Huguet to succed Mann as Musselburgh head professional

Norman Huguet is set to take over from Fraser Mann as head professional at Musselburgh Golf Club.
Mann, the former Scottish PGA champion and Northern Open winner, is leaving the Monktonhall club next month after 17 years of service to start a new playing career on the
European Senior Tour.
And 27-year-old Huguet, who was an assistant pro at nearby Royal Musselburgh for five years, is poised to make the step up after serving as Mann's assistant for the past three years
"This is one of the best club jobs in Scotland and to get this opportunity at my age is a bonus," said Huguet, who will take on two new trainees, Andrew Munro from Baberton and Duddingston's Matthew Etemad.

Dean Robertson reappointed head

coach of Europe's Palmer Cup team

FROM THE PGA E-BULLETIN
Dean Robertson's reputation as one of Scotland's foremost golf coaches has been bolstered by his reappointment as head coach of the European team for this season's Palmer Cup.
The former Italian Open champion from Paisley helped Europe's leading student golfers to a 13-11 victory over their US counterparts in last year's Ryder Cup-style joust at Cherry Hills in Colorado and the selection panel have wasted no time in bringing the Scot (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) back on board for June's encounter at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
"I was asked by the panel if I would consider retaining my position and it took me about a nanosecond to say ‘yes’," said Robertson, one of only a handful of players to have won both the Scottish amateur and professional titles.
"The US side last year featured players who went on to form the backbone of their Walker
Cup team and, while I've experienced many great things in my own career, our victory that
week was up there with the best of them."
Robertson has also taken up a new post as
head golf consultant at College Sport USA, a
Stirling-based company specialising in
securing golf and football scholarships for
emerging talent at universities in the US.
With the Scottish Junior Golf Tour for under-
14s that he runs in partnership with his
colleagues Kendal McWade and Steven Orr
also flourishing - it has grown from six
members in 2007 to well over 100 now - the
39-year-old admits that his own playing
career is very much on the backburner as he
pours his energy into new areas of the game.
Robertson, who teamed up with McWade at
the PGA's Belfry HQ recently to deliver a
presentation to coaches about the long-term
development of elite junior golfers, added:
"The playing side is now dormant but the
passion, energy, drive and belief I had coming
up as a player is now going into these new
chapters of my career. It is all very positive."

McIlroy reaches career high seventh in world rankings

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Rory McIlroy’s superb performances during The European Tour’s ‘Gulf Swing’ have moved the 20 year old move up to a career high of seventh on the Official World Golf Ranking, with European players strengthening their positions ahead of next week’s WGC – Accenture Match Play.
McIlroy’s share of sixth place in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, which followed his third place in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, was his fifth consecutive top ten finish, a run which has taken him back into the World’s Top Ten.
Lee Westwood’s play-off defeat by Miguel Angel Jiménez at Emirates Golf Club meant The 2009 Race to Dubai winner now trails third placed Phil Mickelson after Steve Stricker leapfrogged the left-hander by winning the Northern Trust Open in California.
Westwood, in fourth, remains the highest ranked European player at today’s cut-off point for next week’s WGC – Accenture Match Play in Arizona, with sixth placed Martin Kaymer, McIlroy, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson and Padraig Harrington also occupying places in the World’s Top Ten.
England’s Ian Poulter is just outside the top ten in 11th place with defending WGC - Accenture Match Play champion Geoff Ogilvy in 12th, while Ross Fisher’s share of 11th place in Dubai moves him back into the top 20 in 19th position.
Jiménez’s victory in Dubai, his 16th European Tour title, saw the Spaniard move up 30 places to 30th on the Official World Golf Ranking, ensuring his ticket to Tucson next week.
With the top 64 in the world qualifying for the WGC – Accenture Match Play, England’s Chris Wood is set to join Jiménez in the field, with Mickelson stating he will not be participating due to family reasons.
Ross McGowan, in 66th position, will qualify should Tiger Woods’ indefinite break from playing continue or any other player withdraw from the field, while World No 67 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño is also poised to step in should there be any further drop outs.
Meanwhile Tom Watson’s share of eighth place in Dubai – a record for a player over 60 in a European Tour event – moved the eight-time Major Champion back to the fringes of World’s Top 100 in 105th place.

THE WORLD'S TOP 50 PROS THIS WEEK
1 Tiger Woods (US) 13.10.
2 Steve Stricker (US) 7.91.
3 Phil Mickelson (US) 7.63.
4 Lee Westwood (Eng) 7.01.
5 Jim Furyk (US) 5.40.
6 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 5.36.
7 Rory McIlroy (NIre) 5.15.
8 Paul Casey (Eng) 5.12.
9 Henrik Stenson (Swe) 5.05.
10 Padraig Harrington (Ire) 5.03.
11 Ian Poulter (Eng) 4.98.
12 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 4.88.
13 Kenny Perry (US) 4.51.
14 Robert Allenby (Aus) 4.21.
15 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 4.19.
16 Sean O'Hair (US) 4.09.
17 Ernie Els (SAf) 4.02.
18 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 3.99.
19 Ross Fisher (Eng) 3.98.
20 Retief Goosen (SAf) 3.94.
21 Stewart Cink (US) 3.87.
22 Lucas Glover (US)
23 Luke Donald (Eng) 3.47.
24 Zach Johnson (US) 3.46.
25 Camilo Villegas (Col) 3.30.
26 Angel Cabrera (Arg) 3.27.
27 Anthony Kim (US) 3.24.
28 Y E Yang (SKor) 2.98.
29 Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 2.97.
30 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 2.92.
31 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 2.90.
31 Hunter Mahan (US) 2.90.
33 Nick Watney (US) 2.89.
34 Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) 2.82.
35 Michael Sim (Sco/Aus) 2.69.
36 Yuta Ikeda (Japan) 2.69.
37 Charl Schwartzel (SAf) 2.67.
38 Tim Clark (SAf) 2.64.
39 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 2.63.
40 Mike Weir (Canada) 2.61.
41 Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark) 2.59.
42 Matt Kuchar (US) 2.54.
42 Adam Scott (Aus) 2.54.
44 Dustin Johnson (US) 2.51.
45 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 2.49.
46 Graeme McDowell (NIre) 2.48.
47 Anders Hansen (Denmark) 2.46.
48 Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 2.46.
49 Soren Hansen (Denmark) 2.41.
50 Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 2.39.

R&A NAME VENUES FOR 2013 CHAMPIONSHIPS

AND INTERNATIONAL MATCHES

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A

The R&A has announced venues for the 2013 Championship season.
The hosting of the Boys Amateur Championship will be shared between Royal Liverpool Golf Club and Wallasey Golf Club.

The Boys Home Internationals will be hosted by Forest Pines Golf Club. The 2013 Jacques Leglise Trophy will be held at Royal St David’s Golf Club. And the Seniors Open Amateur Championship will be contested at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.
Royal Liverpool will be the main venue for the 2013 Boys Amateur. The Club has a rich championship history, having hosted The Open 11 times and the Amateur on 17 occasions. Hoylake has also staged four Boys Amateurs, the last in 2003 when former Walker Cup player and European Tour professional Rhys Davies took the title.
Founded in 1891 by members from Royal Liverpool, Wallasey is famous for being the home club of Dr Frank Stableford, the man who devised the Stableford scoring system. It was a Local Final Qualifying venue when The Open was staged at Hoylake in 2006, and it played host to stroke play qualifying for the Amateur in 2000.
Forest Pines, the host of the 2013 Boys Home Internationals, is a new addition to the list of R&A championship venues. Designed by the late PGA Tour player John Morgan, the Lincolnshire course opened for play in 1996 and was quickly recognised by Golf World as the best course in England opened since 1994.
The Jacques Leglise Trophy will take place at Royal St David’s in 2013, adding to an R&A Championship history which includes the 1994 British Youths, the 1999 Boys Amateur and the 2003 Boys Home Internationals.

Such is Harlech’s renown that three-time Ryder Cup Captain Bernard Gallacher said: “It is no exaggeration to say that Royal St David’s is one of the finest courses in the world.”
In 2013, the Seniors Open Amateur will be held at Royal Aberdeen for the second time, 20 years after it was last held there in 1993. Royal Aberdeen has been an R&A championship venue since 1935, when it staged the Boys Amateur Championship. The next major event to be held there will be the 43rd Walker Cup Match in September 2011.

DATES AND VENUES FOR 2013

The Boys Amateur Championship: Royal Liverpool and Wallasey, 13 – 18 August

The Boys Home Internationals: Forest Pines, 6 – 8 August

The Jacques Leglise Trophy: Royal St David’s, 30 & 31 August

The Seniors Open Amateur Championship, Royal Aberdeen, 7 – 9 August

Galgorm Castle GC, Ballymena the venue

Northern Ireland stages its first EuroPr0 Tour event in June

By ANTHONY LEAVER
Galgorm Castle Golf Club is to host Northern Ireland’s first ever PGA EuroPro tour event - at the Ballymena venue from June 23-25.
Northern Ireland already boasts a rich golfing heritage with star names such as Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke currently flying the flag around the world.
However there hasn’t been a high profile professional golf event staged in the province since the Senior British Open was last played at Royal Portrush Golf Club in 2004.
News that Northern Ireland’s inaugural PGA EuroPro Tour event will be played at Galgorm Castle within the next six months comes as welcome news and is a great chance for the general public to witness some of the game’s emerging stars first hand.
Galgorm Castle is already a proven venue and has hosted numerous professional events on the domestic Irish PGA circuit, while last year’s British Universities Championship was successfully staged over the championship course.
“We are absolutely delighted with the news,” said Gary Henry, General Manager, Galgorm Castle Golf Club. “Having already hosted domestic PGA tournaments and major celebrity events such as the George Best Golf Invitational, it is with great pleasure that we look forward to welcoming the leading European players from the PGA EuroPro Tour.”
“As a major international sporting occasion, the tournament will provide a great opportunity to showcase Galgorm Castle, Galgorm Resort & Spa and the general Ballymena area to a wider audience as Northern Ireland is once more placed in the global shop window.”
“I am delighted that the Tour is heading to Northern Ireland and Galgorm Castle Golf Club,” said Danny Nickless, Operations Manager of the PGA EuroPro Tour. “Northern Ireland is a passionate golfing country and Galgorm typifies the nation’s lust for the game – as challenging a course as the players will encounter this year and in a beautiful setting.”
The George Best Foundation will also be involved with the event - particularly the Pro-Am and gala dinner - to help raise funds for its many ongoing projects to help provide children with a better lifestyle through participation in sport.
The schedule for the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour continues to take shape, with further courses to be announced this week including an exciting Tour Championship course. Entry for the Q School is open at www.europrotour.com.

McIlroy set for scan on injured back

FROM THE IRISHTIMES.COM WEBSITE

World No 7 Rory McIlroy is to visit a Belfast-based specialist today to discover the extent of a back problem ahead of a maiden season on the US PGA Tour. The 20-year-old has developed the problem after enduring a gruelling practice schedule at the start of the new campaign which has often involved 8hr sessions.
He was still able to maintain his recent run of top-10 finishes with sixth place at the weekend's Dubai Desert Classic, which pushed the Holywood, Belfast star to a career-high world ranking.
"My back has been bothering me for a few days now so that's why I am going for scan," he said.
"I'm strapped pretty good. I've had the problem for a while, and it's just whenever I undertake a lot of practice.
"I've been out in the Middle-East for four weeks so I think it's just a repetitive injury and comes from hitting a lot of balls, and it just niggles a little bit."
McIlroy, who also finished third in his first appearance of the season in Abu Dhabi, has taken out a US PGA Tour card for the first time this season and is set to feature at the WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona next week.
But before that he will meet the Belfast-based specialist and also undergo a scan in Leeds after travelling back from Dubai with his parents Gerry and Rosie and South African-born physio Cornell Driesson.
After the Match Play, McIlroy is set to play the Honda Classic, WGC - CA Championship at Doral, the Arnold Palmer Invitational ay Bay Hill and the Shell Houston Open before April's Masters at Augusta.
"It's just a build-up and it's been at me for a while, and the more the week progressed the more it troubled me," he added.
"I can still swing the club okay, but bending down and doing things like putting and picking the ball out of the cup hurts.
"The scan is precautionary and I get one every year and I will be fine for the Match Play. I just need to give it some rest."
McIlroy produced a valiant defence of his maiden title in Dubai last week and, although he did not appear to be troubled by the problem during yesterday's final round, his one-over-par 73 was not enough to wipe out a two-shot overnight deficit.
He noticeably did miss several short putts in a round which contained just three birdies as McIlroy finished three shots adrift of Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez, the Spaniard eventually prevailing in a thrilling three-hole play-off.
"I didn't play well,' said McIlroy. "I didn't take my chances and it was just a bit of a struggle.
"I want to win and didn't even put myself in a position to do that. I didn't really get anything going."
The result, though, does mean McIlroy has finished in the top seven in eight of his last nine events dating back to August's PGA Championship.

LATER NEWS:

Rory McIlroy's back problem is just a slight nerve impingement and will not prevent him taking part in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Alan Steel Asset Management backs Gallacher

to return sub par performance

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY BLUEPRINT MEDIA
Alan Steel Asset Management will for once be chasing below par performance from its activities after becoming the main sponsor for professional local golfer Stephen Gallacher.
Stephen plays on the European Tour and has won over 4 million Euros in prize money in the last 10 years.
Consistently ranked in the top 100, Stephen has been playing on the tour since 1996 and is a previous winner of the Dunhill Links Championship.
Alan Steel Asset Management has a long-standing policy of supporting local sporting champions with show jumpers, windsurfers and taekwondo specialists all featuring on its books in the past.
The Alan Steel Asset Management brand will feature on Stephen’s headwear with clients being treated to a number of days on the links with the professional.
Steve Forbes, pictured above, managing director at Alan Steel Asset Management, said: “I am a keen golfer and there are a few others who play golf in the office and we got to know Stephen after meeting him at the nearby golf range. Stephen is a wonderful talent who we are delighted to be working with and I know clients will be excited at the prospect of playing golf with him. He is also a very well connected individual and will be a wonderful ambassador for our company.”
Steve added: “Whether he can help me get my own handicap into single figures is perhaps asking too much, but hopefully he’ll be happy to share one or two professional tips.”
The local partnership works well for both parties and after working with companies from around the world, Stephen said it was great to be linking up with an established business that shared his own background.
He said: “I know the deal will be good for both Alan Steel Asset Management and myself, but I also hope it will be good for the local area more generally. Certainly I am looking forward to a long lasting relationship.”
This was a sentiment echoed by Steve who said: “This is not a one-year deal, but something we hope will run for a long time and create advantages for both parties and the wider community here in Linlithgow as well.”

NORTHERN TRUST OPEN REPORT

Stricker rises to World No 2

after holding off Donald's

last- round challenge

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Luke Donald shot a final-round 66 at Riviera Country Club, at Pacific Palisades, California on Sunday but could not prevent Steve Stricker from holding on for victory at the Northern Trust Open.
American Stricker, who will be 43 on February 27, claimed a two-shot win over the Englishman with a one-under-par 70 and climbed to the world number two ranking at the expense of two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson, who needed a top-six finish to keep the rank but could only manage a tie for 45th after a closing 73.
The victory for Stricker, worth a massive $1,152,000, continued a remarkable turnaround for the American since losing his US PGA Tour card in 2004. He won the tour's Comeback Player of the Year award in 2006 and 2007, won three titles in 2009 and after three tournaments this year has yet to shoot over par.
"It feels great, this means a lot," an emotional Stricker told NBC Sports. "I remember where I was and look at where I am now. It doesn't get any better and I really appreciate it."
Stricker had taken a six-stroke lead into the final round near Los Angeles and, 12 months after losing a two-shot lead in the same tournament to Phil Mickelson, a nervy start in Pacific Palisades saw Donald cut the lead to two after just five holes.
Birdies at the eighth and ninth put Stricker back on the right track before both he and his rival birdied the 11th and then bogeyed the 12th, Donald's first dropped shot in 34 holes.
Donald increased the pressure a little more with a birdie at 13 and further still with a four at the par-five 17th to cut the lead to two, but Stricker held his nerve to par the 72nd hole for victory, the Englishman also parring for his third consecutive top-10 finish at Riviera and a payslip for $691,200.
Halfway leader Dustin Johnson also shot a 66 to claim a tie for third place at 13 under with fellow American JB Holmes, who carded a 67.
Newly-appointed US Ryder Cup vice-captain Paul Goydos shot a 65 to claim a share of fifth place alongside compatriots Steve Marino and George McNeill, as well as Argentina's Andres Romero.
Closing rounds of 73 and 72 saw England's Justin Rose slip down the leaderboard to three under par and a tie for 37th, while a closing 73 sent countryman Brian Davis to one under and Glasgow's Martin Laird wrapped things up with a 72 to finish at one over par. His share of the prizemoney was $14,464.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
268 Steve Stricker 67 65 66 70 ($1,152,000).
270 Luke Donald (Eng) 68 70 66 66 ($691,200).
271 Dustin Johnson 64 67 74 66, J B Holmes 68 69 67 67 ($371,200 each).
274 George McNeill 70 69 66 69, Steve Marino 70 67 69 68, Paul Goydos 69 72 68 65, Andres Romero (Arg) 65 69 70 70 ($224,800 each).
275 Ricky Barnes 66 71 69 69 ($185,600)
276 Kevin Na 72 67 71 66, Kevin Stadler 65 71 69 71, Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 70 70 68, Jason Bohn 69 75 67 65, Alex Prugh 71 69 66 70 ($147,200).
277 Marc Leishman (Aus) 71 71 70 65, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 73 68 68 68, Bo Van Pelt 70 70 69 68, Webb Simpson 70 73 69 65, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 71 70 68 68
278 Charlie Wi (Kor) 72 68 69 69, Jim Furyk 71 70 68 69, Matt Kuchar 69 71 72 66, Kevin Sutherland 69 71 68 70, Scott Verplank 68 74 65 71, Brandt Snedeker 66 72 69 71, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 69 67 71 71
279 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 70 73 66, John Rollins 71 71 67 70, Michael Allen 69 70 71 69, Robert Allenby (Aus) 72 69 70 68, K J Choi (Kor) 71 72 71 65
280 Michael Letzig 71 72 68 69, Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 68 68 72 72, Stewart Cink 71 71 67 71, Bryce Molder 71 68 71 70, Tim Clark (Rsa) 69 72 71 68
281 Charley Hoffman 68 71 70 72, Woody Austin 71 72 70 68, Fred Couples 69 72 72 68, Chad Campbell 70 72 71 68, Justin Rose (Eng) 69 67 73 72, Jimmy Walker 71 72 71 67, Troy Matteson 68 69 74 70, Jonathan Byrd 68 74 71 68
282 Phil Mickelson 72 66 71 73, Rich Beem 74 69 68 71
283 Brian Davis (Eng) 72 70 68 73, Vaughn Taylor 73 70 72 68, Matt Bettencourt 70 74 72 67, Briny Baird 70 72 69 72, D.J. Trahan 72 71 72 68
284 D.A. Points 69 72 70 73, Anthony Kim 71 66 69 78
285 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 72 72 70 71, Brett Quigley 70 73 72 70, John Merrick 70 72 68 75, Roland Thatcher 68 73 74 70, Martin Laird (Sco) 72 72 69 72, Brenden Pappas (Rsa) 71 68 72 74, Mark Wilson 72 72 72 69 ($14,464 each).
286 Justin Leonard 71 73 71 71, J J Henry 70 73 71 72, Jeff Overton 70 71 71 74, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 71 73 70 72, Ben Curtis 73 68 75 70, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 71 73 71 71, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 71 71 71 73
287 Nicholas Thompson 69 73 74 71
289 Steve Flesch 73 70 73 73, Craig Bowden 69 74 73 73
292 Parker McLachlin 71 73 72 76
294 Kevin Streelman 69 73 74 78

North of Scotland Golfers' Alliance Scoreboard
SPEY BAY COMPETITION
Leading scores:
SCRATCH
70 D Hector (Elgin), G Hay (Grantown), J C Milne (Moray)
71 J Simpson (Forres)
72 C Campbell (Nairn Dunbar) p, S Johnston (Elgin)
73 J Wright (Forres), B Fotheringham (Forres)
74 N McWilliam (Elgin)
75 K Thomson (Moray)
76 R McKerron (Forres), G McKenzie (Hopeman)
77 J S D Campbell (Grantown)
78 J R Ingram (Boat of Garten), M L MacLeman (Moray), K Willliamson (Torvean), S Chisholm (Nairn)
79 R G Macpherson (Moray), R Stewart (Nairn Dunbar), B Inch (Elgin)
HANDICAP
Class 1 (eight & under)
66 D Hector (Elgin) (4)
69 S Johnston (Elgin) (3)
71 G Mckenzie (Hopeman) (5)
72 S Duncan (Moray) (8)
73 J R Ingram (Boat of Garten) (5)
Class 2 (9 to 14)
70 A A Lees (Moray) (10), R G Macpherson (Moray) (9)
72 D Spence (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (13)
74 V Ralph (Moray) (14)
75 W B Johnston (Moray) (9), L Macbean (Boat of Garten) (9), C Small (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (11)

E-mail from Bruce Eaton in Tasmania:

Hi Colin
Attached is a photo of Fraser and Colin Fotheringham taken on Sunday at the Tasmanian Open, played at Kingston Beach Golf Club in Hobart. Fraser asked me to send this to you as he thought you may like to load it on your web page. The person in the middle is me. I was the Executive Director of Golf Tasmania but am now retired.
I met and became very fond of both the Fotheringhams three years ago when Fraser first came to Tassie to play in the Open at Devonport. What wonderful people they both are. They are a credit to Scotland.
Cheers
Bruce Eaton
PS I have also attached the final results for your information

TASMANIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Kingston Beach Golf Club, Hobart.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
Players are all amateurs
277 Rory Bourke (Victoria, Australia) 72 65 65 75, Jin Jeong (Victoria) 71 66 68 72 (Jin Jeong won sudden-death play-off with birdie on fourth extra hole).
278 Kieran Pratt (Victoria) 66 70 73 69.
279 Todd Adcock (Nevill, England) 70 72 72 65.
281 Daniel Beckman (Victoria) 69 70 69 73, Nathan Gatehouse (Tasmania) 70 65 76 70, Kalem Richardson (Tasmania) 73 70 69 69.
282 Timothy Hart (Queensland) 74 71 69 68.
283 Aidan Bae (West Australia) 70 65 71 77.
284 Edouard Amacher (Switzerland) 71 69 71 73, Brady Watt (West Australia) 71 69 72 72.
286 Simon Hawkes (Tasmania) 74 76 68 68, Matt Jager (West Australia) 72 69 70 75, Ryan McCarthy (Tasmania) 70 71 74 71.
288 Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn, Scotland) 73 68 74 73, Travis Sharpe (Victoria) 71 72 75 70.
289 Steve Lucas (Tasmania) 72 66 74 77.
+57 players took part.

*Scottishgolfview is always glad to hear about Scots golfers around the world. E-mail the news, images to Colin@scottishgolfview.com