TIGER WOODS SAYS NEW SWING STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

By TIGER WOODS, Special from TigerWoods.com
The latest blog entry from Tiger Woods from his website, tigerwoods.com.
I'm looking forward to playing again this week at Doral, where I've had good success in the past. It's one of the tougher courses we play, especially when the wind blows. There are some good risk-and-reward holes, so you can get it going if your game is sharp.
Obviously, it was pretty frustrating to lose to Thomas Bjørn on the 19th hole in the first round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. People focus on the bad tee shot I hit, but that's not the only reason I lost. I hit two terrible pitch shots on the back nine and have worked hard to change my release with my chipping.
We'll see if it pays off at Doral.
As I've said, my swing is still a work in progress, and it takes time to get comfortable with everything. It's hard to implement all these changes. I just have to keep moving forward.
I'm light years ahead of where I was at the end of last summer. The biggest thing is understanding what shot to hit and how to adjust my ball flight. Thanks to Sean Foley, I have a much deeper understanding of how to do this than ever before.
When will I win again? Whenever it happens, it happens. I'm just going to keep trying to progress.
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Tiger Woods' new backyard practice facility features an extensive short-game area.
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Pretty soon, I'll be moving into my new home in Jupiter, Florida. I'm excited about that and even more excited about my new practice facility. It's phenomenal. Working with my team, I designed the short-game facility and oversaw its construction.
It features four greens, six bunkers with different depths and kinds of sand, a video centre and a putting studio. If no wind is blowing, the longest club I can hit is a 7-iron. It's also set up so I can hit shots out of my second-story studio.
I was excited to hear Davis Love III and Jose Maria Olazábal were named Ryder Cup captains. Davis is a great guy, and it will be a bunch of fun to play for him. We've played on many teams together, and he's always been pretty laid back. I'm curious about that -- to see how he leads. Of course, first I have to make the team.
Ollie was a tremendous competitor and someone I have the utmost respect for. He's taught me a lot, and I will always be grateful.
I recently spent time at my Learning Centre in Anaheim and had a good visit with the kids. It marked our fifth anniversary, and I couldn't be prouder of what we have accomplished.
I did not watch the Academy Awards. The last movie I saw was How to Train Your Dragon. It was a cartoon movie, and I took my kids. It was pretty good!
I wanted to remind everyone that this year's Tiger Jam will be held April 30 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and I'm excited to welcome Grammy Award-winning artists John Mayer and Keith Urban. Tiger Jam has done a lot of good for my foundation over the years, and I'm looking forward to another great event. That's it for now.
TIGER WOODS

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? No 7: Scottish schoolboys champion of 1999

Recognise the Scottish schoolboys champion of 1999 when the tournament was played at Troon Darley?
It's none other than 16-year-old Bearsden Academy pupil MARTIN LAIRD, writes Colin Farquharson (Colin@scottishgolfview.com).
Well, we all know what has happened to Martin in the best part of 11 years since then but I thought you would like to see him "before he became famous."
Just like Graeme McDowell claims that four years on the American college circuit at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, transformed him from a good golfer to one capable of winning a Major, so Martin Laird "graduated" in the school of golf through four years at Colorado State University.

He had won the Scottish youths championship at Letham Grange in 2003 and finished third behind Graham Gordon and David Inglis in the Tennant Cup tournament the same year.

Martin has won $5,095,351 in America since 2007. He broke the $1million barrier in winnings in the 2009 season with $1,349,354 and promptly raised the bar again in 2010 with earnings of $2,137,928.

Already this season, he has made $502,638 on the US Tour.

He's No 43 in the World Professional rankings and is the ninth longest driver on the American tour with an average tee shot of 301 yards. You can see him on the left with the swing of a man who hits the ball a long way.

Born in Glasgow on December 29, 1982, he is 28 years old.

FLASHBACK TO THE 2003 TENNANT CUP. Winner Graham Gordon is pictured holding the prestigious trophy. He won the 72-hole tournament with two rounds of 71 at Glasgow Gailes followed by scores of 65 and 67 at Killermont.

David Inglis, on left, was runner-up with 274 and that's Martin Laird, third with 276, on the right. Inglis is now assistant head coach at Luke Donald's alma mater, the Northwestern University, Chicago, whil Gordon's pro career has been blighted by illness. We hope to feature Graham's story in a future "Where are they now?" episode.

+Thanks to Glasgow Golf Club archivist Nevin McGhee for the details of the 2003 Tennant Cup.  

eTOUR: SAMANAH CLASSIC AT MARRAKECH MOROCCO

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
132 Mikel Mattinson (US) 62 70.
135 Gabriel Canizares (Spain) 70 65, Chesson Hadley (US) 68 67, Nick Taylor (Canada) 67 68.
Selected scores:
140 Niall Turner (Ireland) 69 71, Seamus Power (Ireland) 73 67 (T20).
146 Danny Belch (England) 75 71.
MISSED THE CUT (146 or better)
147 Zane Scotland (England) 70 77.
148 John Singleton (England) 73 75.

DON MACKAY WINS NORTH ALLIANCE AT BRORA WITH A 70

By ROBIN WILSON

Brora Golf Club provided two excellent ingredients for a successful Winter Alliance fixture last Sunday, an early spring sunny day and a course that has wintered well and in excellent playing condition for the better than season's average of 50 Alliance members who turned up.

A cluster of low handicappers took advantage of both conditions, and although none of them broke the par of 69, there were six scratch returns, all within two shots of the winner, Reay's Don A Mackay (pictured left by Robin Wilson) who  headed the field with a one over par 70 ahead of four 71s and two 72s.

The Reay member has not had many outings this winter, and since his last aggregate Quaich win in season 2007/08 his handicap has risen from scratch to two, but on the completion of his first four holes at Brora he was playing to a plus rating at three under par, having birdied the first, second and fourth holes.

The sixth hole reminded him of his lack of match practice, fluffing a little chip and walking off with double bogey 5 but still reaching the turn in two under par 33.

Mackay had his fourth birdie of the outward half  at the shortened par five 8^th hole. Late in his round he slipped up for a second time with a double bogey on the penultimate hole but a finishing par 3 kept his inward count at 37 to get back into the winner's circle with very good 70.

The chasing pack of four on 71 were scratch aggregate leader Dougie Thorburn (Thurso) (37/34) (pictured left by Robin Wilson) his nearest challenger with similiar halves Munro Ferries (Tain), club mate Alan Swanson (Thurso) (36/35) and Ronnie Taylor (Wick)  (35/36).

Ferries and Swanson both finished off with birdie 2s at the 18^th hole  but it was Thorburn who got second place on his last six holes finish after Ferries also made double bogey 6 on the 17th.

Before that Ferries had bogeyed the second and fifth holes before settling into a run of par figures that ended with a birdie at the 15^th before blemishing his card  with a double bogey at the penultimate hole.

Wick's Taylor, who entered for the fourth time this season and was winner of the previous week's fixture on his home course, with a fabulous 66, might have left it too late to challenge for another Quaich triumph but now with a four score aggregate of 281 he is up beside Ferries in second place. The Tain plus one player's 71  took two shots off his previous total but Thurso's Thorburn also lowered his total at Brora by one to to 275 and now commands a six-shot lead going into the final two fixtures, Golspie on Sunday, and Tain on Sunday, March 20.

Alliance Secretary Tony Gill (Brora) was one of the 72s. His round did not really begin until after a birdie 3 at the 11^th hole which followed his fifth bogey of the day at the previous hole. It came from a  “J Arthur Rank”.

Gill's outward 38 after four slack bogeys was only rescued by a 4 at the eighth, a par 5 on the card but playing as a par-4 from a forward tee, but his level par on the back nine for 34 not only gave him a respectable scratch return but also a first place  in the Class 1 handicap from a net 67.

It was then three Caithness travellers members who took advantage of the fine greens. Alan Swanson's gross 71 turned into a net 69 to go ahead of Wick's John Hunter on the inward half countback ,despite Hunter's fighting 4-2 end to his round to make up for his bogeys at the 10^th, 13^th and 15th holes. Next up and also net 69 and also falling foul of the 17^th hole with a double bogey came David Dunbar (Thurso), followed by Andrew Watt (Tain) with a net 71 off 6.

Local Peter Etheridge helped the host club to a handicap double. Noted for being a slow starter, he had  only two par figures on his outward card of 42. His inward 39 grossed 81 and a net 68 saw him lead the Class 2 handicap section. Below him came Gavin Gunn (Reay), who had the best of the two 69s, resulting in local Shaun Ashe falling back to third and Martin Mackay (Durness) getting a fourth place on net 70.

Brora Results:

Scratch:

70 D A Mackay (Reay) 33-37.

71 D Thorburn (Thurso) 37-34, M Ferries (Tain) 37-34, A Swanson (Thurso) 36-35, R W Taylor (Wick) 35-36.

72 A J Gill (Brora) 38-34, B Ronald (Thurso) 34-38. 

74 J Hunter (Wick) 37-37, D Dunbar (Thurso) 39-35.

75 J Harper (Wick) 35-40. 

Handicap

Class 1 – A J Gill (Brora) (5) 67; A Swanson (Thurso) (2), J Hunter (Wick) (5), D Dunbar (Thurso) (5) 69; A Watt (Tain) (6) 71.

Class 2 – P Etheridge (Brora) (13) 68; G Gunn (Reay) (11), S Ashe (Brora) (13) 69; M Mackay (Durness) (10) 70.

Picture; Thurso's Dougie Thorburn winner of four North Alliance fixtures this season keeps up his trophy quest at Brora with a second place.

GENERAL MANAGER STUART McEWEN LEAVING KINGSBARNS

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY GOLF COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL
Kingsbarns Golf Links has announced that Stuart McEwen, General Manager since early 2000, has informed the Company of his decision to leave Kingsbarns.
Stuart, pictured,  is proud of the international acclaim Kingsbarns has achieved under his leadership. From its opening in July 2000 it has consistently been ranked among the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World and has hosted ten Alfred Dunhill Links Championships.
“The past decade has gone by very quickly. We have a first class management team here and I’m grateful to have been part of everything they have achieved. However, from a personal standpoint, I have accomplished what I set out to do. With the tenth anniversary celebration last year and our strong involvement with the Open Championship, I feel that I have reached a professional crossroad.

" While Kingsbarns is a very special place to which I shall often return, I’m looking forward to the challenge of developing the next stage of my career.”
Art Dunkley, Kingsbarns co-founder and owner, accepted Stuart’s decision with reluctance. “Stuart’s careful leadership and congenial style made Kingsbarns everything it has come to be. I know I speak for everyone who has had the pleasure of working for and with Stuart when I say he will be profoundly missed. I personally thank Stuart for his absolute dedication to Kingsbarns and for the pleasure of working with him”.
Stuart will be continuing in his current role for three months while the Company arranges a successor to lead Kingsbarns into the future.

DEATH OF HERALD GOLF WRITER DOUGIE LOWE

FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF GOLF WRITERS' ADMINISTRATION
With huge regret we inform members of the death of Dougie Lowe, golf correspondent of The Herald, at his Helensburgh home yesterday, surrounded by his family.
He was 59 and had undergone surgery for a brain tumour in January. A member of the Association since 2004, he leaves a son and two daughters.
Sincere condolences to all his family and friends.

FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON

The last time I saw Dougie Lowe was at the Scottish golf writers' and guests' tournament at Mar Hall Hotel and Golf Course, near Glasgow on Monday, October 25.

It was Dougie's day. He won the Alex Fox Trophy as the golf writer with the most Stableford points and the Belhaven Trophy for having more points than any of the guests.

So my lasting memory is of a happy Dougie.

There are not many golf writers around these days and we tend to be a close-knit group, an endangered species if you like. I liked working at tournaments with Dougie. He was good company and a good friend over many years, always helpful, always in the same humour. I will miss him.

FROM STEVIE CARMICHAEL, former Scotland international.
I was deeply saddened to read of Douglas's passing.
He was a good writer and more importantly a good man.
Thoughts with his family.
Stevie

FROM HAMISH GREY, Scottish Golf Union Chief Executive.
“We were very saddened to hear the news that Douglas Lowe had passed away.  He has been a fantastic supporter of amateur golf in Scotland and provided Herald readers with excellent in-depth coverage from many of our national events each year,”

“He was a regular at the Scottish boys' championship and Scottish amateur championship, reporting on the success of the country’s best young players and following many careers through to professional Tour level.”

“Through his Tuesday column, he enlightened readers with an insight into some of the wider issues surrounding golf and showed a particular passion for supporting our Membership Campaign in recent years, bringing the issue of a positive change in culture among clubs to light.

"His sharp wit in the press room at events will be sadly missed by the players, staff and officials alike. Our thoughts go to the Lowe family at this sad time.”

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

NEW GOLFING SEASON EDGES CLOSER

With only a couple of weeks or so until the 2011 golf season starts, local clubs will be finalising preparations for the traditional opening days. At the same time however, club officials will be looking carefully at their membership situation for the new season and hoping their will be more new members appearing - it’s very much the same throughout Scotland---very few waiting lists and plenty of opportunities to join golf clubs.

Several local clubs have “Open Days” where prospective members can meet local officials and try their skills on the courses. Local golf club members can help as well by promoting their local club and persuading others to take up a most enjoyable pastime: “It's time to join the golf club.”


CLACKMANNAN COUNTY JUNIOR GOLFERS IN ACTION

The national junior golf season starts soon as well and local juniors will be representing their club and county. The first event is the Junior Champion of Champions at the Duke’s Course, St Andrews this coming weekend.
Sixty-two of the top Scottish juniors (44 boys and 18 girls) will play one round for the title, and in the field will be John Salmond (Alloa) and Lawrence Allan (Alva), representing Clackmannanshire.
The annual Scottish boys championship takes place at Dunbar in April with Lawrence Allan hoping to build on his fine performance at West Kilbride last year.

CLACKMANNAN COUNTY GOLFERS IN THE TOP TEN

The Midland Alliance golf season - it runs from August until April - draws to a close in the next few weeks and it is pleasing to see the Clackmannanshire stalwarts finishing near the top.
Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart is usually up among the best scratch scores, and that includes the professional entries as well. Leading the amateur order of merit by a fair distance is Alloa’s Chris Westland with Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart in third place, then Michael Niven (Alloa) 8th and Ken Thomson (Alloa) 10th.
The Midland Alliance will be returning to Alloa Golf Club towards the end of 2011.

AND THE CLACKMANNAN SENIORS AS WELL!

The four-year-old Scottish Seniors Golfing Society (check out their web site) has been very successful in providing good competitive opportunities for the senior golfers of Scotland, and locals have been very supportive.
A full programme of events spread over Scotland attracts good entries. There is even a “Super Seniors” event. Alloa Golf Club, with six members, is in the top ten for member participation and with the other local Clubs featuring as well, it is a good example to others in the Wee County.
Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart has one of the lowest handicaps in the Society and will be trying hard in 2011 to regain international honours at 55-and-over level.

MANY CONGRATS TO CALLUM

Finally: Local golfers and friends will be wishing Callum Macaulay every success for golf in 2011 after his marriage to Clare-Marie Carlton who is also a very good golfer.
This addition to “Team Macaulay” hopefully will inspire Callum on his 2011 Challenge Tour campaign, and we all look forward to seeing good golfing results this season. Best of Luck!