O'HARA NOW LEADING SCOT AS CAMERON SLIPS, LAW MISSES CUT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Motherwell's Paul O'Hara took over as the leading Scot with a one-over 73 for a tally of one-over 145 and a share of 11th place with one round to go in the second EPD Tour event of its opening Turkey swing over the Gloria Golf Club Old Course at Belek.
O'Hara could have been a lot closer to the German leader Bjorn Stromsky, who had a 72 for 140, but for a double bogey 7 at the long 12th and a bogey 5 at the next. Birdies at the sixth, 11th and short 14th helped to keep the former Walker Cup reserve in line for some decent prizemoney.
Ellon's Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) plummeted from joint second overnight to a share of 19th place after slipping from a first-round 69 to a 77 for 146. Starting at the 11th, Cameron bogeyed the 13th, 14th and 17th. He cancelled out birdies at the long first and long fifth with bogeys at the third and sixth and then ran up a double bogey 7 at the short seventh.
Northern Open champion David Law shot a respectable 74 - two birdies, four bogeys - for 154 but missed the cut by four shots, the damage having been done with an opening 80, in his first competitive round of the year.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
140 Bjorn Stromsky (Ger) 68 72.
141 Anton Kirstein (Ger) 72 69.
142 Daniel Wunsche (Ger) 69 73.
143 Max Kramer (Ger) 69 74, Grant Jackson (Eng) 72 71
Selected scores:
145 Paul O'Hara (Sco) 72 73 (T11).
146 Ross Cameron (Sco) 69 77, Lee Corfield (Eng) 73 73 (T19).
148 James Wilson (Eng) 76 72 (T32).

MISSED THE CUT (150 or better qualified)
153 Tom Boys (Eng) 70 83.
154 David Law (Sco) 80 74.
158 Nicholas Murtagh (Eng) 74 84, Adam Carson (Eng) 76 83.
ends

BROWN AND MARTIN SHARE TOP PRIZE IN MIDLAND ALLIANCE

By LEE SUTHERLAND
The Midland Golfers’ Alliance resumed after its mid-winter break with a meeting at Lundin Links in Fife today.
Graeme Brown (AP, Montrose) and Alan Martin (AP, Dukes) shared the spoils for the scratch prize with 3 under par scores of 67. Norrie McLeod (Monifieth, 7) returned at cracking net 62 to win the handicap by 3 shots.
Leading Scratch Scores
67 G. Brown (AP, Montrose), A. Martin (AP, Dukes)
68 K. Bruce (Edzell, 3)
69 R. Stewart (Tulliallan, Scr), N. McLeod (Monifieth, 7), J. Watt (Edzell, 2),
W Hutton (Pitlochry, Scr)
71, M. Pirie (P, Pitlochry), R. Walker (P, Lundin)
72 C. Ferguson (Muckhart, 4)
Leading Handicap Scores
62 N McLeod (Monifieth, 7)
65 K Bruce (Edzell, 3), R. Barton (Alloa, 9), A. McEwan (Carnoustie, 13)
67 J Watt (Edzell, 2)
68 W. Crosbie (Blairgowrie,5), D Black (Dunfermline, 12), D. Mason (Lundin, 9)
C Ferguson (Muckhart, 4), J Rankin (Scotscraig, 7), S Mitchell (Dukes, 12)

Qualifiers for the JTC Kitchen Express Midland Golfer’s Alliance Championship in April at Carnoustie
A Martin (AP, Dukes)
N McLeod (Monifieth, 7)
K Bruce (Edzell, 3)

Qualifiers for the JTC McQueen Shield in April at Carnoustie
N McLeod (Monifieth, 7)

Next Meeting
Thursday 2nd February
Arbroath
Sponsored by William Hill
8.30 - 12.30

Lee Sutherland

TIGER ADMITS THAT APPEARANCE MONEY DICTATES HIS SCHEDULE

FROM THE BBC SPORT WEBSITE 
By Iain Carter
Tiger Woods has admitted appearance money affects which tournaments he chooses to play.
He is rumoured to be getting more than $2m (£1.3m) to play in this week's HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship.
The former world No 1 has chosen to play in the Middle East instead of the usual US PGA Tour season opener at Torrey Pines in California.
Asked whether the payment influenced his scheduling, Woods said: "I'd have to say yes, it certainly does."
He added: "That's one of the reasons why a lot of the (American) guys who play in Europe do play in Europe, and they do get paid [appearance fees].

"I think the only tour that doesn't pay is the US Tour, but you know a lot of guys play all around the world and they do get appearance fees."

Woods won his last major title, the 2008 US Open, at Torrey Pines and in 12 US Tour events at the San Diego course he has won on six occasions.
The only time he has finished out of the top 10 there was last year.
"Torrey has been a golf course I have enjoyed playing since junior golf. Unfortunately scheduling wise, it just didn't work out," Woods said.
In his last outing, the 14-time major champion won his own World Challenge tournament in California to record his first victory for two years.
And Woods insists he is the fittest he has been in around a decade heading into the new season.
"It's been quite a few years since I've been physically fit," he said.

• Woods' official Facebook page has 2,232,895 fans
• He has 1,664,429 followers on Twitter

"So I'm looking forward to getting out there and giving it a full season, which I haven't done in a while.
"It's probably been about eight, 10, 12 years [since] I felt 100% [fit]. I had surgery in 2002. I had surgery in 2008. A couple of others ones in there, too.
"I missed most of last year and then to finally be able to get ready for a tournament properly and to do the type of lifting that I think I need to do to be ready, I was finally able to do that.
"Hence my game came around, so it's very exciting.
"I played really well in my last three events, so I'm really looking forward to this year."
Woods headlines a strong field in Abu Dhabi that includes the top four players in the world - Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer - as well as Open champion Darren Clarke and Masters winner Charl Schwartzel.
Donald and McIlroy will play alongside Woods in the opening two rounds, while Spaniard Sergio Garcia completes a trio that features Westwood and Kaymer.

EDITOR'S FOOTNOTE: Although HSBC officials will not disclose the figures, the appearance fee pool is estimated to be around $5 million -- nearly double the purse -- and is dispersed to the likes of Donald, Westwood, McIlroy, Kaymer, Garcia and anyone else who can negotiate payment for their services. Tournament organisers are banned by the US PGA Tour from paying appearance fees to players.

AMERICAN PETER UIHLEIN MAKES PRO DEBUT IN INDIA

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR

By PAUL SYMES

Not many Masters Tournament debutants are afforded the privilege of playing alongside a pair of Major Champions over the first two rounds at Augusta National, but Peter Uihlein’s reputation had clearly preceded him.

(Picture left of Uihlein by courtesy of Getty Images(c).

If he found being paired with the defending champion Phil Mickelson and Geoff Ogilvy a daunting proposition last April the young American did not show it, shooting an opening round of 72 which enhanced an already burgeoning reputation built on his victory at the US Amateur Championship and six wins on the collegiate circuit during his time at Oklahoma State University.

He recalled: “Playing in the same group as Phil and Geoff at the Masters was something I’ll never forget, no matter what I go on to achieve in the game. They’re both great guys, and you can only learn from playing with them.” 

Another glimpse of his prodigious talents came at The 2011 Open Championship, where he was one of only two amateurs to make the cut at Royal St George’s Golf Club along with the eventual Silver Medal winner Tom Lewis, who entered the winners’ enclosure on The European Tour shortly after turning professional.

This week, Uihlein’s globe-trotting adventure sees him travel several thousand miles from his native Florida to Kensville Golf and Country Club in Ahmedabad, India, host venue for the opening event of the 2012 Challenge Tour campaign.

The €200,000 tournament marks Uhlein’s first competitive outing since he relinquished his amateur status at the end of last year, and whilst the two-time Walker Cup player perhaps did not envisage taking his professional bow on the Indian sub-continent, he is clearly determined to embrace the opportunity.          

Uihlein said: “I’m very excited to be here – it’s a great opportunity for me. I was lucky enough to get a sponsors’ invitation to play, which I’m very grateful for, and hopefully I can make the most of my chance.

“The Challenge Tour is a great breeding ground for The European Tour, so I’m looking forward to testing myself against the guys out here. I’ve got a few more events on the Challenge Tour and The European Tour coming up, starting with Dubai next week and then Qatar the week after, so this week should be a great warm-up for that.”  

Uhlein, who will be dividing his time between the States and the house owned by his management company in Manchester, will recognise some familiar faces in this week’s field, including his fellow American Scott Pinckney and South Korea’s Byeong-hun An, who is attached to the same club in Orlando.
It might be overstating matters to call it an American invasion, but the former World amateur No 1 is keen for more of his compatriots to cross the Atlantic in order to broaden their golfing and cultural horizons.
He said: “I’d definitely recommend it, because playing in different conditions and on different courses can only make you a better player. Plus the standard is so high on The European Tour now, and even here on the Challenge Tour. If you don’t play well you don’t get anywhere, so it definitely helps to toughen you up.”   
Uihlein remains coy over the mid and long-term goals he wants to achieve in the game, preferring to fall back on the old adage of letting his clubs do the talking, but in the shorter term the 22 year old is keen to make the most of the opportunities which his impressive amateur career has afforded him.
He said: “My first goal is just to get comfortable with the life of a professional golfer, and also to enjoy it. I’ve got a few tournaments coming up, so hopefully I can keep on learning and improving my game.

"It’s more of a marathon than a sprint, so I’m going to stay patient and not get frustrated if things don’t go my way straight away. It’s a long process, and I don’t need to rush into anything or make too many changes.” 
Having flown to Ahmedabad from Dubai, where he spent some time practising and playing with his management company stablemate and the World No 2 Lee Westwood, Uihlein’s address book is full of players he can turn to for advice on what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the sport.He said: “I had a couple of great days in Dubai, playing with Lee and also with Romain Wattel, who had such a great rookie season on Tour last year. I also spent some time with Chris Wood, and all these guys know what life’s like on Tour, so hopefully some of their experience and know-how can rub off on me.

“Playing with Lee and watching how he goes about his business showed me the kind of levels I need to aspire to reach the top. He’s an unbelievable player, and I’ve got a long way to go before I can get to where he’s at. But I’m hopeful of getting there one day.”       

OLAZABAL WON'T NAME CAPTAIN'S PICKS UNTIL THE MONDAY

         Jose Maria Olazabal and the Ryder Cup. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR
José Maria Olazábal kick-started Ryder Cup year by revealing that he would announce his two captain’s picks on the Monday following the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Olazábal will announce his two picks on August 27 at The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, to complete the 12-man European Ryder Cup team who will travel to Medinah Country Club, Chicago, Illinois, USA, to defend the trophy against the United States from September 28-30.
When Colin Montgomerie announced his wild cards shortly after the dramatic conclusion to the 2010 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, some players under consideration - notably Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey and Justin Rose - were competing in America. Donald and Harrington received the news they were in the team while Casey and Rose missed out.
Olazábal, speaking at his first official Ryder Cup conference of the year, ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Champions, said:
“I talked about it with George O’Grady and with the team, and I think the scenario last time was a delicate one, obviously for the captain and also for the players playing in the States.
“We have made the decision regarding that, and the announcement is going to be the Monday following Gleneagles. So we are going to wait until whatever happens in the States before we make the decision.
“Looking at it when it happened, it was not a comfortable situation for anybody. Anyone playing in the States, who might be on the verge of winning and changing his chances of being in the team - it would be completely unfair to name those two picks before the guy even tees off.
“When it gets close to making the final decision on who is going to be on the team just three weeks from The Ryder Cup, I would like to have an eye on the players who are hot at that time. So if a player wins, it means that he's on top of his game. So it would be a good idea to have a thought about him.”
Olazábal was unveiled as European Captain for the 2012 match exactly 12 months ago and is relishing the role as the biennial encounter draws ever closer.
“It's one year since I was named Captain of The Ryder Cup for 2012,” he said. “Time flies, especially when you get a little bit older, it seems to fly a little bit quicker. I'm just happy to be here. There is only eight months to go for The Ryder Cup.
“We do have the team just shaping up a little bit, even though it's still early days. There are big and huge tournaments ahead of us, and obviously things might change quite a bit from today. But at least there are some players that are doing their homework and are ahead of the rest.”

GOLFWEEK NAME KINGSBARNS TOP COURSE BUILT SINCE 1960

NEWS RELEASEKingsbarns Golf Links has gotten off to a flying start in 2012 by adding another accolade to its already extensive collection by being ranked the No. 1 Modern Course (built after 1960) in Great Britain and Ireland by the prestigious American magazine GolfWeek.
The stunning links course near St Andrews managed to hold onto its first position in the rankings. It pipped two other top Scottish courses to the post: Castle Stuart and Loch Lomond took second and third place respectively.
The rankings are compiled by a board of GolfWeek´s raters who consider numerous aspects while assessing the course. The criteria includes ease and intimacy of routing, quality of feature shaping, natural setting and overall land plan, interest of greens and surrounding contours, variety and memorability of par 3s, 4s and 5s and the conditioning.
Late last year Golf Digest Magazine in America also ranked Kingsbarns as No. 12 in their authoritative Top 50 Links in Great Britain and Ireland rankings and Golf Magazine placed Kingsbarns in 54th position in its latest biennial top 100 rankings a rise of seven places from the 2009 rankings.
Kingsbarns Chief Executive Alan Hogg said: “We could not have wished for a better start to 2012 than by achieving more recognition from the golf industry. We are delighted that three leading golf publications in the USA rate Kingsbarns so highly and agree that it is such a special place to play golf.
"This is a fantastic achievement when you consider how strong the competition is here in Scotland alone and it is a real boost for the golf tourism industry. We are currently very busy preparing for the 2012 golf season and look forward to giving a warm welcome to the thousands of golfers playing at Kingsbarns this year.”
The impressive results are fitting recognition for the hard work the Kingsbarns´ team put in to ensuring the course is presented in top quality condition throughout the season and of the quality of the clubhouse facilities and service.
Kingsbarns has consistently performed well in international rankings including:
GolfWeek, USA - No. 1 modern course (built after 1960) in Great Britain and Ireland
GOLF Magazine, USA - The Top 100 Courses in the World - Ranked no.54
GOLF Magazine, USA - The 50 Greatest Courses of the last 50 Years - Ranked no.11, Ranked no.1 in Europe
Golf Digest, USA - Top 100 Best Courses outside the United States - Ranked no.18
Golf Monthly, UK - UK and Ireland Top 100 Courses - Ranked no.11
Golf World, UK - Top 100 Courses You Must Play - Ranked no.5
Golf World, UK – Top 100 Courses in the World – Ranked no. 34, ranked no. 15 in Europe

For more information please go to www.kingsbarns.com.