Tour season will begin at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Leopards Creek (December 10 to 13).
He will be joined by O’Hara, who secured his 2011 card by finishing 114th in the European Tour standings, as both players begin their preparations for the new season working alongside Scotland’s leading amateurs.
The squad will also be working with putting specialist Phil Kenyon, who coaches Italian Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari, as they sharpen up their short games on the superb facilities provided by the Al Badia Golf Club by InterContinental Dubai Festival City.
“As part of the agreement with our partners in the United Arab Emirates we have offered Scotland’s tour professionals the opportunity to come and use the facilities in return for their input into our ongoing player mentoring programme. We see this as a vital element in the professional transition roll out and aim to build on this in the future.”
“The support will help George and Steven hit the ground running for the start of the new season while our squad players will benefit from practicing alongside them and learning from their experiences on both the Challenge Tour and European Tour.”
“There is no extra cost to the SGU. The players will pay their own way for the flights but Yas Links Golf Club will allow them use of their facilities which we are extremely grateful for.” explained Paulding.
"George and Steven are both looking forward to joining up with the squad for a few days and the experience will benefit all parties to help Scottish golf in the year ahead." added Brian Marchbank from 110sport Management.
The ten squad players also met up with Richie Ramsay at the Dubai World Championship to get an insight into his practice and course management methodology and national coach Ian Rae believes the training camp has already been a great success:
“The facilities in Dubai are fantastic and the players are really making the most of the opportunities we have been given. The squad is working very hard every day on a number of different aspects and it was good for them to get an insight with Richie during an event.”
“We’re looking forward to working with Phil Kenyon for a few days and concentrating on our putting, which is being enhanced by the wonderful short game areas we are practicing on. The Emirates Golf Federation is looking after us very well and we’re very excited about developing a long term partnership with them.” concluded Rae.
The warm weather training camp is also being supported by Scotland squad sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management, InterContinental Dubai Festival City and WSM Sponsorship, strategic partners of the SGU who have been an integral part of the new alliance with the Emirates Golf Federation.