PAUL LAWRIE - he's not been feeling 100 per cent - HOME TO REST

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Professional golfers - even those in the world's top 50 - are not machines, as Tiger Woods proved once again with his mid-round retiral on the last day of the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
Similarly with Paul Lawrie. There was disappointment in Scotland that Paul went tumbling down the final standings with a five-over-par 77 to finish on five-over 293. His earlier rounds were 70-74-72.
Turns out, courtesy of Paul's Blog on his website, that the Aberdonian has been feeling under the weather and, under normal circumstances, he would not have gone out and played the final round over the Blue Monster at Doral, Miami.
Here's Paul's Blog:

"I haven't been feeling too well this week but last night (Saturday night) I was up coughing most of the night. I was going to pull out today (Sunday) until I found out you have to complete four rounds for the money to count on the order of merit and Ryder Cup points as well, so I decided to cough and splutter my way round, eventually shooting 77.
"This past week, even before today, I have really struggled with ball striking to control the speed of my swing. So the way I was feeling made it harder.
"I fly home tonight (Sunday) for a couple of days on the couch before going to Spain to defend the Andalucian Open."

Get well soon, Paul!

WORLD'S TOP 50 MEN'S PROFESSIONALS - THIS WEEK'S RANKINGS

1 Rory McIlroy, NIr 9.78
2 Luke Donald, Eng 9.09
3 Lee Westwood, Eng 8.12
4 Martin Kaymer, Ger 5.88
5 Steve Stricker, USA 5.76
6 Charl Schwartzel, SAf 5.32
7 Justin Rose, Eng 5.14
8 Webb Simpson, USA 5.06
9 Jason Day, Aus 5.05
10 Hunter Mahan, USA 4.96
11 Adam Scott, Aus 4.93
12 Dustin Johnson, USA 4.89
13 Phil Mickelson, USA 4.81
14 Bill Haas, USA 4.62
15 Matt Kuchar, USA 4.59
16 Bubba Watson, USA 4.47
17 Graeme McDowell, NIr 4.45
18 Tiger Woods, USA 4.33
19 Nick Watney, USA 4.31
20 Keegan Bradley, USA 4.20
21 Brandt Snedeker, USA 4.06
22 Sergio Garcia, Spa 4.04
23 K.J. Choi, SKor 4.00
24 Peter Hanson, Swe 3.70
25 Mark Wilson, USA 3.52
26 Bo Van Pelt, USA 3.41
27 Paul Casey, Eng 3.34
28 John Senden, Aus 3.33
29 Thomas Bjorn, Den 3.31
30 Ian Poulter, Eng 3.28
31 Robert Karlsson, Swe 3.24
32 Alvaro Quiros, Spa 3.23
33 Martin Laird, Sco 3.22
34 Simon Dyson, Eng 3.21
35 David Toms, USA 3.17
36 Louis Oosthuizen, SAf 3.14
37 Aaron Baddeley, Aus 3.10
38 Rickie Fowler, USA 3.10
39 Jason Dufner, USA 3.07
40 Anders Hansen, Den 3.05
41 K T Kim, SKor 3.04
42 Fredrik Jacobson, Swe 3.02
43 Bae Sang-moon, SKor 3.00
44 Francesco Molinari, Ita 3.00
45 Paul Lawrie, Sco 2.88
46 Zach Johnson, USA 2.82
47 Ryo Ishikawa, Jpn 2.80
48 Ben Crane, USA 2.79
49 Kyle Stanley, USA 2.78
50 Geoff Ogilvy, Aus 2.70

ALL SIX SCOTS MAKE CUT IN SOUTH AFRICAN FINALE

All six Scots made the halfway cut with ease in South Africa's Northern Amateur Open championship at Randpark Golf Club, Gauteng - the last event of the SGU Elite squad's extended stay in South Africa.
Scott Crichton (Aberdour), pictured, shot a second-round 69 for a 36-hole tally of 137, joint second and one shot behind South African leader Zander Lombard (67-69).
South African amateur title-winner Brian Soutar (Leven Golfing Society) (68-73) and Kirkhill's Paul Shilds (68-73) are sharing eighth place on 141 - a shot ahead of James White (Lundin) (68-74) who is sharing 13th place.
Daniel Kay (Dunbar) is joint 26th on 145 (74-71) and Fraser McKenna (Balmore) is the lowest placed Scot in joint 36th position on 146 with a pair of 73s.
But even McKenna made the cut with three shots to spare.
At the end of the 72-hole stroke-play championship, the leading 32 will go forward to the match-play stages.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
136 Zander Lombard (S Africa) 67 69.
137 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 68 69, Victor Lange (S Africa) 69 68.
SELECTED SCORES
141 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 68 73, Brian Soutar (Leven GS) 68 73, Toby Tree (Eng) 69 72 (T8).
142 James White (Lundin) 68 74 (T13).
144 Brandon Stone (S Africa) 67 77 (T22).
145 Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 74 71 (T26).
146 Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 73 73 (T36).



ends

GLOBAL GOLF POST :: MUST READ MONDAY

Your March 12, 2012 issue of Global Golf Post is now available.

Please click here to view this week's issue.

In this week's issue:

Gear: Callaway HEX Black Goes Five Layers, 8
Gear: Adams Fast 12 Built For Speed, 9
Q&A: Butch Harmon, 10
Lewine Mair: Selectors Facing One Hull Of A Decision, 14
Leonard Shapiro: Masters On Their Minds, 16

 

GLOBAL GOLF POST is the world's first designed-for-digital weekly golf news publication. Intended for a global audience of very serious golfers, GLOBAL GOLF POST delivers news, information, and commentary about the competitive game of golf. The publication is offered for free. GLOBAL GOLF POST is delivered overnight Sunday, fifty weeks per year. It is a comprehensive summary of professional and amateur golf as played the prior week. It also includes opinion and commentary from some of the world's best known golf journalists, timely coverage of new golf equipment, and credible travel feature writing.

FORMER SCOTS AMATEUR CHAMPION'S TEAM WINS IN TURKEY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Former Scottish amateur champion (1996) and Walker Cup player (1997), Carluke-born Michael Brooks, now a club pro at Malton and Norton GC, Yorkshire, led his team to victory in the TGI Golf Team Challenge at the Lykia Links Resort at Antalya on Turkey's southern coastline this week.
Michael, son of former European Tour player Andrew Brooks, and his team
scored 208 Stableford points over three rounds. The winning amateurs each received a full set of taylormade irons, woods and a putter.
We've no doubt that some Scots pros and their teams finished ahead of Newburgh-on-Ythan GC from Aberdeenshire but the TGI website only lists the surnames of the pros connected to each team in the finishing order.
Ian Bratton (Newburgh-on-Ythan) files his last report from Turkey for http://www.scottishgolfview.com/
"We finished 13th in a field of 38 teams with a third-round score of 69pt for a total of 192.
"Only consolation is that we beat Team Ellon all three days. We had a small side bet with them - Sandy Aird junior, Charlie Singer, Tom Blevin and Alan Smith - and scored 12 under par for the week.
"Well done to my team of Norman Clubb, Liam MacLeod and Mark Walker, all Newburgh GC members. They played good golf over a very tough course.
"The winter has been severe, comparatively speaking, in Turkey and the courses are behind in their normal preparation. We used preferred lies and the greens had to be rolled after every three groups. Sounds a bit like what we are used to in sunny Scotland!

FINAL STABLEFORD POINTS TOTALS FROM THE TGI WEBSITE1st Brooks 79 51 78 208
2nd Syme 74 49 79 202
3rd Glazier 71 51 79 201
4th Pudney 78 50 73 201
5th Cowan 76 47 76 199
6th Eaton 79 48 71 198
7th Salter 78 42 77 197
8th Walker 74 48 75 197
9th Brookes 72 44 80 196
10th Hutton 74 44 78 196
11th Dilley 76 44 74 194
12th Huish 75 43 75 193
13th Bratton 76 47 69 192
14th Stubbings 73 45 73 191
15th Harvey 75 48 68 191
16th Nesbitt 66 47 77 190
17th Vickers 73 47 69 189
18th Harrison 70 48 70 188
19th Higgins 71 48 68 187
20th McLean 75 48 64 187
21st Stewart 65 44 76 185
22nd Carter 67 46 72 185
23rd Muir 65 46 72 183
24th Cattrell 67 44 72 183
25th Irvine 65 47 70 182
26th Bianco 66 44 71 181
27th Gray 67 46 68 181
28th Crerar 64 51 65 180
29th B Smith 67 43 68 178
30th Williamson 65 43 69 177
31st Wheeler 70 43 64 177
32nd Brotherhood 70 40 63 173
33rd Aird junior 71 42 60 173
34th Strachan 64 42 64 170
35th Colquhoun 61 39 69 169
36th A Smith 53 41 67 161
37th Mackie 54 46 55 155

GORDON RENNIE WINS SENIORS' STABLEFORD AT THE GLEN

Gordon Rennie, who plays off two of a handicap at Cathkin Braes, won the second event of the Scottish Senior Golfing Society winter series, played at the Glen Golf Club, North Berwick. He scored 30 points, making his useful total with a 18pt on the front ine.
In second place was order of merit leader Jalil Aman (Grangemouth), who also plays off two, with 29 points. David McClelland (Balmore), who has nine of a handicap, was third with 28 points.
Conditions were tough with strong winds making putting difficult on the slick, well-prepared greens. Stories of four-putting were common.
The enthusiasm for the event was evident when all 42 players who entered turned up on the day to enjoy the Glen which was in excellent condition.
The series now moves on to West Kilbride on Thursday (March 15).
DREW WILSON

STABLEFORD POINTS TOTALS
Gordon Rennie 30; Jalil Aman 29; David McClelland 28; Keith Howie, Keith Ross, Tony Clark 27; Alan Nelson, Richard Goodale, David Logie, Tom Green, David Gardner, Tom Allan, Kenny Clark 26; Alex Ritchie, David Smith, Neil McGarva, Bob Humble, Neish Chisholm 25; Drew Wilson, Ian Jeen, Stanley Scott, Jim Paton, Jim Kinloch 24; Tom Nicol, Ian Taylor, Dougie Greenhalgh, Arthur Harper, David Causon 23; George Rodaks, Colin Halcrow 21; Bruce Hunter, Colin Campbell, Paddy Mullen 20; John Clark 29; Ian Dickson, Billy Wallace, Peter Kinloch 17; Len Grindrod 16; David Craig, Norman Williamson 15; Donald Lie 11.

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

TOP TWENTY FINISH FOR CALLUM

Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay made a good showing in the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Golf Classic at the weekend with a level par score of 288  (75-70-69-74) giving him a share of 14^th place and leaving him eight shots behind the winner. 

Examining his scores shows that the good work in the second and third rounds was neutralised by over-par scores in the first and last rounds. Once again it shows that Callum has the golf game to compete at the highest levels in golf, but at the same time, any over-par scores in individual rounds greatly diminish the chances of taking a top spot. And that’s where the big rewards lie.  

Although dropping to sixth in the Challenge Tour rankings after two events, Callum must be confident for the upcoming Challenge Tour events.  The next event is at the end of March in Kenya, and it’s not until May that the Challenge Tour events in Europe come on stream.

DECISION TIME FOR DOLLAR

Clackmannan County golfers and officials will be wishing Dollar Golf Club every success at the Scottish Golf Dinner next week in their quest to take the top Junior Club Award.

County President George Kay is hopeful.

“Being one of four golf clubs nominated for the award gives them a good chance of being recognised as the top Scottish Golf Club for Junior Development, and it would be a great boost for Dollar and Clackmannan County if they were successful,” he said.

Best of luck, guys! 

GEORGE McNEILL BIRDIES LAST THREE TO WIN IN PUERTO RICO

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- George McNeill birdied the last three holes for a 3-under 69 to move past Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and win the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com on Sunday.
Ishikawa, on the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that left his homeland in ruins, closed with a 68 and had a one-shot lead. McNeill caught him with a birdie on the 16th, took the lead with a birdie on the 17th and added another birdie on the par-5 18th.
"I was really nervous, but I knew what I had to do, and basically I just had to bear down and get it done," McNeill said. "If not, then somebody else was going to win. I was trying to basically have control of myself, and that's all I was looking for."
McNeill finished at 16-under 272 and earned $630,000 for his second career victory. He won the 2007 Frys.com Open in Las Vegas as a PGA TOUR rookie.
"I think I was a little dumb, for lack of a better word, in 2007," McNeill said. "I really didn't know any better. I've been out here a while now. It's my sixth year, and I've had six second-place finishes and two play-off losses, and seems like, wow, it's getting harder and harder and harder to win."
"Winning is tough at anything. Doesn't matter playing golf, playing tennis, trying to be the best person, smartest person in the class. It's not easy to be the best even if it's only for one week, and that's why it's tough. And you got to take in golf what you can and move on."
The 20-year-old Ishikawa, a nine-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, had his best US PGA Tour finish.
"I made three birdies in the last four holes, and it was a great experience for me to be very close to the winning experience," Ishikawa said. "It felt like dreaming sometimes. If I get the next chance, I will grab it for sure."
Ishikawa has earned $582,471 on the US Tour this season, surpassing the $411,943 -- No. 150 on the 2011 money list -- needed for special temporary membership. He has 60 days to join the tour as a special temporary member after becoming eligible and then he would be eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions this season.
"Still thinking," Ishikawa said about accepting the temporary membership. "Need some time to think about it, but that's the direction I'll be aiming for."
Henrik Stenson (71) and Boo Weekley (66) tied for third, three shots behind.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
Players from US unless stated
272 George McNeill 66 70 67 69.
274 Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) 70 67 69 68.
275 Boo Weekley 70 68 71 66, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 70 69 65 71.
276 Scott Brown 69 72 65 70, Matt Jones (Australia) 66 67 72 71.
277 Daniel Summerhays 68 70 68 71, Kevin Tadler 69 69 66 73.
SELECTED TOTALS
279 Todd Hamilton 68 69 73 69 (T12)
280 Ben Curtis 67 73 68 72 (T14)
288 Brian Davis (England) 69 70 72 77 (T63)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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