MARTIN LAIRD THINKS CONDITIONS WILL BE IN HIS FAVOUR

FROM THE BBCSPORT.COM WEBSITE

Martin Laird believes improved conditions at the Scottish Open should boost his chances of success.

Torrential downpours caused flooding and a landslip at last year's event at Castle Stuart.

"The conditions look better and it's hopefully not going to be too windy this week," said the US-based Scot.
"It's probably leaning a little more to what I'd maybe be more used to than a true, hard and fast links course."
CUT TO THREE ROUNDS

Last year's severe weather saw the Scottish Open, won by world number one Luke Donald, cut from 72 to 54 holes.

Laird, 29, aims to improve his short game at Castle Stuart ahead of next week's Open at Royal St Lytham.
"I've had a few really good results and some that I wish had been a little better," he said.
"It's been down to my short game this year. I've hit the ball really well but my putting has been a little streaky. It's been a frustrating year in that sense; when you're hitting it well and not really getting the scores you feel you should then it's frustrating."
Laird, who will tee off with fellow Scot Paul Lawrie and Phil Mickelson in the opening round, is reluctant to make wholesale changes to his golf.
"I'm not panicking about it, and I don't think there's anything I need to change about my game," he said.
"This week will be such a big tournament and I'm here to win the Scottish Open."
Defending champion Donald said being back at Castle Stuart brought good memories flooding back.
"Everything seemed to click into place and every putt went in when I needed it to," he added.
"It's exciting to be back here."

DARREN CLARKE 'NOWHERE NEAR REQUIRED STANDARD FOR QUITE SOME TIME'

FROM THE BBCSPORT.COM WEBSITE

Open champion Darren Clarke is "incredibly frustrated" with his game as he prepares to defend the title at Royal Lytham next week.

The Northern Irishman has failed to recapture the form which earned him a surprise victory at Royal St George's.
"I play golf to win tournaments and I've been nowhere near that standard for quite some time," he said.
"I've got pretty annoyed and although I'm practising and doing all the right things, it just hasn't clicked so far."
He added: "I've had a wonderful year off the golf course, but a very frustrating year on it."
Clarke secured a three-shot victory at Sandwich last year to land his first major title.
A slump in form followed but the 43-year-old believes his game is on an upward curve ahead of his return to Lytham, where he finished third when the Open was last held at the English venue in 2001.
"I played really well in France last week and I was not too bad at the Irish Open," said the Dungannon man.
"I just want to give myself a chance at Lytham and be competitive, and I feel no pressure as my name is on the Claret Jug and it will be there forever.
"I know what winning a major is like and I want more of it - that's why I'm practising, I'm craving more success.
"I wasn't supposed to win it last year and its nice to go to Lytham where I'm not supposed to win it this year."

MyGolfRanking.co.uk, Fife Golfing Association

 Week ending July 8

1 M Rickard (Cupar) 1050 pts

2 I Fleming (Auchterderran) 1027.78

3 G Brooksbank (Falkland) 1025

4 M Elvin (Forrester Park) 1022.22

5 B Mustard (Dunnikier Park) 1000

6 G Angus (Scotscraig) 975

7 O McCue (Kirkcaldy) 958.33

8 M Rooney (Lundin) 950

9 T G Caldwell (Burntisland G H) 941.67

10 J Woods (St Andrews G C) 921.43

11 B McGowan (Thornton) 916.71

12 M Clark (Thornton) 915

13 G Walker (Earlsferry Th) 912.5

14 K Lowey (Kirkcaldy) 910.8

15 T W Corke (St Andrews G C) 908.33

16 B A A Kinsley (St Andrews G C) 907.14

17 M J Anthony (Aberdour) 904.17

18 D G G Begbie (Ladybank) 887.5

T19 A Jones (Kirkcaldy) 883.33

T19 C Nelson (St Michaels) 883.33.

For ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Fife and other Area and National ranking lists and How It Works, visit www.MyGolfRanking.co.uk

LUKE DONALD ADMITS HE HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By ALASDAIR REID
The riches of Croesus. An MBE. Sponsors queuing up for your endorsements. A seat in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. Lunch with Kylie Minogue (even if she doesn't know who you are!). Yes, there are many rewards for being the best golfer on earth. But a major title is not one of them.
Just ask Luke Donald. The Englishman has been at the top of golf’s world rankings for a total of 52 weeks, and even if that period of supremacy has been accumulated over four separate spells it still adds up to a whole year of being the undisputed No 1 player on the planet. But he has never finished better than third in a major.
And nor would you say that he has been getting closer with every passing year. His two third places were at the 2005 Masters and the 2006 PGA Championship. His status as the best player never to win a major is established beyond all reasonable doubt. Only Lee Westwood comes close.
Down the years, Donald has fielded questions about his majors record with the same sort of calm precision he displays with a mid-iron in his hands. However, speaking ahead of his defence of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open title he won at Castle Stuart last year, the 34 year-old opened up as he has rarely done before, admitting that his record owes a lot to the pressure he has been putting on himself in his effort to break his duck.
I’ve realised it for a while,” Donald said. “I’ve understood that for probably a couple of years. I know it’s a difference in myself. I get a little bit more agitated, a little bit more anxious.”
Just a little bit? A year ago, in his final round here at Castle Stuart, Donald produced a display that came close to golfing perfection. Water sloshed across the course, but Donald appeared to be walking on it as he closed out with a 63. Yet a few days later he was dumped out of the Open at Royal St George’s, missing the cut by three shots.
TWELVE MISSED MAJOR CUTS
Colin Montgomerie managed to finish second at five major championships. Even Westwood has been a runner-up twice. Donald’s record makes dismal reading. In the 35 majors he has contested he has missed the cut 12 times. And he has saved his worst of all for the Open, failing to get past halfway six times while finishing in the top 10 just once.
Donald is 18/1 to win at Lytham next week. For the world’s top player those ought to be generous odds, but given his record they actually look pretty miserly.
Yet the Lancashire links is probably better suited than any other course on the Open rota to the kind of game Donald plays. You have to plot your way round Lytham, and Donald is his sport’s ultimate cartographer.
Donald last played there in 2001, just a month before he turned professional after that year’s Walker Cup. His tie for 47th that year seemed far from impressive, but it acquired a kind of gloss as he missed the cut in three of his next four Open appearances. So does he think the Royal Lytham course suits him too?
The question brings an enigmatic smile.
“I’ve played on shorter courses, wider courses, narrow courses, long courses. I’ve been successful in a variety of places. It just comes down to being mentally in the right position, feeling physically good about your game and having he confidence to go out and do it."

DUNCAN STEWART SHARES EUROPRO LEAD IN IRELAND

Good news for the investors in Duncan Stewart  (they included Paul Lawrie!) - the man from Grantown on Spey figured in a five-way tie for the lead on two-under-par 70 at the end of a rain-disrupted first day on this week's EuroPro Tour event at Concra Wood Golf and Country Club, Castleblainey in Ireland's County Monaghan.

Stewart, pictured, a winner on the circuit last year and a former US college team-mate of Russell Knox, birdied the long first, the third, the short sixth, the long 13th and the long 15th but dropped shots at the second, fifth and short 14th.

He is tied with Englishmen Lee Clarke, Andrew Willey and George Woolgar, as well as Ireland's Paul O'Hanlon.

Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) bogeyed the last for a 71 and a share of sixth

Wallace Booth (Comrie) bogeyed the 16th and 18th for a 73 and joint 28th place.

John Henry (Clydebank and District) had a 74 and Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) a 75.

Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) returned a 76.

Late finishers Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links), Chris Kelly (Cawder) and Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) shot 76-77-77 respectively.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 72

70 Lee Clarke (Eng), Paul O'Hanlon (Ire), Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), Andrew Willey (Eng), George Woolgar (Eng).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES

71 Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links).

73 Wallace Booth (Comrie).

74 John Henry (Clydebank and Dist)

75 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel), Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links)

76 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar).
77 Chris Kelly (Cawder)

Jason Day withdraws from Open due to family reasons

Jason Day, the Australian who plays on the US PGA Tour, has withdrawn from next week's Open championship because of family reasons.
Day is ranked No 21 in the world pro rankings.

SENIOR TOP SEEDS KNOCKED OUT EARLY AT WEST KILBRIDE

Two of the top three seeds, No 2 Angus Lamond (Haggs Castle) and No 3 Brian Smith (Kilmacolm), were knocked out in the first round of the Scottish senior amateur men's match-play golf  championship at West Kilbride GC today (Wednesday) Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs) beat Lamond 2 and 1 while former title-winner George Paterson (Northern) bt Smith by one hole. Best fightback of the day was performed by Bill Erksine (Kilsyth Lennox) who beat Alan Harrington (Western Gailes) at the 19th after being three down with four to play. Erskine won the 17th, playing as a par-5 into the wind,  with a 4, the 18th with a birdie 3 and the 19th with a birdie 3. Defending champion Ian Brotherston(Dumfries and Co) squeezed through at the 19th against Stephen Ellis (Innellan). Top seed John Fraser (Royal Burgess) had one of the easiest wins of the day, 6 and 5 over James Kinloch (Cardross). SCOTTISH SENIOR AMATEUR MEN'S MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP West Kilbride GC FIRST ROUND John Fraser (Royal Burgess) bt James Kinloch (Cardross) 6 and 5, Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse0 bt Ian Randell (Silverknowes) 1 hole, Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) bt Graham McGee (Erskine) 2 and 1, Derek Murphy (Kinross) bt Tony Clark (Dumfries and Co) 4 and 2. David Gardner (Broomieknowe) bt Ian Angus (Duff House Royal 2 holes, Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) bt George Blair (Haddington) 2 holes, Fraser McCluskey (Royal Burgess) bt Gordon Thomson (Bearsden) 2 and 1, Graham Cox (Pollok) bt John J Johnston (Lanark) 2 and 1. Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs bt Angus Lamond (Haggs Castle) 2 and 1, Richard T Gray (Irvine) bt William Brown (Strathaven) 6 and 5, Keith Bruce (Edzell) bt George Rodaks (Pitreavie) at 19th, Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co) bt Stephen Ellis (Innellan) at 19th. George Paterson (Northern) bt Brian Smith (Kilmacolm) 1 hole, Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) bt James Johnston (Northuymberland) 5 and 4, David J Millar (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt Sandy Fairweather (Carnoustie Caledonia) 2 holes, Bill Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) bt Alan Harrington (Western Gailes) at 19th.

RAYMOND RUSSELL FOCUSSED ON REGAINING TOUR CARD

CHALLENGE TOUR PREVIEW

By NEIL AHERN

Raymond Russell, the Challenge Tour’s most recent winner following his victory in Italy two weeks ago, enters this week’s Credit Suisse Challenge with another win firmly in sights and says that he remains completely focussed on the ultimate goal of a European Tour card.

The Scot, pictured by courtesy of Getty Images(c), claimed his maiden Challenge Tour title at the Challenge Provincia di Varese a fortnight ago and returns to action this week at Golf Sempachersee, near Lucerne in Switzerland, with his eyes on the prize once again.

Having won on The European Tour in 1996 at the Cannes Open, it was Russell’s first title on the Continent in 16 years and the 39 year old wants to ride the wave of confidence this week.

“I do feel a bit more confident after the win,” said Russell. “I've been playing well. I did some practice last week and it went well so I'm looking forward to getting going again.

“I won’t lose any focus though. There’s half of the season to go so there’s a lot more to do. The win will make no difference if I don’t meet the goals I set myself at the start of the year and get a European Tour card, so I’ll try and move on from that and try and win this week. That’s what everybody is here for.”

While it may have been tempting to take the foot off the pedal during the week-long break after his win in Italy, Russell says that he has kept his work rate up in order to capitalise on the momentum provided by the victory.

PLAY WELL, PRACTISE LESS

“I tend to do a bit more practice if I'm playing well to be honest,” said the Edinburgh native. “It sounds silly but I practice less if I'm playing badly because you end up tying yourself up in knots so I try and keep it as simple as possible.

“I think the pressure is just the same now as it was before. I don’t bother with outside pressure, I put enough pressure on myself - it comes from within - so you just have to try and manage that.”

The picturesque Golf Sempachersee is the venue this week and, while the weather may not be quite as hot as Luvinate two weeks ago, Russell is looking forward to the challenge.

“I played here a couple of years ago and it’s coming back to me a little bit,” he said. “Everything’s pretty much in front of you apart from one or two tee shots but I remember the course was in good condition so I'm looking forward to getting going.”

Russell is joined in the field this week by seven fellow winners on the Challenge Tour this year – Phillip Archer, Seve Benson, Marco Crespi, Eduardo De La Riva, Max Kieffer, Eddie Pepperell and Gary Stal.

There are also a number of fellow European Tour winners present, including 2010 Vivendi Cup winner John Parry, 2009 Madrid Masters champion Ross McGowan and former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker, who is also a two time winner of the Credit Suisse Challenge.

All of the Challenge Tour Rankings’ top five players are in attendance including the current Number One Gary Lockerbie, while nine-time runner up on The European Tour and star of the 2008 Ryder Cup, Oliver Wilson, plays his first regular Challenge Tour event of the season.

HALF-PRICE GOLF FOR CARNOUSTIE COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERS

NEWS RELEASE
Thanks to an exciting new initiative launched by Carnoustie Country Golf Industry Group, members of participating local golf clubs can now enjoy half-price golf at over 20 Carnoustie Country golf courses.

The Carnoustie Country Reciprocal Golf Scheme is available to all members of the Carnoustie Country Clubs participating in the initiative.

“There’s been a tremendous response to this initiative,” said Alan Reid, Head Golf Professional at Murrayshall and a member of Carnoustie Country Golf Industry Group, which represents the interests of the 22 golf clubs in Carnoustie Country.

“The majority of Carnoustie Country clubs have already signed up to this initiative, enabling their members to enjoy 50% discount at many of the 30 golf courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Championship.

“The Carnoustie Country Reciprocal Golf Scheme will encourage golfers in our area to travel that little bit further afield for a game of golf, enabling them to experience many of the fabulous courses which come under the Carnoustie Country banner, which covers courses across Angus, Perthshire and the north east corner of Fife.”

The initiative was launched at Kirriemuir Golf Club, where a couple of members of Carnoustie Country Golf Industry Group enjoyed a preview of how the scheme would work with a few holes of golf on the Kirriemuir course.
SUCCESS WILL RUB OFF

“As this initiative gathers pace, the success of Carnoustie Country Reciprocal Golf Scheme will rub off on all the clubs involved,” said Gordon Clark, a member of Carnoustie Country Golf Industry Group.

“As Kirriemuir Golf Club’s representative on the Golf Industry Group, I’m very confident this will result in higher numbers of golfers from other clubs coming to Kirriemuir – and, as a golfer, I’ll definitely be taking advantage of the chance of a half price round of golf!”

Ian MacMillan, who represents Scotscraig Golf Club on the Carnoustie Country Golf Industry Group, explained that, as part of the promotion of this initiative, golfers are being encouraged to share their golfing experiences and photos of golf on Carnoustie Country courses other than their own on the Carnoustie Country Facebook page.

“We want as many local golfers as possible to take up this offer,” said Ian.

“Carnoustie Country Reciprocal Golf Scheme gives golfers an added incentive to join a golf club by providing opportunities to play courses in the local vicinity at a reasonable cost. Carnoustie Country Reciprocal Golf Scheme is good news for local golfers and good news for local golf clubs.”

News of Carnoustie Country Reciprocal Golf Scheme was warmly welcomed by members of Kirriemuir Golf Club, including Sue Belton.

“I like to play other golf courses in the local area, including Brechin, Alyth, Strathmore and Forfar, and this 50% discount will enable me to do this even more,” said Sue. “This is a wonderful bonus for golfers in the Carnoustie Country area.”

To find out more about Carnoustie Country and the Carnoustie Country Reciprocal Golf Scheme, visit http://www.carnoustiecountry.com/ or ‘like’ the Carnoustie Country page at http://www.facebook.com/.

HIGH TECH ENHANCEMENT TO YOUR AS-IT-HAPPENS AT THE OPEN

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY
 THE R AND A
Fans of The Open will be able to follow all of the action live from Royal Lytham and St Annes online and on the move, ensuring they don’t miss a shot from next week's Championship. 
For the first time, people throughout the UK can follow all the action with wall-to-wall live coverage being streamed on The Open’s award-winning mobile Apps and website, TheOpen.com.
In addition to providing continuous television coverage of The Open on mobile and online, the new and enhanced iPad, iPhone and Android Apps, will feature live streaming of multiple TV and radio channels, scoring, player press conferences, video highlights, player profiles and an interactive course guide.  The Open Championship Apps are available from Sunday 15th July.
The Open’s ground-breaking interactive digital channel ‘@TheOpen LIVE’ returns this year providing behind the scenes access to golf’s oldest Major.  Hosted by Dominic Holyer (formerly SkySports / Setanta) the channel brings the outside-the-ropes experience of The Open to fans around the world.
“The RandA’s digital vision is to deliver more than 150 years of history, tradition and prestige through contemporary media to ensure that the drama and passion of golf’s oldest Major can be enjoyed by fans and followers throughout the world, whether at home, in the office or on the move,” said Malcolm Booth, The RandA’s Director of Communications.
“Our decision to allow mobile phones at The Open was made largely because we see the potential for spectators’ own devices to significantly enhance their viewing experience and we are confident that The Open Apps will do just that.”
The official Championship website, TheOpen.com, provides an interactive hub allowing fans to watch and follow The Open online or to augment their television viewing experience.  Popular sections of the website have been enhanced to ensure an optimised user experience, keeping fans engaged and entertained.
TheOpen.com’s course guide section has been revamped offering users an enriched experience to explore the fairways of Royal Lytham and St Annes.  Thirty renderings of each hole and green allows the user to delve right into the heart of the links, while hole flyovers provide the opportunity to discover all of Lytham’s 206 bunkers.
Familiarise yourself with the course through imagery and videos of past Open Championship action, and make sure to read the pro’s tips so you know the right line off the tee.
The leaderboard section has also been redesigned offering four different views, allowing users to fully control and personalise their scoring experience.  The new Stats Centre presents an in-depth insight into The Open, allowing fans to track those long hitters and hot putters.  Fans will now be able to track their favourite golfer's progress around the course using the new Course Live section.
New this year is the Fan Centre, allowing users to interact with other fans and have their say on The Open across a variety of social media platforms.  Follow The Open Championship on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, and use #TheOpen to join the conversation.

SIC TRANSIT GLORIA - TOM LEWIS WON'T EVEN WATCH OPEN THIS YEAR

 

 

 FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By James Corrigan, Golf Correspondent

The boy who stunned the Open in 2011 is ready to shun it in 2012. Tom Lewis does not even intend to watch the action from Lytham next week, just in case he sees a clip of his Sandwich heroics. Bizarrely, he would feel ashamed

Lewis, pictured right in his confident days as a Walker Cup-class amateur, still has an opportunity to be on the Fylde Coast by right. Yet he considers the chance of earning the one remaining spot at the Scottish Open – which starts tomorrow at Castle Stuart – to be so remote as to be not worth contemplating. The truth is, Lewis has no interest in Lytham and in many respects would rather not be there.

“No, I’m not too disappointed not to have qualified,” he said. “The course doesn’t suit me. And there would be a lot of hype around me and I’m not in the shape I was this time last year, when I thought I could compete and even win. I’d be making up the numbers and I don’t want to do that. It would be embarrassing, people remembering me from last year and coming back and seeing me like this.”

So as the world’s best go to the links, Lewis will go to the range. “I’ll do everything I can to avoid it on television,” he said. “There might be a few clips of last year and I don’t want to see them, because of the position I was in then, which was excellent, compared to the position I’m in now.”
NOT A STEPPING STONE

Judging by those comments, things obviously have not worked out for Lewis since as an unknown 20 year-old from the same Welwyn Garden City club as Sir Nick Faldo he shot a first round of 65 – the lowest score by an amateur in 151 years of Open history. So what did he do next?

Well, apart from winning his third event as a professional, securing a full European Tour card for two years and amassing more than £500,000 in collective earnings, very, very little.

What has golf ever done for Tom Lewis? He recognises the irony in his despondency.

“I suppose some people’s standards are set lower,” he said. “What can I say, I’m gutted I haven’t won again since and gutted I can’t compete if I’m not playing great. The confidence just drained to empty. That’s what happens when you’re playing with against this lot.
I'M JUST A CHOPPER 
“If you shoot three-under in the amateurs you’re leading; if you shoot three-under out here you’re tied for 25th. In the amateurs you think ‘I’m the best in the world’. Out here I’m thinking, ‘I’m just a chopper’. Yeah, I proved to myself I could win on a flukey week when my timing was in. But otherwise I’m not nearly good enough in so many areas of my game.”
To be fair to Lewis, this inferiority complex has some foundation. Since beating Martin Kaymer and Padraig Harrington at the Portuguese Masters in October, Lewis has made just four out of 13 cuts and is outside of the top 100 on the money list. From being drawn among the marquee groups, he is now paired with the has-beens, wannabes and never-will-bes.
“I’ve been really low in myself,” Lewis said. “I didn’t want to play and that’s why, if you look at my schedule, I haven’t played too much. I’ve been so angry with myself. Someone up there looked down and let me have this great week at Portugal and gave me this opportunity to become a good player – and I ruined it. I suppose it’s a good thing because it’s made me want it more. And at least I feel I’m pointing forwards again.”
Lewis has finally sought help. He caused many eyebrows to disappear under visors on the range when, a few months after Portugal, he split with Pete Cowen, the revered Yorkshireman who had coached him since he was 16. Instead he went to Ken Brown for chipping advice while his father, Bryan, was entrusted with his long game. A month ago, Tom and Bryan, himself a former Tour pro, asked Brown to phone Butch Harmon.
The American agreed to see him two weeks ago. Lewis scratched from the Irish Open and headed to Las Vegas for two days of assessment. As soon as Harmon saw the swing, he whipped out the tapes of a rather famous former pupil.

SAME FAULTS AS TIGER

“He showed me what Tiger did when he first went to him,” said. “And I’m not saying I’m Tiger Woods, but the faults were very similar. My body stops and my hands carry on, which causes me to overswing and on the downswing to get behind it and flip at it a little bit.

“I think it’s a strength thing. Of course, Butch sorted it out for Tiger and I’m really excited to think that, one day, I could swing it like he did.”
Lewis will see Harmon as often as the latter can oblige. He hopes the benefits of the work will emerge quickly, although he accepts it could take months.
The way Lewis views it, he has until the end of 2013, when his exemption for the Vilamoura win expires, to re-establish himself. This time, he is determined to be in control on the ascent.
“I need to have a lot more self-belief,” Lewis said, heeding some advice from his friend, Ian Poulter. “And I definitely need to become more selfish.”
To this end, Tom Lewis is now concentrating on Tom Lewis. He has recently parted with his girlfriend of 2½ years and is striving for more independence within his tight family circle. “I’ve always been with my father; all the time,” he said. “So when I go home, I try to stay away a bit. He was more of my boss than my Dad, which was great in some ways but a shame in others. But then, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here.”
By nature, this commendably honest young man is anything but selfish. As soon as he collected that winning cheque for £350,000, he paid off his parents’ debts. “I didn’t know how bad the situation had become, how much they’d spent on me, so It was the least I could do,” he said. “I’m not lying when I say don’t think about money or fame because that’s not what it’s about for me; they just come with playing well,” he added .
“And I will play well, I’m sure of it. I’m 21, have my full card, and can’t waste this chance to become one of he really good players. Yeah, I want to go back to the Open, but as a contender not a curiosity. I want to have that feeling of leading The Open again. But on the fourth day, not the first.”

MADRID MASTERS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF SPANISH BANK WOES

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

This year’s Madrid Masters has been cancelled because of the financial crisis and the woes of Bankia, the Spanish lender that is its main sponsor.

“The Madrid Masters will be postponed until 2013 because of the difficult economic situation,” the Spanish golf federation (RFEG) said on Tuesday.

Bankia, which sponsors the European Tour event, won last year by England’s Lee Slattery, required a state rescue worth €23.5 billion in May. The rescue prompted Spain to request European aid for its banks and a Spanish court this week opened a fraud case against former Bankia executives.

The tournament had been due to take place from Sept 20-23.

Meanwhile Paul Casey has vowed to go on fighting after one of the worst experiences of his golfing life last week.

The former world No 3, still to rediscover form more than six months after dislocating his shoulder snowboarding, slumped to back-to-back rounds of 80 for the first time in his career at the French Open and finished joint last. 

“That course beat me up,” Casey admitted at Castle Stuart near Inverness, where the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open starts 5. “The shoulder’s absolutely fine and I feel good physically and mentally, but I just wasn’t hitting it the way I wanted to.
“In a way, though, this is an opportunity. For a long time I was just on autopilot, but now I’m doing a lot of learning about my swing.
“I’m also being incredibly thorough and not leaving any stone unturned. I’m addressing the mental side, the nutritional side, everything I do on and off the course.
“Yes, the shoulder has damaged my golf, but I’m addressing all these other points now because I want to get to a whole new level.”
Casey, now down at 72nd in the rankings, spent two months out following his accident in Colorado on Christmas Eve and decided to take more time off last month even though it meant missing the US Open.
The Ryder Cup star will be at Royal Lytham for the Open next week, however, and having already made a trip back to the course on which he won the English amateur title in 2000 he is warning what a tough week is in store there.
“To me it was a classic course - make your score going out and hang on for dear life coming in,” he said. “Now, with the changes they’ve made, we hang on for dear life out and back.”
The sixth hole has changed from a par five to a par four and a total of 181 yards has been added since the 2001 Open.