The state of Scottish amateur club golf ...

Douglas Lowe's series on the state of Scottish amateur golf at club level continues on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk
The series can be read in The Herald newspaper daily.

KNOX CLICKETY-CLICKS AGAIN ON HOOTERS TOUR Florida-based Russell Knox from Inverness got back on the straight and narrow in the first round of this week's NGA Hooters Tour Winter Series event at Diamond Back Golf Club, Haines City in Central Florida. After failing to make the top 20 last week, Knox shot a bogey-free, six-under-par 66 (34-32) today to be lying joint second behind Englishman Paul Maddy (Gog Magog) who was the early clubhouse leader with a 65 (33-32). LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES Par 72, 6903yd 65 Paul Maddy (Gog Magog). 66 Ryan Gildersleeve (Clearwater, Florida), Russell Knox (Inverness & Jacksonville Beach, Florida), Patrick Nagle (California), Ryan Henry (Oklahoma), Trent Leon (Florida). 68 Robbie Greenwell (Oregon), Ted Potter (Silver Springs, Florida), Daniel Stowe (St Petersburg, Florida), Philip Mollica (South Carolina), Matt Parziale (Massachusetts). Jimmy Gunn (70) lying joint 20 th in Arizona Meanwhile, over in Arizona on the Gateway Tour, Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn was lying joint 20 th at the end of the first round of the Desert Winter 3 event at Raven Golf Club at Verrado. Gunn, who missed the cut in last week's tournament, dropped a shot at the short third but made up for it with birdies at the long fifth, ninth and 10th. Four Americans share the lead on six-under-par 66. FIRST ROUND LEADERS Par 72 Players from US unless stated 66 Neil Johnson, Jake Younan-Wise, Drew Stoltz, Vincent Johnson. 67 Andrew Paulson, Craig Leslie, Brett Swedberg Selected score: 70 Jimmy Gunn (Scotland) (jt 20th).

Stars come out at night for Dubai par-3 event

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Eight-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson will lead a star parade at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic Match that formally kicks off the tournament week at the Emirates Golf Club on Tuesday, February 2.
The 60-year-old, who is making his first visit to Dubai, will be joined by European No 1 Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Mark O’Meara, Henrik Stenson and Miguel Angel Jiménez in the traditional ‘made-for-fans’ event, played at the floodlit par-3 course, starting at 6pm.
Sponsored by Jumeirah Golf Estates, the match offers the fans a rare opportunity to watch their favourite stars up close and personal as they deliver a ''clinic'' in wedge play.
The six players will be split into three teams, each comprising two stars, in a greensomes format. Both players play their drives and then select the best-positioned ball. Thereafter, they hit alternate shots with the same ball until the hole is completed.
The Emirates Golf Club’s par-27 course, measuring 1,239yd from the blue tees, has been designed such a way that it tests the skills of all. The longest hole on the course is the 194yd third hole, while the shortest hole, the fourth, measures 96yd.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of 'golf in DUBAi' — the promoters and organisers of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, said: “In a slight break from our tradition of holding the Challenge Match in the afternoon every year, this time we will have a 6pm start, followed by a dinner reception. I am sure the Challenge Match under lights will add to the festive atmosphere.
‘We would like to encourage more and more golf fans to come to the Emirates Golf Club and cheer the superstars who would be competing in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, starting on February 4.
"We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure that fans enjoy the proceedings on all four days of the tournament. A giant TV screen will be installed in the 'public village' for them to catch up the live action. Different food and beverage outlets and free golf clinics will be the added attractions at the village.
"I would like to thank Jumeirah Golf Estates for sponsoring the Challenge Match, an opening event which has always been a quite a hit with the fans.”
Meanwhile, the organisers of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic have decided to allow all youngsters, aged 18 and below, free entry to the Emirates Golf Club during the week, provided they are accompanied by an adult holding the ticket for the day.

Advice to golf clubs: Stick with winter greens

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
The Scottish Golf Union has teamed up with one of Britain's leading turf specialists to offer advice to golf clubs as their courses recover from the recent bad weather.
In conjunction with the SGU, the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) has issued guidance outlining the potential impact of the cold weather and advice on how greenkeepers and club committees can cope with the problems caused by the snow and ice that has covered golf courses over the past few weeks.
"With many golfers eager to get back on to the golf course following a longer than average winter lay-off, the guidance notice also offers advice on getting your golf course back on track in preparation for the 2010 playing season," said Kevin Weir, the SGU's Golf Services Manager.
The guidance notice has been circulated to club secretaries and, at many courses, it looks as though it is going to result in winter greens being in operation with clubs being advised to resist the temptation to rush back on to putting surfaces.
"It is the prolonged period of frost and ice cover that is an unknown quantity for many turf managers in the UK," the STRI notes in the guidance.
"As this is fairly uncharted territory in the UK, we are unsure of the potential damage that may be caused. Once the ice has been removed, it will be important to provide some rest to the greens to allow the turf to overcome the period of stress and recover from any damage that may have occurred.
"Do not be tempted to open surfaces for play too quickly."
Tommy Shepherd says the recent weather is the worst he has experienced in his 20 years as the head greenkeeper at Monktonhall.
"We've been closed for almost five weeks, although, with the temperature up and a thaw on, I'm hoping to get nine or ten holes open today," he said.
"The snow is almost away and it is mainly ice damage that's left. From the agronomy side of things, it is better to let nature takes its course because you can start doing damage if you chip away at the ice."
Another problem is that the sun can magnify through the ice and burn the grass a bit – I've experienced that before."

Pictured from left to right are: Piper, Gordon Cosh; past captain and chairman of the Centenary Committee, Gus Lamond; Centenary captain Graeme Shaw and captain of the Ladies’ Section, Jennifer Mack. Click on the image to enlarge.

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY HAGGS CASTLE GOLF CLUB

The Centenary flag raising by club captain Graeme Shaw on January 2 started a year of celebrations to mark the 100 year existence of Haggs Castle Golf Club, Glasgow.
In a brief speech the captain thanked everyone in attendance and particularly thanked the past captains of the ladies' section who had generously funded the purchase of the new flagpole to mark the club’s Centenary.

He also mentioned the packed programme of events scheduled for the Centenary Year which include a civic reception, a night-lite golf competition, a hickory golf day and a Centenary Dinner. The club is carrying on the vision and tradition of the founding fathers and continues to upgrade both the course and the clubhouse.

The club is currently undertaking an extension and refurbishment of its locker rooms, due to be completed by the end of March. These will set new standards for comfort in the Centenary Year making the clubhouse a perfect place to relax, entertain and enjoy the challenges of a superb golf course.
With an active and friendly membership, Haggs Castle Golf Club welcomes new members in all categories.

For more information, please contact Alan Williams, General Manager on 0141 427 1155.

David Law's knuckle injury rules him

out of Jones Cup but SGU still

taking him on squad trip to Florida

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Double Scottish champion David Law has been ruled out of the Jones Cup international tournament in Georgia next month.
The most serious of the injuries he received in a late night, unprovoked assault in an Aberdeen city centre street last November was a fractured knuckle on his left hand. It is this injury which needs more time to heal.
Law, the first player to win both the Scottish boys' match-play championship and the Scottish men's amateur match-play championship in the same year, explained:
"After taking advice from my physio Karen Young and hand specialist Dr Bransby Zachery, the decision was made this morning that I would not play in the Jones Cup (February 4-5-6) and I should target the Portguese amatuer championship (February 18 to 21) as my first tournament of the season.
"However, I will still travel to Florida to begin some light practice, abd do some work with national coach Ian Rae and physcholigist Dr Richard Cox."
"I am obviously bitterly dissapointed to miss a tournament like the Jones Cup but delighted at the same time that I can travel with the Scotland team to America. It will let me focus on my short game and I appreciate the SGU's support in letting me do so."

Law, whose home club is based at one of Aberdeen's municipal courses, Hazlehead, will be 19 years old in May. His target is to make the GB&I Walker Cup team for the September 2011 match against the United States over Royal Aberdeen Golf Club's Balgownie links - and then turn professional.

Florida winter base has Marc
-
Warren in 'really good shape'

FROM THE SCOTTISH DAILY EXPRESS
By JOCK MacVICAR
Marc Warren insists his game is in good shape for the start of his season in Abu Dhabi this week.
The 28-year-old Glaswegian, pictured left, was criticised in some quarters a couple of years ago for being too "big time" when he bought an apartment in the exclusive Lake Nona community in Orlando, Florida.
But Marc's had the last laugh. While the rest of us have been indoors with no chance of a game of golf, Warren has been preparing for the season close to his back door in near-perfect conditions.
"I've been out in Florida since December 1 and the weather has been ideal for golf," said Warren.
"It got down to zero some nights but during the day I was able to be on the golf course or the driving range wearing only a light sweater. Buying a place out there has been a great move."
Warren, also had coach Ian Rae out from Scotland for a week, checking over his game for his three-week strint in Abu Dhabi, Qater and Dubai.
After winning the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2007, then the World Cup in China with Colin Montgomerie, the last two seasons have been disappointing. He was 97th in the European Tour Order of Merit in 2008 and 54th last year.
But Warren believes those statistics mask the progress he's makng.
"For the last year or so I have been making a lot of changes in my swing," he said. "It took Padraig Harrington a year to come to terms with his changes and look where he is now.
"I've reached a much better level of consistency and I'm striking the ball far better. My game is in really good shape and I feel Abu Dhabi has come at just the right time."

SCOTLAND SQUAD BOOSTED BY IMG

ACADEMIES’ SUPPORT IN FLORIDA

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Five of Scotland’s leading amateur golfers will spend a week at the world famous IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Florida preparing for the new season as part of a new partnership between the Scottish Golf Union and IMG Academies.
The in-kind sponsorship agreement has been brokered by IMG as part of their commitment to help develop Scottish golfing talent, enabling the SGU to increase the support to its elite level players during the winter training programme.
John Murray, IMG Vice President Golf, said:
“IMG are delighted to be supporting the SGU and their elite squad training programme. We hope the team and coaches will benefit from having access to the world class facilities at Bradenton as they prepare for the 2010 season ahead.”
Ross Kellett (Colville Park), Steven McEwan (Caprington) Philip McLean (Peterhead), James White (Lundin) and David Law (Hazlehead) will fly out to the resort this weekend ahead of February’s Jones Cup Invitational to work with national coach Ian Rae and Scottish Institute of Sport golf psychologist Doctor Richard Cox, using accommodation and facilities provided by IMG Academies. Law will continue his rehabilitation from injury in Florida but will not take part in the event.
The players will spend a week (January24 to 30) at the Academy before making the 4-hour journey to Sea Island for the Jones Cup and the squad will also be joined by recent SGU graduates Callum Macaulay and Gavin Dear, both of whom are now plying their trade in the paid ranks.
Welcoming the new partnership, SGU Chief Executive Hamish Grey said:
“Having use of the facilities at IMG Academies in Bradenton is a great boost for the squad, allowing us to prepare for some big events coming up, including the Jones Cup and the Spanish and Portuguese Amateur Championships”.
“The facilities are world class, with some of the best players in the world also using the resort as their base and we are grateful to IMG and IMG Academies for their fantastic support.”
“The focus will be on the players’ short game and mental approach, whilst it will also be beneficial in having Callum and Gavin present to pass on the benefits of their experience and help with their own preparations for the new season.” he added.
Located in south-west Florida, IMG Academies has a rich history in developing champions across a number of sports with its roll call of golfers including Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie and PGA Tour star Sean O’Hair. The Academy also boasts a spectacular 6,855 yard championship course with views of the pristine Sarasota Bay.
David Whelan, Director of the IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy, said: “With the SGU’s rich tradition and long history of success, it is truly a great honour for the Academy to host the SGU players and coaches. Having some of the best training facilities in the world, we are confident that the SGU will benefit from their time at the Academy.”
Scotland highest ranked amateur Ross Kellett (Colville Park) will be writing a blog from the training camp which can be found on the SGU website www.scottishgolf.org from Monday 25 January.

Midland Alliance meeting at Drumoig cancelled

This Midland Golfers' Alliance competition at Drumoig golf course on Thursday has been cancelled. The next meeting is Lundin Links on Thurday, January 28, as follows:

9.30 R Walker, B Liddle, M Fraser, S Herd.
9.38 D. Wilson D. Herd (P) A. Lockhart G. Able
9.44 M. Niven M. Pirie A. MacKay J. Paisley
9.54 E. Rae S. Cargill S. Graham J. Crawford
10.02 R. Beatt R. Redpath N. Henderson D. McKay
10.10 C. Donnelly S. O’ Donnell D. Vicary A. Douglas
10.18 R. Stewart R. Barton G. Milne G. Tough
10.26 W. Miller D. Mitchell G. Paton D. Black
10.34 I. Henderson JDS Gray A. Mason A. Saunders
10.42 P. Brookes C. Westland D. Redford D. Hutchison
10.50 D. Mason J. Stevenson M. Gilmour P. Jamieson
10.58 G. Wilkie J. Irwin J. Laddy R. Lamont
11.06 K. Salmoni H. Grant H. Cowbourgh K. Harper
11.14 M. Watkin D. McGregor D. Sievwright G. Taylor
11.22 J. Gray A. Mitchell G. Brown E. Starritt
11.30 J. Breen W. Herron J. Cree (Jnr) J. Brown
11.38 N. Ballingall S. Harrod G. Finlay C. Mathieson
11.46 J. Miller G. Gillespie G. Jenkins W. Crosbie
11.54 C. Marr R. Wallace K. Egan B. Bruce
12.02 A. McEwan J. Ward D. Adams A. Herd
12.10 L. Sutherland G. Cant M. Brown E. Sherry

If you cannot make this you must phone Eddie ASAP as there is a waiting list in operation


Many Thanks


Lee SutherlandPGA ProfessionalBallumbie Castle Golf Club

Banned Barron pays $2,250 to join mini tour

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP) — Doug Barron, the first player to be suspended for violating the US PGA Tour's anti-doping policy, has signed up to play a developmental tour in North Carolina.
Barron was handed a one-year suspension last fall when he tested positive for testosterone and propranolol - a beta-blocker that calms nerves - in June at the St Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee. He said he was using the drugs for health reasons under a doctor's supervision.
Barron last week paid his membership fee of $2,250 for the eGolf Professional Tour, which offers an 18-tournament schedule. A year ago, the top player on the mini-tour earned just over $140,000.
Stewart Moore, chief operating officer of eGolf Professional Tour, said it does not have a drug-testing plan and doesn't deny players the chance to compete based on another tour's policies.
"We're a developmental tour. That's what we do, develop players to eventually get there," Moore said Monday.
"It's not our place to hold him back. We don't have anything implemented on our side, and we can't do anything based on what they do in Ponte Vedra."
The PGA Tour's headquarters are in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
None of the smaller tours outside those recognised by the World Golf Foundation have anti-doping policies, which cost millions of dollars to run.
Barron, a 40-year-old who hasn't had his US PGA Tour card in three years, is challenging his PGA Tour suspension in federal court. He was denied a temporary restraining order in November to compete in the qualifying tournament.
He has said he used the steroid and beta-blocker for "therapeutic use" and did not try to hide it. The US PGA Tour says doctors denied Barron's request for a therapeutic use exemption a year ago January for testosterone and the beta-blocker.

Japan's boy wonder Ryo needs

handling with care

FROM THE IRISHTIMES.COM WEBSITE
By COLIN BYRNE
Who writes the "Caddies Role" column for the Irish Times
We have our own Irish revelation in the 20-year-old Rory McIlroy; America still has a vast reservoir of young talent, with an abundance of promising young players ready to spring on to the US Tour. Japan has the original teen idol, the 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa, who has single-handedly rejuvenated the flagging Japanese Golf Tour.
He is known as the “Bashful Prince” in Japan because of his naturally retiring demeanour, typical of many Japanese. There is an air of serenity about the young lad which unfortunately does not exude further than the first bodyguard who is only a few paces behind him, followed by a platoon of media warriors who operate a crash-and-burn policy when it comes to positioning themselves for the next shot of the Asian Sensation.
He is a living example of the new era of professional golfer who does not demand total pin-dropping silence as he settles into his shots. Ryo has been reared on the synchronised sound of high-powered Nikon shutter releases as he starts his back swing. It doesn’t seem to bother him. But for those of us brought up with the idea that total silence is required for players to hit shots, it is a hard to get used to.
Like with Tiger Woods, playing with the best golfer in the world is not a problem, but dealing with the circus that goes on around him is hugely off-putting. The need for business all but obliterates the most sacred unwritten decorum in golf, etiquette. The cameramen’s need for photos is obviously greater than the preservation of respect for all competitors.
We got drawn to play against the elegant Ishikawa alongside his more robust partner, Koumei Oda, in the four-ball match of the Royal Trophy a couple of weeks ago in Thailand.
The previous day he had played against the veteran European captain, Colin Montgomerie. His partner told us about the jamboree on the first tee. The juvenile Ryo enjoyed a lengthy introduction as the youngest winner of the Japanese Order of Merit last year and other wonderful achievements in his very short life to date. Eight-time European Order of Merit winner Monty got a terse 10-second introduction by the starter and was sent on his way.
Who could blame the Asians for celebrating the young wunderkind’s exceptional talent and looks? There is no doubt he added a huge buzz to the Royal Trophy and he has certainly saved the Japanese Tour from irrelevance as a serious golf tour.
But I would have concerns about the charming young Asian sensation’s long-term welfare, having so many parasites feeding off him from such a young age.
We have seen the toll child fame has taken on Michelle Wie, who has had the talent and resolve to overcome both the expectation and misuse by seemingly irresponsible handlers who could quite legitimately be accused of abuse of their position of trust with the Hawaiian in her formative years.
There has been much talk of the unreal world Tiger was reared in as a contributing factor to his recent travails. He was never allowed be a teenager and develop as a normal youth.
Naturally there is a fascination with such a huge talent. The European team-room was, naturally, full of chat about the “Bashful Prince”. But you have got to wonder where do such exceptional people possibly find space to pretend for a very small part of the day they are real people? Some of the European players said Ishikawa sounded worryingly like Michael Jackson in the pre-tournament press conference, with a feeble and quivering voice used to answer his questions.
He is, it must be remembered, still a teenager speaking in a foreign tongue.
Playing with Ishikawa in Asia was not only an ordeal for him but for those of us playing against him. It was a constant battle to get ahead of the entourage that smothered him off every tee; security guards, marshals, police, minders and the myriad press and photographers. As caddies, we had to shove cameramen out of the way of our players as the snappers scrambled for position to snap the boy wonder.
He is undoubtedly a talented golfer. Despite not playing well against Alexanedr Noren and Robert Karlsson he still hit some shots that would have got any seasoned pro’s attention. But playing outside his native land is a much more challenging proposition as not many Japanese players have taken their games successfully outside of their homeland; Isao Aoki is the only one who has enjoyed any sustained presence outside Japan.
The boy wonder embarks on his first real foreign campaign with invitations to play on the US Tour in the run up to the Accenture Matchplay Championship next month in Arizona. I hope his handlers are sensitive to the Bashful Prince’s delicate nature.
It would be a shame to have the huge commercial interests of so many Japanese publications stymie such a promising proposition before he gets a chance to prove himself against the best golfers in the world.
Ryo Ishikawa needs to be handled with care if he is to establish himself as Japan’s first serious world contender.

Richie Ramsay can't wait to

get back down to business

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Richie Ramsay, who delivered Scotland's first European Tour triumph in 21 months when winning the South African Open just before Christmas, is returning to the circuit this week eager to get back to work after hardly touching a golf club since his success at Pearl Valley.
The 26-year-old, who is now living in Edinburgh and has been sizing up The Renaissance Club outside Gullane as a possible practice base when he's at home, spent the festive period enjoying his breakthrough win and, due to all the snow, was able to give his American girlfriend, Angela, his undivided attention when she came over for a visit.
Ramsay, who will start his 2010 campaign just outside the world's top 100 thanks to his play-off victory over India's Shiv Kapur in South Africa, is now in the Middle East preparing for this week's Abu Dhabi Championship and says he's hungry to start hitting balls again and, equally, looking forward to trying to build on that victory.
"I've hardly done anything since my win as the snow hasn't shifted at all but that's probably not been a bad thing as it stopped me from saying I needed to go away and some practice, as I usually do when my girlfriend is over," he said.
"All I've done is pay a couple of visits to the range and some putting inside but, as a result, I'm feeling eager to get back into it again and I'm ready to get going.
"In the past, I felt I needed to work all the time on my game and, though I'd never say that practising was a chore, I'm definitely feeling more interested in the work I've got ahead of me. Sometimes if you work too hard on your game during a break, you can almost feel over-golfed at the end of the first two tournaments but that shouldn't be the case on this occasion."
Ramsay, who was delighted to receive a message of congratulations from Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, savoured his South African success in Aberdeen and is now hoping he'll have the confidence to strike again in the near future, just as he did when cutting his teeth in the paid ranks.
"In hindsight, it would have been nice if I could have gone out the week after my win and tried again as your confidence is up and, if I'd given myself another sniff, I might have been able to take it again," he reflected.
"However, you learn in life that sometimes things don't always work out the way you'd like them to."In any case, it was great to go home to Aberdeen and soak up my win. After winning the US Amateur Championship (in 2006], I flew straight to the Czech Republic and then to Wales, which meant I didn't get home for two or three weeks.
"When I won on the Challenge Tour, I then went out and won again five weeks later and it would be great if I could do the same again. No disrespect to the South African Open as it was a really good field but you want to be up there competing with the likes of Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson, players you've aspired to play against. If I could win an event with those sort of players, it would validate my progression even more."
Ramsay is playing in all three events of the Middle East swing – he heads to Qatar next week and then Dubai the week after that – and has now added the Avantha Masters in India to his early-season schedule.
"I played in Abu Dhabi last year and, while I wouldn't go as far as saying it is a bomber's course, it does suit the longer hitters In fact, I think it helps if you can shift the ball off the tee at all three courses in the Middle East swing.
"There are going to be courses this season where a top 15 or even top 20 will be a good week for me. There will be other weeks where I feel I can win and that was certainly the case at Pearl Valley. I think that will also be the case for the event in India, so I've added that to my schedule. I will hopefully be right back into it by then and can possibly peak on a course that suits my game more."
Ramsay is particularly looking forward to his first appearance in the Dubai Desert Classic, won two years ago by Tiger Woods and, 12 months later, by Rory McIlroy at the start of the young Irishman's stunning 2009 campaign.
"I'm really looking forward to playing at The Emirates. My aunt and uncle used to go out there when the event was on and brought me programmes back. I've still got the one from when Thomas Bjorn won (2001] so it will be nice for me to play in that event."
With lots of ranking points up for grabs over the next three weeks, there's a chance for Ramsay to join Martin Laird in the top 100 in the world and, like his Arizona-based compatriot, he's determined to get himself into the majors and the World Golf Championships in the near future.
"I watched the highlights of the SBS Championship in Hawaii and it looked as though Martin Laird was playing really well," noted Ramsay. "He's done a similar thing to me, having gained some experience on the Nationwide Tour before gaining his card on the US PGA Tour and then winning in his second full season. He's elevated himself into some of the bigger tournaments and more world ranking points are up for grabs in them. It's great that he's made it into the top 100 in the world and will be fantastic if we can get another Scot in there beside him.
"At the start of last season I felt excited but anxious at the same time as I was desperate to do well and wanted to get into the bigger tournaments to give myself a better chance of keeping my card.
"This time around it is excitement after excitement and no anxiety. I know I can go out there and play without having to worry about my card. If I have a chance to win again, I'm not going to be scared – I'm eager to get in the mix."
+The above article is published in The Scotsman newspaper today.

Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year Rory McIlroy with his trophy and Group Sports Editor Jim Gracey

Rory McIlroy just wants to 'keep getting better and better'

FROM THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By Peter Hutcheon
The next 12 months will be vital in the development of Rory McIlroy's career as one of the world's top golfers.
The 20-year-old from Holywood, last night voted the Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year, is setting out to establish himself as a Major contender.
He had three top 20 finishes in the Majors last year, including a top ten placing at the US Open and third place at the US PGA.
Those performances, combined with his maiden European Tour victory at the Dubai Desert Classic, helped him finish the year ranked number nine in the world.
“To be in the the top ten, the youngest since Sergio Garcia is a great honour. I don’t really think about it too much because I just want to keep getting better and better,” he said.
“At the moment there are eight better players than me in the world and hopefully by the time that I finish I can say that I held the number one spot in the world at some point in my career.
“There’s still a lot of hard work to do but hopefully I’m on the right road. Definitely a Major is a target this season. I put myself in position at the US PGA last year to win and finished third and had another top ten at the US Open.
“I had a lot of good experiences at the Majors last year and hopefully with Tiger out for a while I can seize the opportunity and take one before he gets back.”
Rory led the way on a night when a star studded audience celebrated sport here.
Congratulating all the winners Belfast Telegraph editor Mike Gilson said: “The Belfast Telegraph is delighted to honour so many top sporting heroes at our annual awards.
“The Belfast Telegraph would also like to pay tribute to our lead sponsor Magners Irish Cider as well as Sport Northern Ireland who have been a key supporter of the awards this year and of course all our category sponsors: Linwoods, Disability Needs, ONE 1918 and NI Sports Forum.”
This is the eighth year that Magners Irish Cider has partnered the Awards as title sponsor and Nicola McCleery, Head of Marketing said:
“At Magners we acknowledge the Sports Awards as a very special occasion which acknowledges the outstanding sporting achievements by so many of our talented sports men and women. Magners continues to play an important role within the Northern Ireland sporting arena and we're delighted to partner the Belfast Telegraph as title sponsor and congratulate all the winners.”
Sport Northern Ireland also supported this year's awards programme and Chief Executive Eamonn McCartan said: “Sport Northern Ireland are delighted to support the Sports Awards again this year, as an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the wealth of sporting talent we have in Northern Ireland.”
+Picture by courtesy of the Belfast Telegraph website
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/

Tartan Tour is no longer a circuit

where club pros rule

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
The world of Scotland's home-based professionals has been thrown into turmoil by the playing bans handed out to David Orr, the Scottish champion, and Mark Kerr, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, one of the Tartan Tour's emerging talents, and, as a seasoned professional noted over the weekend, it's an intriguing tale that's certainly not done and dusted just yet.
The pair were punished for not spending enough time in the golf shop as part of their PGA training but, before weighing up whether or not the punishments fit the crime, it is interesting to note exactly how this has all came about.Orr and Kerr won't be allowed to play on the Scottish circuit until 1 July because, quite simply, they were reported by a fellow PGA professional.
Why? Well, certainly in the case of Orr, he's paid the price for his success, the 35-year-old, who is attached to East Renfrewshire, having pocketed £36,000 last season, the highlight of his year being the win in the Gleneagles Scottish Championship.
Someone didn't like him enjoying such success at a time when he wasn't putting in the same hours as the 1000 or so others on the PGA training programme at the moment and, sorry if you disagree, but what's the point of having rules and regulations if people aren't going to be punished if they break them.
Orr is a very likeable man and certainly can't be accused of being a slacker. After all, he drives a taxi in his spare time in a bid to earn a little extra money for his family. But we are not talking here about a player who is just starting out in his career. He's been a professional since 1997, won the British Assistants' Championship in 2002 and has chalked up a whole host of successes on the Tartan Tour.
He should be playing on the European Tour but, in waiting for that opportunity to come around, should have negotiated the PGA training long ago.

It's a three-year course that most people pass in four years, though don't for one minute be fooled into thinking that they're being trained how to simply sell Mars bars or Titleist ProVI balls in the club shop. They're being taught a proper profession, the programme these days including topics such as business management, sports science and coaching.
On the face of things, it appears that Orr hasn't been too fussed about securing his PGA qualification and has used the Tartan Tour to get his competitive golf. That's where the root of this situation lies.
He's not the first player to break the rules and, in fairness, I'm told that he made no attempt whatsoever to deny the fact he hadn't been putting in the stipulated hours.
The PGA are challenged by matters like this throughout its seven regions and, in the Midlands, one player, believed to be of a comparable standard to Orr, was hit with a year-long ban. The punishment handed out to Orr and Kerr, who has paid the price for being unable to secure a post he thought was on offer at Dalmahoy after a short spell at Bathgate, has been described as "draconian" by some but the point they are missing surely is what the Tartan Tour is all about. When I first started to cover Scottish pro golf, the leading lights on the circuit were the likes of Russell Weir, John Chillas, Ian Collins, Kevin Stables and Alastair Webster, all club professionals who could play a bit but could only tee it up in events when their club commitments permitted.
In recent years, the likes of Orr, Craig Lee, Chris Doak, Greig Hutcheon and Jason McCreadie have been the dominant forces and, in contrast to their predecessors, they're all players who harbour ambitions to be on the European Tour. They've all enjoyed an opportunity to cut their tournament teeth on the Scottish circuit and long may that be the case.
But, if you want to become a Tour professional, you surely have to be moving on to a higher level. They'll say it's about earning a living. Of course, it is. But, if you are trying to do that without adhering to rules and regulations and, what's more, hundreds of others are, then you are simply asking for trouble.