WESTWOOD BEMOANS LACK OF TOURNAMENTS IN ENGLAND

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE

PRESS TENT: TRUTH AND RUMOURS

By STEVE BESTOW (in America)

Lee Westwood is the face of the European Tour, to the point that no one was surprised when he (yet again) turned down a US PGA Tour card to continue playing across the pond in 2011.

But the relationship between the Euro Tour and the world's newest No. 1 player is not all peaches and cream.

The Open and the BMW PGA Championship are the only two events being staged in England in 2011. Why?

“I can’t get my head around it. English golf has never been so strong, we have 10 world-class Englishmen and we should all be getting together and playing an English Open or a European Open in England, even if the European Tour has to fund it," says Westwood.

“If the Tour want me to be an ambassador for an English Open then I am quite happy to do that.”

To a certain extent I can understand Westwood's frustration. Between him, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald, the English are having a major resurgence on the world stage, and there are very few tournaments to showcase them on their home soil.

At the same time, Westwood is clearly barking up the wrong tree. Like any other business, the European Tour cares only about one thing: The Almighty Euro.

Hopefully comments like this will get the attention of some of the island's heavy-hitting businesses. When the Tour hears the cash registers opening, that's when you'll see more events in England.

Editor Colin Farquharson's comment: The Ladies European Tour has same complaint as their male counterparts. Sponsors for tournaments in England are not so much thin on the ground, as hibernating in the summer as well. There is not a single LET event being played in England on its 2011 schedule announced last week ... even though the LET website list of dates and venues does say that "ENGLAND" is the host country for the Ricoh British Women's Open (which is being held at Carnoustie!). Wishful thinking? 

+Any comments? E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

ALLYN DICK MAKES IT A DOZEN SCOTS IN WAGR TOP 500

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Scotland will almost certainly end the year with 12 representatives in the top 500 of the R and A's World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Kingsknowe's Allyn Dick has made it a round dozen by improving 10 places to No 497 in this week's updated rankings, the second last of 2010.
Dick, pictured, won the Scottish mid-amateur title twice, in 2005 and again in 2006, and the Cameron Corbett Vase tournament at Haggs Castle in 2009 but it was not until he won another SGU 72-hole Order of Merit event, the Newlands Trophy, at Lanark in July this year that his ability was at last recognised with a first cap for Scotland in the Home Internationals the following month.
That Newlands Trophy victory put Dick in the top 1,000 of the WAGR for the first time. So he has improved his rating by 500 places in six months. Which is some going!
The other Scots in the leading 500 this week are:

17 James Byrne (+1 compared with last week).

58 Michael Stewart (+3).

133 Ross Kellett (+3).

170 Stuart Ballingall (+6).

171 Kris Nicol (+6).

302 Scott Crichton (+2)

320 James White (+7).

338 Scott Larkin (+6).

362 Peter Latimer (+6).
381 Brian Soutar (+5).
465 Paul Shields (+6).
497 Allyn Dick (+10).




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AMATEURS' CHANCE TO PARTNER TIGER IN PRO-AM

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE.
Organisers of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic are offering amateur golfers the chance of a lifetime to play alongside Tiger Woods during the curtain-raising pro-am tournament at the Emirates Golf Club on February 9, 2011.
Amateur golfers holding a valid handicap may visit the tournament website – www.golfindubai.org – to register online for free. A draw will be held two weeks before the start of the European Tour event to pick the lucky winner, who will join Woods and two other amateurs in the pro-am, the traditional curtain-raiser a day before the main competition.
The winner will also receive two season ‘golf in DUBAi’ hospitality tickets. The maximum handicap limit for entering the draw is 28 for men and 30 for women.
With Woods confirming his participation, the tournament has already started making waves if the brisk sale of tickets online is any indication. Woods will be chasing his third win in Dubai to match the feat of South Africa’s Ernie Els.
Woods himself is looking forward playing this part of the world in what he regards as "a fantastic event" at the Emirates Golf Club, the scene of his triumphs in 2006 and 2008.
“The level of competition has always been extremely high so I know I’ll have to play my best golf if I’m going to regain my title,” said Woods on his Twitter account. 
“It’s a great venue, the (Majlis) course is always in immaculate condition and the weather reminds me of back home in Florida.”
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi, said: “The very intention behind having this online draw is to encourage amateurs to be part of the fun. Playing alongside Tiger is a dream of every player. I am sure the lucky one, male or female, will learn quite a few things about the game just watching him play up close and personal.
“Having the world’s greatest golfer play in your event is something many tournament organisers dream of, so for us to be able to welcome him to the Majlis Course for the sixth time in ten years is a major boost for golf in the Middle East, especially Dubai.
“Woods has always been a great ambassador for golf in Dubai, having spoken highly of the city and the tournament during his visits here. We hold him in high esteem. His presence always brings new energy to the tournament.

+++ Tiger Woods had a cortisone injection in his right ankle 10 days ago to relieve lingering soreness. By Tuesday this week, he was back to work hitting balls and filming a commercial.
Mark Steinberg, his agent at IMG, said Woods had intended all along to have the injection after the Chevron World Challenge, which ended December 5. Woods has nearly two months off before his next tournament at Torrey Pines.
"This was always the plan," Steinberg said. "He's looking at 2011 as a big year for him."
At this year's Masters, Woods revealed he ruptured the Achilles' tendon in his right leg in December 2008 while recovering from knee surgery. Steinberg says it still causes soreness, prompting the cortisone shot.
Steinberg spoke in response to Internet chatter that Woods had torn his Achilles while skiing. He said Woods has not skied in more than three years.
Woods posted two tweets Tuesday of photos from his EA Sports shoot at Isleworth, referring to one as a "tough day at the office."
Woods is coming off the first winless season of his career, although he showed strong signs of turning his game around at the Chevron World Challenge. He lost a four-shot lead on the final day and was beaten by U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell in a play-off.

DEESIDE FAVOURITE TO STAGE PAUL LAWRIE INVITATIONAL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Paul Lawrie told Scottishgolfview.com this morning that he was "very excited to be putting on a 54-hole event for Scottish pros in my home town. Date and venue still to be confirmed."
With the snow deep and crisp and even throughout most of Scotland, it's nice to while away some time, playing a guessing game about the venue.
Banchory is hardly Paul's home town but he has strong links with that golf club where he served his PGA apprenticeship under the late Doug Smart.
Favourite to be the Paul Lawrie Invitational venue must be Deeside Golf Club (pictured above) which is "two drivers and a wedge away" from his Bieldside house and where Paul's sons Craig and Michael are junior members and Paul is an honorary member.
Deeside has hosted the Scottish PGA match-play championship.
Second favourite, on the other side of the city, would have been the Balgownie links of Royal Aberdeen which has staged Northern Open championships down through the years ... but it stages the Walker Cup match next September and director of golf Ronnie MacAskill will want his course in pristine condition for the Great Britain and Ireland v United States contest.
But next door to Royal Aberdeen is another great course - Murcar Links - which has, of course, hosted many Northern Opens but, more recently, a European Challenge Tour event, the Scottish Challenge, in which Richie Ramsay rewrote the Murcar Links record books.
PS As I mentioned to Paul, what a pity (for women's pro golf) there is not someone with his philanthropic bent who, without any prompting, would think of putting on a 54-hole hole tournament for Scotland's lady pros.


SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE FIRST NEWS OF THE PAUL LAWRIE INVITATIONAL PLANS


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WORLD No 1 UIHLEIN RETAINS DIXIE AMATEUR TITLE

FROM THE DIXIE AMATEUR WEBSITE
http://www.dixieamateur.com/

The third and final round of the 80th Dixie Amateur saw perfect weather for scoring and the field took advantage of the lack of wind and warm temperatures at Heron Bay Golf Club, Coral Springs in Florida.

Defending Champion Peter Uihlein (pictured with the RandA Mark McCormack Memorial Medal) of Orlando, Florida shot one of thirty rounds in the sixties (66) to win his second Dixie Amateur in a row.
He is the first man since Hal Sutton, later to become a Ryder Cup player and captain, to win two years in a row. Sutton did it in 1978-79. Sutton and Uihlein are the only two post-war back-to-back champions in the Dizie Amateur.
Uihlein, the Oklahoma State University and Walker Cup stand-out, ranked No 1 in the RandA's WAGR, shot 13-under-par 203 in the rain-shortened event (from four to three rounds) to win by two strokes from Indiana University star Brant Peaper from Tequesta, Florida.

It was a tremendous day for Florida Golf as the top four spots were claimed by Floridians. Daniel Mazziotta of Fort Meyers and Kelly McHugh tied for third with Jason Millard of Murpheesboro, Tennessee at 10-under-par 206.
Millard shot the week’s best single day score with a 65 on the tournament’s final day at the 7,100yd Heron Bay lay-out.
Stefan Brewer of Charlotte, North Carolina, came in four strokes back with Tommy Mou of China and another Floridian Zach Sobol of Clearwater Beach, Florida.
Steven Brown from Ascot was the highest-placed English player on four-under-par 212. That earned him a share of 27th place in a quality field.
Wentworth's Curtis Griffiths and Charlie Bull (The Berkshire) finished a shot behind Brown on 213.
George Thacker (Kedleston Park) matched the par of 216.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 216
Uihlein Peter Orlando, FL 67 70 66 203
Peaper Brant Tequesta, FL 68 69 68 205
Mazziotta Daniel Ft. Myers, FL 68 72 66 206
McHugh Kelly Lakeland, FL 69 68 69 206
Millard Jason Murpheesboro, TN 74 67 65 206
Brewer Stefan Charlotte, NC 70 70 67 207
Mou Tommy China 68 69 70 207
Sobel Zach Clearwater Beach, FL 68 71 68 207
Barber Blayne Lake City, FL 70 70 68 208
Hoffmann Morgan Wyckoff, NJ 69 72 67 208
Kennerly Billy Alpharetta, GA 68 71 69 208
Leopold Bobby Cranston, RI 71 70 67 208
Sordet Clement Charbonnieres, FRA 68 72 68 208
Johnson Mark Tulsa, OK 70 69 70 209
Martin Brent LaPlata, MD 67 71 71 209
Schneider Brad Valrico, FL 70 73 66 209
White James Ackworth, GA 71 72 66 209
Cauley Bud Jacksonville, FL 73 70 67 210
Lamb Rick Bradenton, FL 68 71 71 210
Lyons Landon Baton Rouge, LA 68 70 72 210
Carroll Matt Heathrow, FL 72 67 72 211
Decottignies Mathieu Bondues, FR 67 76 68 211
Detweiler Brandon Akron, PA 69 70 72 211
Graham Wesley Port Orange, FL 76 68 67 211
Simmons Cameron Ackworth, GA 71 73 67 211
Wingardh Robin Morarp, SWE 75 67 69 211
Aylwin Kevin New Smyrna Beach, FL 71 67 74 212
Brown Steven Ascot, England 70 72 70 212
Fredeking Bobby Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 72 68 72 212
Gillgren Linus Onsala, SWE 70 72 70 212
Greer Jake Birmingham , AL 67 71 74 212
Gros Sebastien France 73 71 68 212
Karlsson Jeff Gothenberg, SWE 74 69 69 212
Koepka Brooks West Palm Beach, FL 72 70 70 212
Levy Alexander Bandol, FRA 66 76 70 212
Maguire MJ St. Petersburg, FL 71 72 69 212
Morozov Mikhail Moscow, Russia 72 69 71 212
Mullinax Trey Mt. Olive, AL 75 69 68 212
Padungsiriseth Meechai Bradenton, FL 71 72 69 212
Roets Jason Eikenhof, S Africa 71 71 70 212
Rozner Olivier Paris, FRA 69 71 72 212
Schwartz Antoine Suresnes, FR 69 73 70 212
Soni Blake Bradenton, FL 70 70 72 212
Verselin Jean-Pierre Montpellie, FRA 71 72 69 212
Werenski Richard South Hadley, MA 72 71 69 212
Arendell Conner Cape Coral, FL 76 68 69 213
Bull Charlie Berkshire, UK 67 77 69 213
Echikson Samual Brussels, Belgium 73 71 69 213
Griffiths Curtis Surrey, ENG 74 68 71 213
Mason Brad Dallas, TX 66 71 76 213
Reed Patrick Martinez, GA 70 74 69 213
Anderson William Deltona, FL 77 65 72 214
Charen Dan Langhorne, PA 74 70 70 214
Espana Edouard Bordeaux, FR 68 74 72 214
Page Drew Waynesville, NC 71 72 71 214
Reeves Seth Duluth, GA 74 70 70 214
Sanchez Alberto Nogales, AZ 73 70 71 214
Arvidsson Oskar Karna, Sweden 71 73 71 215
Costa Gabe Tequesta, FL 70 70 75 215
Harbin Dykes Augusta, GA 71 72 72 215
Kellerman Pete Jacksonville, FL 74 67 74 215
Reach Nicholas Moscow, PA 70 73 72 215
Robin Gyles Estero, FL 73 70 72 215
Russell Jordan College Station, TX 73 68 74 215
Griffin Will San Antonio Texas 73 71 72 216
Shuart TJ Coral Springs, FL 73 70 73 216
Thacker George England 74 69 73 216
Bunker Dave Woodbridge, CAN 70 73 74 217
Carlin Christopher Davie, FL 71 73 73 217
Hernandez Devin Seminole, FL 71 73 73 217
Huarte Marcelo Miami, FL 74 70 73 217
McMillen Mark Smithfield, NC 68 75 74 217
Thompson Curtis Coral Springs, FL 72 72 73 217
Wright John Aurora, IL 75 69 73 217
Lamb Scott Bradenton, FL 72 72 74 218
Rodgers Patrick Avon, IN 69 75 74 218
Rodgers Brandon Knoxville, TN 70 72 78 220
Gentilella Tyler Parkland, FL 76 68 78 222
Soglanich Nick Miami, FL 72 72 78 222

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PAUL LAWRIE PLANS £25,000 TARTAN TOUR INVITATIONAL

FROM THE HERALDSCOTLAND.COM WEBSITE
By Nick Rodger

Paul Lawrie has unveiled plans for a new invitational event on the Tartan Tour which could feature a number of leading names including the Ryder Cup-winning captain Colin Montgomerie.

Lawrie, the former Open champion, met with the Scottish PGA secretary Michael MacDougall at Gleneagles yesterday to continue the development of the 54-hole Paul Lawrie Invitational event.

The three-day championship, which will boast a minimum purse of £25,000, is to be held at a venue in the Aberdeen area during the summer while sponsorship and a television deal have already been sealed.

The event will be made up by a field of around 60 to 70 players with Tartan Tour regulars competing, it is hoped, alongside Scottish European campaigners as well as pros who are still finding their feet in the paid ranks.
Lawrie, who came through the PGA ranks and won the national title in 1992 and 2005, has been a staunch supporter of domestic amateur and professional golf through his own foundation and hosted a tournament for assistant pros on the Tartan Tour for almost a decade.
As well as helping our guys on the Tartan Tour, the event is also aimed at helping those players that are in a bit of limbo and are not on the top tour. “Paul was coming back from Hong Kong in November and met Monty in the airport and they got talking about a 54-holer and how they could do something for Scottish golf,” said MacDougall.

“Paul’s really taken the idea forward. He obviously wants to hold it at a time of year when his schedule allows him to play and Monty has indicated that he would also like to support it.

“As well as helping our guys on the Tartan Tour, the event is also aimed at helping those players that are in a bit of limbo and are not on the top tour. When someone like Paul says they are going to do something, people will respond and it’s great for us that he wants to do an event like this. It’s a great opportunity.”

READ MORE GOLF ON THE HERALDSCOTLAND.COM WEBSITE:
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