WESTWOOD WILL MAKE CHANGES IN BID TO WIN A MAJOR

FROM THE SKYSPORTS.COM WEBSITE

Lee Westwood has revealed he is planning to make some changes to his game as he bids to claim a first major crown next year.

The Englishman enjoyed a memorable 2010 season as he toppled Tiger Woods to claim the world No.1 spot.

But Westwood suffered more frustration in the majors as he finished second in both the Masters and the Open, and is determined to go one better next time he is in contention.

Of his rise to top spot in the world, he told ESPN: "It is amazing, very few people get the chance to say they are the best in the world at anything.

"I tend to be a bit more aware that I am representing golf now.

"It is a spot that everybody wants. You are aware that everyone is trying that bit extra to beat you. But if you work hard at something and achieve your ultimate goal of being the best in the world, you have to enjoy it and revel in it."
While he is yet to break his major duck, Westwood does not subscribe to the opinion that his failure to win one means he does not deserve to be considered as the best in the world.
"Everybody is entitled to their opinions," he continued. "The fact that their opinions are wrong does not matter too much. It is just one of those things. Not everyone is always going to be happy."
Nevertheless, the 37-year-old is ready to make some changes as he bids to end his wait for major glory in 2011.
"I have come very close," he added. "I have given myself some great chances. I will be gearing up to the majors.
"It will be daft to do the same things, as I have not won one yet. You have to try and change something, a bit here and there.

"I will try and fine-tune, work on different aspects and try and get one."

GRAEME McDOWELL NOW SIXTH IN WORLD RANKINGS

The final Official World Golf Rankings of 2010 are in, and the only change is that Graeme McDowell has moved into sixth place, dropping Steve Stricker to seventh. Here are the top 10:
1. Lee Westwood

2. Tiger Woods

3. Martin Kaymer

4. Phil Mickelson

5. Jim Furyk

6. Graeme McDowell

7. Steve Stricker

8. Paul Casey

9. Luke Donald

10. Rory McIlroy

AMERICAN GOLF NEWS
Defending champion Dustin Johnson and tournament regular Phil Mickelson have committed to playing in the AT and T Pebble Beach Pro Am from February 10 to 13, according to The Monterey County Herald. Well, the local paper should know.
Tiger Woods, who has not played this event in recent year, earlier this month acknowledged that US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has asked him to play more events in 2011. The debate is whether "more events" will include the AT and T Pebble Beach pro-am in which Tiger has enjoyed past successes. Remember when he used to win just about everything he played in?

THAW KOs SNOW/ICE GOLF AT SWANSTON

The snow/ice golf competitions at Swanston this week had to be cancelled.
"Unfortunately, the thaw beat us," said professional Stuart J Campbell. "But we are resolved to try again in the future as the response was fantasic. We had over 80 disappointed snow and ice golfers!"

CONTINUING THE ALLYN DICK STORY

PRIDE IN PLAYING FOR SCOTLAND. That's Allyn Dick standing at the back, fourth from the left after SGU national coach Ian Rae, James Byrne and Peter Latimer. Picture by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography.

By ALLYN DICK
I really only started to take golf seriously in 2001 when Gillian (my wife now) said "Why don't you practise!"
I played off a handicap of 4 at the time and as things turned out was made redundant from my job. Lo and behold I got a job at Dalmahoy from Aug 2001 to April 2002 which allowed me to practise every day.
So, come the start of the season, it took me only six weeks to get down to scratch, and from then on I started to played more away from my home club of Shotts.

It took me until 2005, following my West of Scotland open stroke-play win at Cawder, to finally get to +1. From then one I have just chipped away at trying to become a better golfer.
My number one goal growing up was to win the club championship at Shotts, until I realised I could compete on a higher level. It's every amateur's dream to one day play for their country and I have been fortunate to realise that dream this year, something I thought would pass me by, if I'm honest. This is an honour I'm so proud of.
For me it's a case of the 'Real Amateur' (works full time, has a mortgage, has a wife and kids) mixing it with the 'Professional Amateurs' who know nothing else than playing golf 24/7.
I have been helped along the way by former Walker Cup player Graeme Rankin, Wilson Bryson, Craig Watson and Scott Knowles who have all passed on some sort of advice and encouragement over the years.
Thanks also to Robert Arkley at Kingsfield Driving Range. I'm grateful for the help he has given to me this season and before.

TALKING POINTS
INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITIES: Something which I consider worth raising on Scottishgolfview.com is the lack of indoor practice facilities (short game area, putting greens, etc) considering the climate change we are experiencing.
I have an artificial pitching/putting green in my garden which I had installed early 2009 (which has obviously paid off) by Europeangolf.co.uk, but it's not something you can use when it's covered in snow!

PGA TRAINING FOR AMATEURS: I would like to see the SGU merging with the Scottish PGA with elite amateurs being allowed to undertake the PGA training while in the SGU squad. That way, if they fail to make the grade as a tour pro, they would have something to fall back on, either teaching the game or playing on the Tartan Tour.

Any comments or questions for Allyn?
E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

E-mail from ROBERT CARSON


First of all I would like to congratulate Allyn on his very successful season and the birth of his son Jacob.
Over the two years I have known Allyn, I have played with him on four or five  occasions and had the pleasure of marking his card for the final 36 holes on his way to winning the Newlands Trophy this past summer.
The final round was one of the best rounds of golf I have witnessed at any level. I don't have a question for Allyn, just wanted to wish him luck for 2011 and here's hoping another Home Internationals cap comes his way.
All the best,
 Robert Carson

E-mail from Stuart Campbell
Great articles re Allyn Dick – nice to learn of his journey. We are very fortunate to have an indoor coaching suite here at Swanston which has just opened pre Christmas. It consists of a Hitting station with a 3 metre squared net, a putting green and a small gym for golfers to use!

Stuart J. Campbell
PGA Professional
Director of Instruction
Swanston Golf Academy
Swanston Golf Ltd
111 Swanston Road
EDINBURGH EH10 7DS
0131 445 2239
07875 534349
http://www.swanston.co.uk/

AUSSIE GOLFER CONVICTED IN JAPAN OF DRUGS OFFENCE

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court has handed down a suspended sentence to Australian golfer Wayne Perske for possessing and using cocaine.
Masaaki Ono, an official at the Chiba District Court, said the 36-year-old golfer received a year and six months in prison, suspended for three years.
Perske was arrested in October after inhaling cocaine at a bar in Chiba, east of Tokyo, and carrying some 1.25 grams of cocaine in his pocket. A customer at the bar alerted police, leading officers to search and arrest him.
Japan has strict anti-drug laws. Possession of banned drugs can carry a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment.