Glasgow squad for Scottish area team championship

The Glasgow squad for the Scottish men's area team championship at Kinross on the weekend of May 15-16 is:
John Laurie (Cowglen).
Mark Bookless (Sandyhills).
Stephen Robertson (Sandyhills).
Connor O'Neil (Pollok).
Gordon Sangster (Cathkin Braes).
Ben Sloan (Cathkin Braes).

Team captain: Stephen Machin.

Kim joins Stricker on sidelines at Players' Championship

Anthony Kim has joined Steve Stricker in pulling out of this week's Players Championship in Florida.
World No 3 Stricker withdrew on Monday because of the collarbone injury which also forced him to miss last week's Quail Hollow Championship.
Fellow American Kim, 11th in the world rankings and third at the Masters last month, misses golf's unofficial fifth major at Sawgrass with a thumb problem.
The 24-year-old has been battling the injury for a year.
Kim said: "This injury has been well-documented over the past month and I'm doing everything I can to play through it.
"But it became more of an issue last week and needs to be looked at."

Clubgolf can start delivering new members for golf clubs

FROM THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
The most heated golfing debate I've witnessed this year involved a likeable PGA professional and an equally likeable chap who works for one of those national agencies that promote Scotland as a leading destination for all sorts of sports. Let's call him the 'government guy'.
It was about clubgolf, the national junior initiative that was launched in 2003 by Colin Montgomerie at Gleneagles, and the exchange of opinions between these two individuals came to mind during a chat last week with Colin Pearson, the PGA's strategic head of golf development (Scotland) who is working hard to make people more aware of the iconic PGA brand and how it can be more involved in helping the game progress.
During their debate, the PGA pro gave the government guy a hard time over the fact the clubgolf programme involved so many volunteer coaches, believing, though I don't recall him actually coming out and saying so, that these people didn't have the proper qualifications to teach youngsters how to play golf.
As you'd expect, the government guy fought his corner pretty well and was quick to point out that clubgolf had introduced a generation of kids to the game over the past seven years who otherwise might never have touched a golf club in their life.
That alone, he argued, made it a worthwhile programme.
According to Pearson, who has been in his post since November 2008 after previously working for sportscotland – where one of his successes was helping transform Scottish swimming to such an extent we managed to win more medals than the Australians at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, our PGA professional is in the minority these days.
While club professionals may have been a bit wary about the project at the outset, he says it is now being embraced the length and breadth of the country and is confident clubgolf can start delivering more new members for golf clubs.
"Golf has been very traditional and in some instances things have been very slow in evolving," said Pearson. "To get to the best in world we have seen there has to be major change within the culture of coaching and performance within the sport. In the early days of clubgolf the pros perhaps thought it was something that wasn't for them.
"Their attitude was probably, 'we coach for a living and don't want to be doing something for nothing'. It is not about that and, if you ask around them now, I think they have a much better understanding of what this is all about and that they can be involved."
Pearson admits clubgolf is a project close to his heart. He was involved in it from the start and is delighted to see players who were introduced to the game through clubgolf now starting to show enough potential to earn places in the Scottish Golf Academy. At the same time, though, he acknowledges that much work is still to be done to ensure the programme can bring a long-term benefit to Scottish golf.
"In five years we've gone from not having any volunteer coaches to having something like 1,650," he observed. "But, in terms of sports development, it takes ten years to really change things. Scotland's recent success in swimming and cycling didn't happen overnight and the key thing for me now (with clubgolf) is what the next ten years bring.
"It is about how we work with the clubs to make sure that pathway is strong. We always knew that was going to be an issue and have got to focus and work hard on making that happen."
Appointed by Sandy Jones, the PGA's executive director, to provide full-time expertise on the ground in the Scottish region that was previously lacking, Pearson is keen to see the organisation play an integral part in the development of the game in the home of golf and believes they can help raise the bar in terms of coaching.
While much has been said and written about Scotland's top golfers failing to hit the heights as often as we'd like them to, the spotlight is rarely turned on the coaches. The PGA, through its Academy training programme at The Belfry, is determined to breed professionals who can get the very best out of their pupil, whether he or she is a beginner or a Tour professional.
"I think the role for the PGA professional in the future is about managing the programme within a club," said Pearson. "Some coaching will be done by volunteers, some will be done by assistants and some coaching will be done by the pros themselves. I think that's how they need to look at it and Jackie Montgomery is a good example at Dunbar.
"We have a vision of having the right coach in the right place at the right time and that means that for all different markets within golf we need to develop coaches who can deliver within these markets rather than what we have at the moment where pros are expected to deliver everything i.e. one minute teaching a beginner then the next minute they've got a Stephen Gallacher.
"If you speak to coaches like Kevin Craggs and Adam Hunter you get a real sense of coaching in the wider context of what it was five years ago when it was maybe more about instruction and one-to-one than it was about coaching the game. Steve Paulding, the SGU's performance director, comes with that expertise of performance sport from sportscotland from his days as cycling coach and I think that is really good for the game."
Some believe playing bans handed out to David Orr, the reigning SPGA champion, and Mark Kerr, one of the emerging talents on the Tartan Tour, for failing to put in the required hours in a shop as part of their training was an indication that the PGA is more interested in seeing its members develop in aspects like coaching rather than helping them become better golfers.
Pearson says that isn't necessarily true and hopes a 'performance group' he's set up that includes respected and knowledgeable figures in Alan White (Lanark), Gordon Niven (Stirling University), Graeme McDowell (Elmwood College) and Campbell Elliot (Haggs Castle) will help identify young professionals who could follow in the footsteps of Paul Lawrie and Ian Poulter, two players who came through the PGA programme.
"It is wrong to think that one route (through the amateur ranks] is the answer," noted Pearson. "We have some concrete ideas that might offer a good alternative for some people and, if there is a PGA player with talent, we need to look at how we look after that player and support them. We've got players coming into the programme playing off +1 and even up to +3 and if they can prove they have the ability, then of course we want to help them improve."
+The above article appears in The Scotsman newspaper today.

Response from Dean Robertson, Stirling
Martin Dempster's article was brought to my attention by Andrew Coltart on route to the Italian Open this morning. He and I and many others with great experience and knowledge, both on a performance playing and coaching level, share different views.
It is only fair to listen to the ground swell that is starting to beat a loud drum. Surely the long term aim is for Scottish Golf to benefit from, not only the coaching initiatives that are being delivered via the SGU academy, but also from other sources, whose delivery may be viewed as different, but whose levels of expertese are valued/embraced by many different golfing bodies both at home and abroad.

Paul Lawrie backs Scottish Hydro Challenge to breed success

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR
By PAUL SYMES
Paul Lawrie has backed the 2010 Scottish Hydro Challenge to breed further Scots success on the European Challenge Tour.
The 1999 Open Champion, who played in the tournament last year, believes that the victory of Jamie McLeary at the Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club last summer, as well as top six finishes for Peter Whiteford (third) and Scott Jamieson (tied sixth), is the ultimate proof of the value the €200,000 event generates for the development of Scottish professionals.
Lawrie will not be able to play in this year’s tournament, from June 10-13 in the Scottish Highlands, as he will be on European Tour duty at the re-arranged Estoril Open de Portugal; but, despite the clash of schedules, the Aberdonian is keen to highlight the importance of an event that will give up to 30 Scots the opportunity to compete at a higher level than normal.
“The Scottish Hydro Challenge is a tournament of huge significance to the Scottish game,” said Lawrie. “Anyone who cares about the development of professional golfers in our country has to recognise that.
“To have a Challenge Tour event in Scotland, featuring some of the best young players in Europe, gives our home players the chance to gauge their abilities against the kind of competition that they should expect to come up against throughout a career at the top level.
“The Scottish Hydro Challenge is a step-up from any regional or national tournaments that the majority of our young pros compete in. The players who have the chance to play at Spey Valley will find themselves surrounded by guys from around Europe and the rest of the world who are hugely talented and desperately hungry for success.
“To give our players a sense of that environment can only improve standards in Scotland and eventually help us get more players competing at the game’s highest level.”
McLeary’s victory last year is the perfect illustration of the level required to succeed on the Challenge Tour, the circuit that launched the careers of Thomas Björn, Michael Campbell, Trevor Immelman, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson.
The 29-year-old had to resist the advances of Edoardo Molinari to take the top prize of €32,000 at Spey Valley last year, and the Italian has since gone on to enjoy huge success, winning the Omega Mission Hills World Cup for Italy in partnership with younger brother Francesco and bursting his way into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
“When you look at what Edoardo has done since last summer you get a good idea of what kind of players are coming through the Challenge Tour,” said McLeary, who finished tied for eighth place at last week’s Turkish Airlines Challenge hosted by Carya Golf Club.
“The standard is high and you cannot afford to stand still because people will fly past you in the Rankings. You have to be dedicated to constant improvement and the more Scottish players that experience this level of competition, the more players will be able to break through to the top level.
“Winning the Scottish Hydro Challenge last season did wonders for my confidence, and gave me the belief that I can get onto The European Tour and compete there. Hopefully, I can show that over the coming months and break into that all-important Challenge Tour top 20 come the end of the season to win a place on The European Tour.”

Lothians Championship tees off at Royal Burgess

Senior Hogg's hunger for golfing limelight reignited by win

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Alan Hogg, who is hoping to do "some damage" on the seniors' circuit this year, turned back the clock at Royal Burgess on a night when experience proved decisive in the first round of the Lothians Championship.
The 50-year old, who reached the semi-finals more than 20 years ago, produced a solid display to progress to the last 16, where he'll be joined by 44-year old John Yuille of the host club.Up against Marriott Dalmahoy's Dougie Hunter, Hogg was two up at the turn and went on to win 3 and 2, admitting a short missed putt from his opponent at the 12th had proved pivotal.
"I've got a taste for it again and aim to do a bit damage in the seniors this year," said Hogg, who played at Ratho Park when he lost to Stuart Smith in the semi-final but is now a member at Dundas Parks.
He now faces Pumpherston's Paul Drake, who crushed Merchants' Brian Erskine 6 and 5, the biggest win of the night despite feeling his driving had been "horrendous."
Drake, who lost to Kenny Mail in the quarter-finals at Dalmahoy in 2006, was four up at the turn before holing his approach at the 11th for an eagle2.
"I got away with some bad drives and managed to recover," said the 36-year old, who was pleased to make three sand saves on the night.
Making a rare appearance in the event, Yuille used his experience to good effect to beat Turnhouse's Scott Young, one of the three players who tied at the top of the leaderboard in Saturday's qualifying.
Two up after two, Yuille, whose dad, George, was the long-serving pro at the Barnton club until retiring a few years ago, was around level par for the 14 holes played as he won 5 and 4.
"There's no pressure on me and you certainly get a lot of confidence from playing on your own course," said Yuille, the Lothians Champion of Champions winner six years ago.
The financial advisor now meets Kingsknowe's Allyn Dick, who marked his debut in the event with a 4 and 2 win over Simon Lockhart of Bathgate.
While Dick, a former Lanarkshire county champion when Shotts was his home club, was two up after seven, he reckoned it could easily have been the other way around.
"I was fortunate that Simon didn't take his chances over the opening stretch but from the eighth onwards I hit it well," said Dick.
Haddington's Keith Nicholson, the defending champion, recovered from losing the first to a par to beat Ed Shannly of Linlithgow 3 and 1. After winning both the 11th and 12th, Nicholson got up and down for a half at the 13th before sinking a 20ft birdie putt to take the 14th.
"While I won't have played here nearly as often as some of those who play team matches in Edinburgh, I'm hoping this event can bring out the best in me again," said the four-time champion.
Nicholson's next opponent could prove a tough nut to crack as Martin Stein, who beat Carrickvale's David Ewen, is a former semi-finalist and hits the ball a long way. The Craigielaw player won the opening five holes against Ewen and held off a brave fightback from his gritty opponent on the back nine to win 3 and 2.
With former winner Steven Armstrong failing to qualify and Young making an early exit, Olly McCrone is left to fly the Turnhouse flag after he beat Niddry Castle's Hugh Fraser 4 and 2.
McCrone, 38, birdied the 16th to go dormie three and he now faces Malcolm Campbell, who reaped the reward of the work he's been doing with namesake Stuart, the Swanston New pro, as he beat Bathgate's Ryan Boyle 4 and 3.
"Stuart has re-built my swing over the last five months and I've also been reading some golf psychology books," said the 25-year old, who works in the bar at this club.
RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
M Stein (Craigielaw) bt D Ewen (Carrickvale) 3 and 2.
K Nicholson (Haddington) bt E Shannly (Linlithgow) 3 and 1.
O McCrone (Turnhouse) bt H Fraser (Niddry Castle) 4 and 2.
M Campbell (Swanston New) bt R Boyle (Bathgate) 4 and 3.
J Yuille (Royal Burgess) bt S Young (Turnhouse) 5 and 4.
A Dick (Kingsknowe) bt S Lockhart (Bathgate) 4 and 2.
P Drake (Pumpherston) bt B Erskine (Merchants) 6 and 5.
A Hogg (Dundas Parks) bt D Hunter (Marriott Dalmahoy) 3 and 2.
+The above article appears in the Edinburgh Evening News newspaper today.

Grant Forrest makes debut for
-
Lothians at Kinross

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE

By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Grant Forrest, the Scottish boys' champion, has been named in the Lothians side for the new-look Scottish area team championship at Kinross the weekend after next.
The rising Craigielaw star, pictured by Andy Forman, has proved himself in both stroke-play and match-play and captain Keith Nicholson says the 16-year-old deserves his place in the six-man team.
"Grant has done well in national events," remarked Nicholson, who has also included Mark Timmins, a player who's enjoyed an eye-catching resurgence over the past couple of years.
The Prestonfield member at the time but now at Pumpherston, won the Lothians championship at Royal Burgess 10 years ago before disappearing from the scene for a spell but he's been in outstanding form in a series of friendlies this season.
"If you asked any of the other guys, I'm sure they'd all say Mark has been our best player this year, with his only disappointment coming at the weekend when he failed to qualify for the Lothians championship," added the captain.
Completing the line-up for Kinross are Mark Hillson (Craigielaw), Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe), David Miller (Duddingston) and Steven Armstrong (Turnhouse).
Hillson is the top Lothians player in the world amateur rankings, while Dick, Miller and Armstrong are solid performers.
"We're going there with guys who can all shoot low but also know how to get round when they're maybe not firing on all cylinders," said Nicholson."It was a tough job picking this team and someone like Stephen Simants was certainly in contention, as was Stuart Boyle, who probably needed a couple of more events."

More teams for Kinross:
ANGUS - Ross Coull ( Edzell), William Bremner (Edzell), Graham Bell (Downfield), Ross Bell (Downfield), Kris Harper (Carnoustie), Gary Duncan (Carnoustie Caledonia).
NORTH - Graham Burnett (Nairn), Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), Kyle Godsman (Hopeman), Lyle McAlpine (Invergordon), Mike MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), Gary Thomson (Moray).

+Officials of districts whose teams for the Scottish area team championship have not yet been displayed on Scottishgolfview.com are invited to E-mail the information to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Mickelson's chance to become World No 1

FROM THE GOLF DIGEST WEBSITE
Phil Mickelson can overtake Tiger Woods in the world rankings at the Players Championship with a win and a non-top-five finish by Woods. It would be the first time the left-hander had reached No 1 in the rankings.
Of the players considered to be the "Big Four" of this generation -- Woods, Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els -- Mickelson is the only player to have never been No. 1.
Woods, who missed the cut last week for only the sixth time in his career, has been No. 1 the last five years.
Mickelson is trying to become only the 13th player to be No. 1 since the rankings began in 1986, and he has momentum on his side. He won The Players Championship two years ago, and he is coming off a Masters victory and a runner-up finish at Quail Hollow.
"I'm glad that this first tournament went well, because after a couple weeks off after a big high like Augusta, you never know where the game is going to be at," Mickelson said.
"And the way that I played and kept the ball in play and hit good shots, I'm looking forward to next week."
Woods is coming off the highest 36-hole score of his career at Quail Hollow. He shot a 79 in the second round -- the second-highest round as a pro -- and missed the cut by eight shots.
Woods arrived on Monday for a practice round with Rod Pampling.
It is rare for Woods to show up at regular US PGA Tour events on Monday, although he said last week before leaving Quail Hollow that his home course at Isleworth is torn up at the moment because of renovations.
This is the second time in the last two years that Woods' top ranking was on the line. Last year at Doral, Sergio Garcia could have become No. 1 with a victory in the World Golf Championship provided Woods was 27th or worse. In that situation, however, Woods had never finished out of the top 10 at Doral.
While he won The Players Championship in 2001, this is the only tournament where Woods has finished out of the top 20 at least five times. Last year, he played in the final group (five shots behind Alex Cejka), but closed with a 73 to finish eighth.