Best putters on the European Tour

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Ever wondered who is the best putter on the European Tour?
Probably not, but I'm going to tell you anyway.
Here is the current list of the top 20 with their average number of putts per round being the deciding factor.
Under the European Tour's statistic "rules," the "use of the putter from off the green does not constitute a putt."
Ironically, Alastair Forsyth, pictured, has been the best putter among the Scots on the European Tour in 2010, averaging 29.6 per round, which gave him joint 62nd ranking overall. Ironically, because Alastair has lost his Tour card and is heading for the Final Tour School in Spain next month.
Andrew Coltart and Paul Lawrie, who both played in the 1999 Ryder Cup match at Brookline, Massachusetts, come next in joint 77th position with a shared average of 29.7 putts per round.

THE TOP 20 PUTTERS
1 Fredrik ANDERSSON HED 28 putts average per round.
1 Luke DONALD 28 putts average per round.
3 Marcus FRASER 28.2
4 George COETZEE 28.3 
5 Pelle EDBERG 28.4  6 Christian CÉVAËR 28.5 
6 Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ 28.5
8 David HOWELL 28.7 
8 James MORRISON 28.7
8 Lee WESTWOOD 28.7 
11 Brett RUMFORD 28.8
11 Damien MCGRANE 28.8 
11 David HORSEY 28.8 
11 Michael LORENZO-VERA 28.8 
11 Paul BROADHURST 28.8
11 Rhys DAVIES 28.8

11 Søren KJELDSEN 28.8

18 Jamie ELSON 28.9

18 Nick DOUGHERTY 28.9

18 Prayad MARKSAENG 28.9

SCOTS' RANKINGS (as putters)

T62 Alastair FORSYTH 29.6

T77 Paul LAWRIE 29.7.

T77 Andrew COLTART 29.7.

T85 Peter WHITEFORD 29.8.

T96 Colin MONTGOMERIE 29.9.

T96 David DRYSDALE 29.9.

T107 Marc WARREN 30.

T125 Callum MACAULAY 30.2.

T152 Scott DRUMMOND 30.3.

T178 Richie RAMSAY 32.2.

186 Steven O'HARA 32.

+Just to put the professionals' putting stats into perspective, it is debatable if the average club golfer, handicap 12 to 24, ever counts his putts per round. Probably just as well, 36 putts would represent a good average for him.
If you don't agree, E-mail your view to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

First response from Newmachar Golf Club member

RICHARD DENNING

(who played at the inaugural Morocco Festival at Marrakech in October)

 My putts per round average is 31.86 ( and I do keep my stats) - and my handicap is currently 14.

Surprisingly, as my handicap comes down, I expect my putts per round to go up! 

Why, I hear you ask? 

Well, the better I get the more greens in regulation (currently 20%) I hope to hit. At the moment I miss quite a lot and then have a pitch or chip onto the green from close range - so I give myself more chances of a single putt.

When I start hitting more greens I don't expect my shots to get as close to the flag as my pitches/chips do, so I'll end up not having so many single putts and more three putts.

Regards

Richard Denning

Pictured right: Richard Denning and his wife Caroline, winners of  the man and lady section of the better-ball pairs at the 2010 Morocco Festival at Marrakech.
Editor's Note:
The 2nd Morocco Festival will be held over FIVE courses in the Marrakech region from October 8 to 15, 2011. Don't miss it. We're making several changes to the week's programme to give lower handicap players a better chance. For instance, the categories will be made up on handicaps rather than age. The lower handicap players will play stroke-play, the higher handicap players Stableford.

A better-ball pairs competition (Sunday), a three-round aggregate event (Monday-Tuesday-Thursday) and finally a one-round sweepstake (Friday) with a Rest/Leisure day on the Wednesday. Plus visits to local places of interest, capped by a Gala Dinner on the Friday night, complete with a belly dancer! 

E-mail Colin@Scottishgolfview.com if you are interested in joining the fun. We had 47 entries in October this year. It might well be we have to put a limit on the numbers in 2011. Don't miss out by not making up your mind until it's too late.

E-mail from Graham Leslie (Golf Data Lab)

Richard Denning's email is spot on. He understands that there is an inversely proportional relationship between Putts per Rd and Greens In Regulation. I would sincerely hope for his sake that his PpR do not get worse than his 31.86 but his understanding of the relationship between the two is important.

The number of putts that we take on average per round tells us very little, on its own, for the precise reason that he identified. There has been much research that has been conducted in recent months to find an alternative method of measuring putting expertise (or otherwise) and this is very close to fruition.

Putts per Round tables are a complete white elephant, as anyone who plays golf and who is even semi-interested in performance measurement will understand.

Graeme Leslie

Golf Data Lab

Golf can be deadly game ... man killed in Florida

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
No-one is suggesting that all golfers and greenkeeping staff should wear hard hats on the golf course but two events recently in the news are a reminder to us all that that golf can be a dangerous even deadly game.
First there's the ongoing lawsuit in America involving a man who lost the sight of an eye when he was struck by a shot from a partner who, he claimed, did not shout "Fore" as a warning.
Now comes news of a Thanksgiving Day tragedy in Florida.
A man, described as "a maintenance worker" at a central Florida Country Club, has died after being hit by a golfer's tee shot.
Police say Maurice Hayden was pulling up weeds near a tree at the Mayfair Country Club in Sanford on Wednesday when he was struck on the temple by a golf ball, hit from about 30 yards away.
The 42-year-old man was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital. Police say he died Thursday after being removed from life support.

Police say the stray shot and its tragic consequences were an accident and that the golfer will not face charges.

PROM AND CAROLAN SHARE HONOURS

AT KING’S CUP TOURNEY IN THAILAND

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Khon Kaen, Thailand , November 26: Prom Meesawat of Thailand signalled his return to form by taking a share of the second round lead with Australia ’s Tony Carolan at the King’s Cup tournament today.
Prom posted a five-under-par 67 while overnight leader Carolan returned with a 69 for a two-day total of nine-under-par 135 at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.
South African Jbe Kruger fired a sparkling 65, the best score in two rounds, to lie in third place on a 136 total while 17-year-old Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand and Korean Mo Joong-kyung, a two-time Asian Tour champion, are a stroke back in tied fourth at the US$300,000 full field event.
Singapore’s Quincy Quek overcame an elbow and wrist injury for a flawless 67 to tie with Kwanchai Tannin of Thailand on a 138 total, three strokes from the leaders at the event presented by Singha and the Sports Authority of Thailand.
Prom turned in 35 but bounced back with a bogey free back nine highlighted by four birdies. The big-hitting Thai, nicknamed “Big Dolphin”, was delighted to be in position of ending a four-year title drought on the Asian Tour.
“I’m very happy with my first two rounds. I’m back to form and I need to stick to my game plan of keeping calm. I need to remain focus and continue playing against myself and the golf course,” said Prom, whose sole victory on the Asian Tour was in 2006.
“I really want to win because this event is so important to the Thai players. Our current King is so good and I hope I can win it for him. It will be nice to have the King’s trophy in my cabinet,” said the 26-year-old, who lingers in 83rd place on the Order of Merit after eight missed cuts.
Carolan, who is searching for his maiden Asian Tour victory, was trailing playing partner Prom by a stroke before closing with two consecutive birdies.
“I couldn’t make a birdie putt on the front nine but I entered the back nine with a little bit of confidence because I shot a couple of birdies there yesterday,” said the Australian.
“I’m in a good position for the weekend rounds and this is the sort of course that if you play well, you will shoot a good number and I plan on doing just that,” said Carolan, who has been struggling with tendinitis in his right elbow this season.
Kruger, 24, bogeyed his first hole but recovered superbly with six birdies and one eagle against one bogey. The diminutive South African remained optimistic of maintaining his form and landing his first Asian Tour win.
“I’m happy because everything came together very nicely and I sank some crucial putts. I’m still in it with a chance and it doesn’t matter if I’m a shot or two shots back. It will all be about Sunday,” said Kruger, a two-time runner-up this season.
“It will be nice to win anywhere but it will be amazing to beat the Thai guys on home soil especially when they know this golf course so well,” he added.
Korea ’s Mo, who started on the 10th tee, birdied three of his opening five holes but stumbled to a bogey on hole 17 before trading two birdies with as many bogeys in his homeward nine.
“I’m pretty happy with how I played. I didn’t putt very good as I had a couple of three putts so I have to work on my putting later. Overall I’m still happy with my two rounds,” said Mo, who won his second Asian Tour title in Thailand in 2008.
After playing regularly in Korea , Mo admitted that he needs time to adapt playing outside of his country.
“I didn’t play much on the Asian Tour because I concentrated mostly on playing in Korea and when you settle at one place, it gets very hard for you to come out here to adapt and play well. Maybe I should play more on the Asian Tour,” said Mo, currently in 102nd place on the Order of Merit.
A total of 74 players made the weekend rounds after the halfway cut was set at three-over-par 147.
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
135 Tony Carolan (AUS) 66-69, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-67
136 Jbe Kruger (RSA) 71-65
137 Mo Joong-kyung (KOR) 67-70, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 71-66
138 Kwanchai Tannin (THA) 68-70, Quincy Quek (SIN) 71-67
139 Himmat Rai ( IND ) 69-70, Unho Park (AUS) 69-70
140 Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA) 68-72, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 70-70
141 Udorn Duangdecha (THA) 70-71, Ben Leong (MAS) 69-72, Ronnachai Jamnong (THA) 71-70, Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 73-68, Pasamet Pogamnerd (THA) 73-68
142 Wanich Petcharit (THA) 71-71, Namchoak Tantipokakul (THA) 75-67, Hwang In-choon (KOR) 69-73, Rory Hie (INA) 70-72, Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA) 71-71, Amardip Malik (IND) 71-71

EUROPEAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL STAGE 2 IN SPAIN

Three Scots break 70 at Costa Ballena

The Scots at Costa Ballena - the Coast of Whales - in Spain made a good start to the first round of the 72-hole Stage 2 eliminator of the European Tour Qualifying School. Lloyd Saltman (pictured) did best with a five under par 67 to be in joint third position. Jack Doherty had a 68 and John Gallagher a 69.

Scores:

Par 72

67 Lloyd Saltman (jt 3rd).

68 Jack Doherty (jt 8th).

69 John Gallagher (jt 20th).
72 Mark Kerr (jt 44th).

FOR ALL THE COSTA BALLENA SCORES

CLICK HERE

Twice winner of the Scottish youths championship but a long-time resident of the United States, Joel Hendry (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) from Elgin led the four Scots at the Arcos Gardens venue.
Joel had a 71 to be joint 20th at the end of the first day.
Scores:
Par 72
71 Joel Hendry (jt 20th).
72 Ross Bain, Chris Doak (jt 29th).
74 Craig Matheson (jt 49th).

FOR ALL THE SCORES AT ARCOS GARDEN

CLICK HERE

Young Shaun McAllister, a former Scottish boys'open stroke-play champion from Craigielaw, upstaged his "elders" among the Tartan contingent at the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort venue in Murcia.
Shaun shot a three-under-par 69 to be joint 10th at the end of the first day, two shots ahead of Wallace Booth and Elliot Saltman.
Scores:
Par 72
69 Shaun McAllister (jt 10th).
71 Wallace Booth, Elliot Saltman (jt 29th).
73 Stephen Gray, Andrew McArthur (jt 47th).
74 Craig Lee, Eric Ramsay (jt 55th).

FOR ALL THE SCORES AT HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

CLICK HERE

Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) and Murrayshall's Gavin Dear, two of the trio who won the Eisenhower Trophy for Scotland in Australia only a couple of years ago are toiling already to qualify for the Final Stage after disastrous opening rounds at El Valle Golf Resort.
Callum had a five-over-par 76 and Gavin a 78. Callum is joint 58th and Gavin tied for 67th position.
Tartan Tour player Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Scottish PGA champion in 2008, also had a 76.
Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) and Graham Fox (East Kilbride) started solidly with rounds of 71 and 72 respectively.
Scores
Par 71
71 Keir McNicoll (jt 19th).
72 Graham Fox (jt 26th).
76 Callum Macaulay, Jason McCreadie (jt 58th).
78 Gavin Dear (jt 67th).

TO SEE ALL THE SCORES AT EL VALLE

CLICK HERE

Poulter, Fisher lead at halfway

in Dubai

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Ryder Cup team mates Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher are the joint leaders at the halfway stage of the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.
Fisher stormed to the top of the leaderboard thanks to a flawless eight under par 64 that included eight birdies and equalled the course record set by Lee Westwood twelve months earlier.
Not to be outdone, Poulter – who was playing in the pick of the two-balls alongside World Number One Westwood – carded a six under par 66 to move level with Fisher in the final leg of The Race to Dubai. Poulter got off to a flyer with four consecutive birdies over the first four holes but could only capture two more in his good-natured battle with Westwood that drew the largest galleries of the day.
“We had some early fireworks - it was good fun,” said Poulter who has now gone five of his last six rounds without a bogey. “All four of the birdie putts this morning were kind of two putts - I would say 12-14 feet - and the other two were from six feet.”
While Poulter won the individual battle with Westwood (67) by just one shot, the defending champion is hovering just one shot adrift of the leaders and in good shape to repeat his success of 2009 when he destroyed both the field and the hosting Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“I think Lee was on another planet with 23 under par last year,” added Poulter. “It's not that easy a golf course. You have to hit it solid off the tee to give yourself a decent look at hitting it close. Twenty three under won't be reached this week.”
For Fisher, the Dubai World Championship offers a chance to make up for missing out on the Race to Dubai title in 2009.
“There’s not so much pressure as last year,” he said. “Then I was fourth coming in and only 14th this year so obviously I had a chance to win (The Race to Dubai) last year, but was going to be very difficult; whereas this year maybe I’m coming in with less expectation and trying to enjoy the week. And it seems to be working so far.”
While overnight leader Robert Karlsson slipped down the order after a disappointing three over par 75, the top of the Dubai World Championship leaderboard features some of the biggest names in golf. Poulter and Fisher are one ahead of Westwood, while Paul Casey is on seven under par alongside Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer. Also in the mix are Ryder Cup stars Francesco Molinari (-6) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (-5) as well as Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen (-5).
“If you were a sponsor of this event you would look at the leaderboard and be rubbing your hands together, wouldn't you?” said Westwood. “You've got the leader of the Race to Dubai up there. You've got the World Number One. Ross Fisher has had a great year. Poults has had a great year. It’s a fantastic leaderboard.”
In terms of The Race to Dubai, it looks as if Graeme McDowell’s dream is over after the Northern Irishman shot a one over par 73 to trail Kaymer by eight shots with two rounds remaining.
SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72)
135 Ross Fisher 71 64, Ian Poulter 69 66.
136 Lee Westwood 69 67
137 Paul Casey 70 67, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 67 70, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 68 69
138 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 71 67
139 Seung-yul Noh (Kor) 66 73, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70 69, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 73 66, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 72 67
140 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 65 75, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69 71, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 69 71, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 70 70, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 71 69
141 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 71 70, Brett Rumford (Aus) 71 70, Luke Donald 74 67
142 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 71 71, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 70 72, Richie Ramsay 73 69, Matteo Manassero (Ita) 74 68, Darren Clarke 71 71
143 Chris Wood 73 70, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 69 74, David Horsey 70 73, Simon Dyson 72 71, Peter Lawrie 76 67, Rory McIlroy 71 72, Ernie Els (Rsa) 73 70, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 72 71
144 John Parry 75 69, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 69 75, Anders Hansen (Den) 74 70, Joost Luiten (Ned) 72 72, Gareth Maybin 73 71, Soren Hansen (Den) 74 70, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 73 71, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 75 69, Padraig Harrington 74 70
145 Peter Hanson (Swe) 76 69, Gary Boyd 70 75, Graeme McDowell 72 73, Richard Green (Aus) 72 73, Jamie Donaldson 78 67, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 73, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 73 72, Gregory Havret (Fra) 72 73
147 Stephen Gallacher 73 74, Johan Edfors (Swe) 73 74
148 Oliver Wilson 75 73, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 75 73
149 Robert Rock 76 73, Rhys Davies 75 74
150 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 78 72, Simon Khan 73 77
151 Thomas Bjorn (Den) 75 76
152 Damien McGrane 74 78, Danny Willett 76 76

Bradley Neil looking for another big year in 2011

By A SCOTTISHGOLFVIEW.COM CONTRIBUTOR
With the golf season all but over for most golfers, Bradley Neil is already planning for next season.
The SGU run a successful U16s Junior Winter Series comprising four events. They take place in October, November, February and March. It is aimed at those within the SGU Academy. From this series, the SGU will use the Order of Merit to help them select eight players who will represent Scotland in the annual development quadrangular event against Holland, Ireland and Wales. Next year’s event will be held in Scotland.
Bradley has already made an impressive start to this series by winning the first event at The Glen in October. He shot an outstanding score of 67 (-3). His score was even more impressive when you consider that he used a completely new set of Taylor Made clubs, only acquired the Friday prior to the event on the Sunday!
He didn’t perform as heroically as at The Glen when the second event was recently held at Strathmore Golf Centre. He had, for him, a disappointing 78(+6) on a day when he just hit too many slack shots.
Getting used to his new clubs will obviously take time, but he sits currently in third place in the Order of Merit with two fixtures remaining. Bradley feels that a good showing might propel him into the selectors' thoughts for inclusion into the Under-18 boys' squad that will experience warm weather training abroad, and also the possibility of sneaking into the team for the U18s quadrangular match in March, being held in Ireland next year.
For this to happen, representing Scotland in the aforementioned U16’s Quads is vital to his development too.
As for next season, Bradley hopes to go one better than this years second place finish in the Scottish U16s national event. He is quietly confident of achieving that goal, but he knows he will have to raise his game event higher to do so. The competition at this level is very tough, and there are a lot of talented golfers who come from far and wide to try to grasp our national titles away from the Scots. Bradley is hoping that his performances merit consideration for other events with the national teams, but he would love to capture a spot on the team for the Boys' Home Internationals at Royal St David’s GC, Harlech in North Wales next August.
Reflecting on last year’s record-breaking season and having now captured three National U14 titles in the last two years, along with his Blairgowrie men’s club championship, the youngest ever winner in the club’s 121-year history, he was also invited to do a TV interview on the back of his successes Bradley also picked up the Perth and Kinross Highland Spring Young Sports Personality and the Dundee Young Sports Personality of the Year.
On the home front, Bradley helped Rosemount Golf Club retain the Perth and Kinross Junior Scratch League title, something the club had never achieved in the past. He was also runner-up in the Club’s Junior Championship, losing to his older brother Connor, thereby losing his title.
Bradley also helped Perth and Kinross retain the U18s Gary Harvey Trophy, and he captained the U15’s team that won the Frank Thomson Trophy. Bradley’s handicap has also reduced from 2.4 to +1, no mean feat!
Bradley now has a new coach, Kevin Hale, after Spencer Henderson’s career move to Turkey. Bradley would like to thank Spencer for all his help, and wishes him well in his new post as national coach for Turkey.
Bradley and Kevin are working on minor changes, which will hopefully enable Bradley to compete at the next level. Bradley currently receives Strength and Conditioning from Tayside and Fife Institute of Sport, along with golf fitness from Alex Woods from Golf-fit Limited, who specialise in golf fitness.
Bradley is excited about next season already, and he hopes to make a similar impact as he has done this season. He knows it will be hard, but he’s “up for the challenge.”

Andrew Oldcorn in action in the Handa Cup Senior Masters (picture by courtesy of Getty Images).

Happy wedding anniversary for

Andrew Oldcorn in Japan 

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Andrew Oldcorn celebrated his wedding anniversary with a second round 66 to move into a share of the lead with Frankie Minoza at the Handa Cup Senior Masters in Japan today.
Four birdies and two dropped shots took the Scot to eight under par 136 at Ohmurasaki Golf Club on the Senior Tour’s first visit to Japan. His six under par round and 36 hole total was matched by Minoza of the Philippines.
Double Major Champion and fellow Scot Sandy Lyle, Frenchman Marc Farry and Japan’s Satoshi Kigashi are tied on seven under par, one behind the leaders.
“It’s always nice to see your name at the top of the leaderboard, but there’s still a long way to go,” said Oldcorn, winner of the PGA Championship, European Tour’s flagship event in 2001.
“This course probably doesn’t suit me, it favours a bigger hitter,” he added. “But the big difference today was that I started to hole some putts. Last week in Australia my putting was poor but today I forgot about the mechanics of the stroke. It just worked today.
“I’ve been struggling with a head cold, and I’m pretty tired given the lack of sleep so that was a super human effort on my part. Generally though I’m delighted with my round, it’s a great way of celebrating my 11th wedding anniversary.”
Minoza made no mistakes in a flawless six birdie round to sit alongside Oldcorn after two rounds.
Lyle, runner-up last week in the Handa Australian Senior Open, added a 69 to his opening 68 to lie on seven under par 137. Farry, who also enjoyed a good week last week in taking fourth place in Perth, shot a one under par 71 while Higashi carded a 68.
Farry recovered from a double bogey on the second, where he hooked his tee shot, with a strong back nine and birdie on the last hole.
“I think the greens today were a lot quicker than yesterday, and certain pin positions were very tight in corners,” he said.
“On this sort of course, if the driving is perfect you can hit six or seven under, but if it isn’t good you’ll hit around par. Overall I’m very happy.”
Defending champion Ian Woosnam, no stranger to Japan, three-putted the last to finish at five under par but lies only three strokes off the lead heading into the weekend. Barry Lane finished on the same mark after also suffering misfortune on the last when he hit his approach into the water.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2x71)

136 A Oldcorn (Scot) 70, 66; F Minoza (Phi) 70, 66;

137 S Lyle (Scot) 68, 69; M Farry (Fra) 66, 71; S Higashi (Jpn) 69, 68;

138 S Okuda (Jpn) 67, 71; K Tomori (Jpn) 66, 72; K Murota (Jpn) 72, 66; K Maita (Jpn) 70, 68; K Takahashi (Jpn) 69, 69;

139 I Woosnam (Wal) 70, 69; M Belsham (Eng) 68, 72; A Franco (Par) 70, 69; B Lane (Eng) 67, 72, D J Russell (Eng) 71 68.
SELECTED SCORES:
141 R Drummond (Sco) 71 69, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 73 68.
142 J Harrison (Eng) 71 71, P Fowler (Aus) 71 71.
143 D Smyth (Ire) 71 72, N Job (Eng) 71 72, W Grady (Aus) 71 72, K Spurgeon (Eng) 72 71, B Longmuir (Sco) 73 70, G Ralph (Eng) 76 67, G J Brand (Eng) 68 75.
144 R Chapman (Eng) 72 69.
MISSED THE CUT
147 S Torrance (Sco) 75 72.