SUTHERLAND CHALICE SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD

It looks like being the tightest of finishes at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club on Sunday in the Sutherland Chalice, this weekend's SGU Order of Merit 72-hole tournament.
Aberdour's Scott Crichton is in the pole position on seven-under-par 133 after rounds of 67 and 66 but Ross Bell (Downfield) is breathing down his neck on 134 after a pair of 67s. Four strokes cover the leading seven.
Jordan Rhind (Uphall), joint leader with a 65 in the first round, dropped back to three shots off the pace with an afternoon 71 despite a hole in one at the 187yd 13th.
A young brother of Lee Rhind, Jordan had an inward half of 31, matched only by Fraser McKenna (Balmore) who had a 66 for 137. McKenna was four under par for the last six holes.1
Another hole in one was achieved by Neil Henderson (Glen) at the 142yd fourth. He had a 72 for 144.
The cut to the leading 40 and ties for Sunday's final two rounds fell at 145.

Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club

Par 140 (2x70) CSS 71 71
133 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 67 66
134 Ross Bell (Downfield) 67 67
135 Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 66 69
136 Jordan Rhind (Uphall) 65 71
137 James White (Lundin) 65 72, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 71 66, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 71 66 .
138 Craig Hamilton (Omanu) 69 69, James Ross (Royal Burgess) 70 68
139 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 67 72, Mathew Clark (Kilmacolm) 69 70, Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 72 67, Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe) 72 67
140 Graham J Gordon (Newmachar) 67 73, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 69 71, Michael Daily (Erskine) 71 69, Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) 71 69
141 Kenny MacAskill (Turnberry) 73 68, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 69 72, Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 69 72, Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 72 69
142 Sam Davis (NZ) 70 72, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 70 72, Keith Shanks (Golf House Club) 71 71
143 Ryan Campbell (Falkirk) 70 73, Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle) 70 73, Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 70 73, Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) 73 72
144 Connor Syme (Dumfries and Co) 72 72, Scott Gibson (Southerness) 74 70, Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 74 70, Graeme McDougall (Bishopbriggs) 70 74, Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne) 76 68, Marc Owenson (Longniddry) 74 70, Neil Henderson (Glen) 72 72
145 Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 71 74, Rory Thompson (Dumfries and Galloway) 73 71, Scott Brown (Turnberry) 74 71, Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) 75 70, Alan Sutherland (Ladybank) 75 70.
MISSED THE CUT
146 Michael Bacigalupo (Longniddry) 72 74, Richard Docherty (Bearsden) 73 73
147 Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) 72 75, Simon Lockhart (Bathgate) 75 72
148 Jamie McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 72 76, Iain Wilson (Dalmahoy) 74 74, Clark Riddick (Southerness) 76 72, James Hamon (Royal Guernsey) 73 75, Chris Corbett (Dumfries and Galloway) 73 75, John Mathers (Haggs Castle) 73 75
149 Daniel McConnachie (Dumfries and Co) 74 75
150 Craig Deerness (Harburn) 70 80, Brandon Burgess (Dumfries and Galloway) 75 75, Ross McEwen (Cardross) 82 68, David Curtis (Cathkin Braes) 74 76
151 Ewen Donaldson (Craigielaw) 77 74, Graham Robertson (Silverknowes) 76 75, Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 77 74
152 David Brodie (Newton Stewart) 72 80, Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Nicholas) 77 75, James Hendrick (Pollok) 77 75, Varun Varadharajan (Royal Burgess) 78 74
153 Jordan Williams (Kirkcudbright) 78 75, Ross Murray (Southerness) 79 74, Steven Maxwell (Windyhill) 74 79, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 75 78, Oliver Roberts (Hong Kong) 75 78.
154 James Aitken (Alloa) 77 77
155 Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 77 78, Angus Carrick (Douglas Park) 78 77, Craig Hill (Pines) 78 77, Cameron Farrell (Cardross) 79 76
157 Connor Harkness (Dumfries and Galloway) 72 85
162 Andrew Grant (Dunblane New) 79 83
164 Nathan Free (Musselburgh Old) 81 83
No Returns: Stuart McKechnie (Greenburn) 75 NR, Jack Brown (Cathcart Castle) 74 NR, David Docherty (Paisley) 79 NR

MOLINARI LEADS ABERDEEN AM SCOTTISH OPEN BY ONE WITH A ROUND TO GO

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Francesco Molinari once again sparkled with a third round 67 to move into the lead in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
The Italian ended last week with an astonishing 64, that started with a double bogey, at the Alstom Open de France and has continued that incredible form at the Castle Stuart Golf Links.
Molinari hit a brilliant ten under 62 in his first round and, despite a triple bogey, managed a 70 yesterday.
He continued his oustanding charge today, with a par on one being followed by back-to-back birdies after sensational tee shots.
Aided by his typically excellent long game, Molinari has enjoyed arguably the best run of his career with the putter recently.
KEY FACTOR
That was a key factor in the 29-year-old finding two further birdies on the front nine, which he followed up with another immediately after the turn.
He played solidly thereafter, creating birdie chances aplenty but settling for pars to finish on 17 under.
Molinari is undoubtedly desperate to win tomorrow, but, regardless, will take great heart from perfect preparation for next week’s 141st Open Championship.
“My golf and my form are getting better and better,” he said. “Obviously it’s a very good time to be playing this well, and I’ll just see how it goes tomorrow.
“But however it goes, I know I’m going to be at Lytham playing well and so it’s just a case of keep doing the same stuff and see what happens.
“I think for the moment, obviously to win here is the first goal. But it’s good to know, not only from this week, but from last week, as well, that I’m playing well and putting well.”
The birdie at ten took Molinari into the outright lead ahead of Alexander Noren, who had previously matched his playing partner shot for shot.
Yet the Swede could not compete with Molinari's consistency in the end; pars on ten and 11 were followed by a poor tee shot at the next that left many searching through the bushes.
LOST BALL
Alas, the ball was not found and Noren subsequently compounded matters with an equally disappointing approach.
He eventually triple bogeyed the long par five and, after picking up shots at 16 and 17, was two adrift of Molinari and one behind Anders Hansen in second.
Dane Hansen continued his round-upon-round improvement with a 65 that meant he was one behind the impressive Molinari.
“I played steady today and did not make many mistakes and just kept the ball in play and gave myself some opportunities, and so it was pretty steady,” he said.
“It's a new day tomorrow. We’ll see what is going to happen. Francesco is obviously playing very, very good golf at the moment. I had a great finish last week, so it’s going to be fun to play with him.
“It’s very, very difficult (to pick a winner). The scores are so low. It’s very difficult to keep making putts and to keep making birdies.”
His superb 65 effort, however, could not match those of countryman Søren Kjeldsen and Scot Marc Warren, who ended a further shot back on 15 under.
Both began knowing a surge would be necessary to challenge those at the top, and managed it by striking 64 apiece.
Kjeldsen could not have got off to a better start as he birdied the first four before the streak was ended with a par on the next.
Undeterred, he picked up shots on six , seven and eight, with a par on nine ensuring he turned in 29.
He was less spectacular on the back, producing two birdies and a bogey - an effort of calm that belied the earlier madness.
Kjeldsen is hoping for a fine day tomorrow as he targets the one qualification spot available for the Open.
“I would love to play,” he said. “If I play well tomorrow and I get in, it’s a bonus, but I have plans to have a little bit of a rest and be away from the game a little bit.
“If I get the chance to go to Lytham, I will obviously smile and go at it.”
His partner, Warren, produced a dramatic finish; an eagle on 16 was followed by a bogey and a birdie.
He said: “Tt was one of the most stress free days really. I felt really in control of everything I was doing, which was different from the first two days.
FIGHTING OFF THE TEE
“I felt like I was fighting it a little bit, especially off the tee. But today drove it really well and had a lot of chances.”
Phil Mickelson, meanwhile, left spectators delighted with a 65 to ensure he will begin right in contention on 14 under tomorrow.
Alongside Mickelson was Martin Laird, who also managed an impressive 64.
“I did exactly what I needed to to get myself back in the mix here,” said Laird. “My goal was to shoot a low one, and I obviously did that and I’m happy.
“I’ve got friends and family in the gallery but also the local people cheering me on. It was great, seemed like every birdie I made, I picked up a few more people and it was great to hear them willing you on.”
LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72). Yardage 7183
199 Francesco Molinari (Italy) 62 80 78
200 Anders Hansen (Denmark) 68 67 65
201 Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark) 65 72 64, Marc Warren (Scotland) 68 69 64
202 Martin Laird (Scotland) 68 70 64, Phil Mickelson (US) 73 64 65, Peter Whiteford (Scotland) 71 65 66, Alexander Noren (Sweden) 66 66 70.
OTHER SCOTS SCORES
205 Stephen Gallacher 68 72 65 (T23)
207 Alastair Forsyth 71 68 68 (T37)
208 Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) (am) 70 70 68 (T45)
209 Steven O'Hara 69 71 69 (T53)

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT

FROM NEIL AHERN

Andrea Perrino continued a fine day for Italian golf as the Livorno man moved into a three way tie for the lead going into the final day of the Credit Suisse Challenge, alongside Finland’s Janne Mommo and Frenchman Gary Stal.

With his friend and fellow Inter Milan fan Francesco Molinari on stunning form at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on The European Tour, Perrino also had a day to remember at Golf Sempachersee, near Lucerne in Switzerland.

The 28 year old described it as one of the best rounds of his life as he carded four birdies and just one bogey on the way to a three under par 68, moving to ten under for the tournament.

He began with a birdie on the first before another at the sixth took him to the turn in two under par. Another birdie at the 14^th was cancelled out by a bogey at the par three 16^th but he finished in style by knocking his approach at the 18^th to five foot and holing the birdie putt to take the tied lead into the final round.

“It was probably the best round of my life tee to green,” said Perrino, whose best career finish came at the dual-sanctioned 2011 SAINT OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC, where he was tied fifth.

STUPID BOGEY

“I've been striking the ball unbelievable. I didn’t have a putt over six metres today and I just made a stupid bogey at the 16^th. I hit a perfect shot to the green but it rolled off the back and I fluffed the chip. I managed to make bogey though and I knew I would have chances on the way in.

“I can’t ask to play better than this on the final day. I'm having fun and I just have to try and hole some more putts.”

One of his first moves after signing for a 68 in Switzerland was to check up on how his friend, Francesco of the Molinaris, was doing in Scotland and he said that he takes plenty of inspiration from the success of his compatriots.

“Francesco is playing unbelievable,” said Perrino. “The numbers in his last few rounds tell the whole story. He’s a great guy and of course an Inter supporter too, which helps. We are always looking up to him, Edoardo (Molinari), Matteo Manassero and all the guys on The European Tour and I wish them luck. It might be a good week for the Italians!”

Gary Stal is fast becoming the most promising player to emerge from the 2012 Challenge Tour season and he enters a final round in the lead for the second time this year having won in his rookie season on the Challenge Tour a month ago at the Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda.

He moved to the top courtesy of a second successive four under par round of 67 having made the perfect start by birdieing the opening two holes. A bogey on the fourth hole set him back but he proceeded to birdie the tenth, 14^th and 17^th on the way back before missing a makeable birdie putt on the 18^th to miss out on the outright overnight lead.

HAPPY WITH GAME
“I'm really happy with my game at the moment,” said the 20 year old. “My game today was about the same as it was in Austria. It won’t be any easier this time after that win but I can only play my best and hopefully that will be enough.”

Mammo remains an overnight leader for the second day in a row after he signed for a two under par of 69, having led at the midway point alongside Garry Houston. The 34 year old also started with a birdie at the par four first before a bogey at the seventh meant he reached the turn in level par.

He was in danger of letting his lead slip but back to back birdies at the 14^th and 15^th holes kept him in the hunt as he attempts to seal a category for the rest of the 2012 Challenge Tour season, having earned an invite this week.

“I was pretty consistent today in much different conditions,” he said. “It was a lot tougher to get close to the pins today.

“It feels good going into the final day in the lead. I'm not thinking about how I'm going to finish. I just need to keep playing like I have been playing and enjoy it because these are rare chances. I have as good a chance as anybody now.”

The leading trio were two shots clear at the top, with England’s Luke Goddard and Frenchman Alexandre Kaleka tied for fourth place on eight under par following two respective rounds of 70.

THIRD ROUND TOTALS 

Par 213 (3x71)
203 J Mommo (Fin) 69 65 69, G Stal (Fra) 69 67 67, A Perrino (Ita) 69 66 68,

205 A Kaleka (Fra) 70 65 70, L Goddard (Eng) 71 64 70,

206 A Domingo (Esp) 68 68 70, G Houston (Wal) 69 65 72,

207 J McLeary (Sco) 68 69 70,

208 J Hansen (Den) 62 74 72, B Parker (Eng) 70 68 70, D Brooks (Eng) 69 69 70, A Hartø (Den) 69 70 69, J Busby (Eng) 69 67 72, S Tiley (Eng) 67 72 69,

209 D Gaunt (Aus) 69 69 71, B Chapellan (Fra) 70 69 70, J Gibb (Eng) 69 69 71, R Kakko (Fin) 74 63 72, H Joannes (Bel) 67 71 71, D Ulrich (Sui) 68 71 70,

210 M Rominger (Sui) 69 68 73, C Hanson (Eng) 68 69 73, O Wilson (Eng) 66 74 70, N Bertasio (Ita) 71 70 69, D Vancsik (Arg) 68 70 72, C Moriarty (Irl) 67 70 73,

211 S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 70 70 71, L Jensen (Den) 66 71 74, A Levy (Fra) 67 73 71, R Steiner (Aut) 68 71 72,

212 M Kieffer (Ger) 72 69 71, S Pinckney (USA) 69 70 73, M Haines (Eng) 73 68 71, C Macaulay (Sco) 69 71 72, A Snobeck (Fra) 67 72 73,

213 J Clément (Sui) 69 69 75, M Carlsson (Swe) 70 70 73, J Heath (Eng) 69 70 74, C Doak (Sco) 70 70 73, A Tadini (Ita) 70 70 73, P Archer (Eng) 68 70 75, V Riu (Fra) 70 70 73, A Gee (Eng) 72 67 74

214 B Koepka (USA) 71 70 73, M Delpodio (Ita) 71 68 75,

215 J Wahlqvist (Swe) 68 73 74, A McArthur (Sco) 69 71 75, M Madsen (Den) 71 70 74

216 M Nixon (Eng) 72 68 76, A Bernadet (Fra) 72 69 75, N Meitinger (Ger) 69 72 75, P Baker (Eng) 72 68 76, S Benson (Eng) 73 68 75, A Velasco (Esp) 72 67 77,

217 S Davis (Eng) 71 68 78, J Mikkelsen (Nor) 69 71 77

218 B Evans (Eng) 70 71 77, S Wakefield (Eng) 67 70 81, B Etchart (Esp) 73 68 77,

219 B Rusch (am) (Sui) 69 70 80

221 M Bothma (RSA) 71 70 80

ROOKIE ROSS KELLETT SCORES FIRST PRO WIN

MOTHERWELL-based rookie pro Ross Kellett scored his first win as a professional today  when he won the Alps Tour event, the Montecchia Open in Italy.
Kellett had scores of 63, 70 and 68 for a 12-under-par total of 201.
He was by two shots from Italian rookie Niccolo Quintarelli who had rounds of 66-70-67.
Kellett made all the running in the 54-hole event, birdieing six of his last seven holes in the first round for an inward half of 30.
The first prize of 5,800 Euros boosted his winnings from 11 events to 16,1

WHITE AND RHIND SHARE LEAD ON 65 AT SUTHERLAND CHALICE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Lundin's James White, the long-time clubhouse leader in the Sutherland Chalice with a five-under-par 65, was caught before the end of the first round at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club by Jordyn Rhind (Uphall), a younger brother of Lee
 Rhind, who made his mark on Scottish golf earlier in the 2000s.
White had a bogey-free round, studded with birdiesd at the first, short fourth, sixth, 16th and 18th in halves of 33 (three under par) and 32 (two under).
Rhind had a spectacular start of birdies at each of the first four holes - 3-4-3-2.
He was brought back down to earth with a bogey at the eighth as he turned in three-under 33. But Jordyn was not finished yet. He moved to four under par again with a 3 at the 12th before slipping to his second and last bogey at the 15th.
Then he birdied the 16th and 17th for 32 home and a 65.
White won the Sutherland Chalice SGU Order of Merit 72-hole tournament two years ago and led the field into the final round 12 months ago before slipping back.
Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle), with a 66, was holding down third place as the field moved into the second round with the threat of evening rain imminent.


LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 70. CSS 71
65 James White (Lundin), Jordyn Rhind (Uphall).
66 Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle).
67 Scott Crichton (Aberdour), Alexander Culverewell (Dunbar), Graham J Gordon (Newmachar), Ross Bell (Downfield).
69 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm), Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Craig Hamilton (Omanu), Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co), Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire).
70 Sam Davis (NZ), Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), Craig Deerness (Harburn), Ryan Campbell (Falkirk), graeme McDougall (Bishopbriggs), Daniel Kay (Dunbar), James Ross (Royal Burgess).
71 Michael Daily (Erskine), Fraser Moore (Glenbervie), Scott Borrowman (Dollar), Keith Shanks (Golf House Club), Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie), Fraser McKenna (Balmore).
72 Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay), David Brodie (Newton Stewat), Jamie McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Connor Harkness (Dumfries and Galloway), Conor O'Neil (Pollok), Conor Syme (Dumfries and Co), Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co), Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe), Michael Bacigalupo (Longniddry), Neil Henderson (Glen).
73 Rory Thompson (Dumfries and Galloway), Steven Rennie (Drumpellier), Kenny MacAskill (Turnberry), James Hamon (Royal Guernsey), Chris Corbett (Dumfries and Galloway), Richard Docherty (Bearsden), John Mathers (Haggs Castle).
74 Iain Wilson (Dalmahoy), Scott Gibson (Southerness), Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen), Scott Brown (Turnberry), David Curtis (Cathkin Braes), Marc Owenson (Longniddry), Steven Maxwell (Windyhill), Jack Brown (Cathcart Castle), Daniel McConnachie (Dumfries and Co).
75 Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen), Brandon Burgess (Dumfries and Galloway), Stuart McKechnie (Greenburn), Simon Lockhart (Bathgate), Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie), Oliver Roberts (Hong Kong), Alan Sutherland (Ladybank).
76 Clark Riddick (Southerness), Graham Robertson (Silverknowes), Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne).
77 Ewen Donaldson (Craigielaw), James Aitken (Alloa), Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon), Anthony Blaney (Liverton), Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Nicholas), James Hendrick (Pollok).
78 Angus Carrick (Douglas Park), Varun Varadharajan (Royal Burgess), Craig Hill (Pines).
79 Ross Murray (Southerness), Andrew Grant (Dunblane New), David Docherty (Paisley), Cameron Farrell (Cardross).
81 Nathan Free (Musselburgh Old).
82 Ross McEwen (Cardross).

THE JOHN HENRY INVITATIONAL

Venue: CLYDEBANK and DISTRICT GOLF CLUB

Date: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

Cost per team of 4 x £100 (includes green fees, meal after play and entry to tournament)

The format for the day will be four-ball better-ball with the best two nett scores from each hole being recorded.

There will also be a beat-the-pro competition at the sixth hole which is optional, a yellow ball competition and nearest the pins.

Presentation of prizes will be as soon as the last group comes in which auction and raffle after presentation. Holes also available for sponsorship and any donation of prizes will be great fully received.

If you would like to enter a team contact –      johnhenry92@hotmail.com or call 07833918042

JAMES WHITE SETS PACE WITH 65 IN SUTHERLAND CHALICE

FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON AT DUMFRIES and GALLOWAY
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
James White (Lundin), winner of the event two years ago and leader into the final round 12 months past, is the clubhouse leader with a five-under-par 65 in this week's Scottish Fuels Sutherland Chalice over 72 holes at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club.
James' bogey-free round was studded with birdies at the first hole, the short fourth and the sixth in an outward half of three-under 33.
Coming home he had a string of pars until he birdied two of the last three holes - the 16th and 18th for 32 home.
With still quite a few players to complete their first rounds, White led by one shot from Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) with quite a large number sharing third place on 67.
Sam bogeyed the third before he got into his stride with birdies at the long fifth and par-4 seventh and ninth in an outward 34 (two under).
Much the same as James White, Binning had to settle for pars at the first few holes of the inward journey before getting a birdie 2 at the short 15th and a 3 at the par-4 17th in 32 home.
Once all the first-round returns are available, we'll have them on display for you.

RORY McILROY READY TO EMPRACE THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP MADNESS

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By JAMES CORRIGAN

Bring on the wind, bring on the mayhem, bring on the hype, bring on the interrogation. Rory McIlroy is determined to embrace the madness this time around

Of course, the circumstances of this Open build-up are radically different compared with the one that confronted him 12 months ago. Then he was coming in on the back of his record-breaking major breakthrough at the US Open; now he comes in on the back of four missed cuts in six events. At Sandwich the seaside air was full of coronation and grand pronouncements. In the suburban setting of Lytham the aerials will sway in the swirling doubt. But wherever McIlroy is, the spotlight will follow; next to Tiger Woods he will be the main attraction. Yes, the headlights will beam on the rabbit again.

From being startled, McIlroy is a cool bunny about it. He could be found at the plush Grove Golf Course near Watford this week, taking a little time out from practice to discuss what many forget is only his 16th major.

“It really hit me when I walked into the press room on the Wednesday,” he said. “I’d never seen a press room as packed as that. You could feel the hype, the tension even. And I was like, ‘Wow, this is a different level’. I definitely wasn’t expected it. I was thinking to myself, ‘Jesus, it was only one tournament. Will everyone just calm down’.”
SAINTLY PERSONA
He might as well have asked the Pegwell Bay tide to do an about-turn. Within a week, McIlroy’s saintly persona had been splattered in suspicion. First when he dared to play dead against the conditions and then when a picture – opportunistically taken on a mobile – of a clinch with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki was posted on the internet. McIlroy had finally and irretrievably crossed the line that separates sport from celebrity.

Ms Wozniacki was to thank for that. The Dane was then world No 1, so with McIlroy’s major this doubles pairing – or foursomes, as it is in golf – was the yarn of the Hello! editor’s dreams. Inevitably, the sporting intelligentsia found a way to muscle their expertise in on the act, particularly when Wozniacki’s ranking began to nosedive and McIlroy embarked on his mini-slump. “Wozilroy”, as they jokingly referred to their partnership, was soon declared destructive to both their careers.

McIlroy shrugged when this was mentioned. “I’m aware what’s been said, but it’s just about caring for yourself and thinking, ‘Am I content’?” he said. “I’ve always said if I’m happy, that’s when I play my best golf. And I did for a while.”

Indeed, there was an absence of question marks – on his side, anyway – when he racked up 13 top fives in 15 events in a remarkable run that lasted from the third week of August last year to the first week of May.

FATAL DISTRACTIONS

Obviously the streak could not last and place the photos of him at courtside alongside a suddenly unimpressive results sheet and, hey presto, the boy has a problem. As does the girl. Two fatal distractions for the price of one.
“It’s hard to imagine it if you’re not in the position and, let’s be honest, there aren’t going to be many couples who are in Caroline’s and my position,” said McIlroy. “But still, it’s the old thing of being able to separate your professional life from your personal life. When you’re at the golf you have to focus 100 per cent on it. Sometimes I haven’t done that.” For example, at Wentworth in May. With Wozniacki just a hop on the jet away at the French Open, McIlroy found himself lost on the Burma Road. This was to be the second competitive weekend off in succession and, contrary to the way he was supposed to feel, McIlroy was hardly crying into his bag-towel as he drove out of Surrey.
“I didn’t shoot a great first round and then, in that middle stretch of the second round, I had a few bogeys,“ he said. “So I stood on the 12th tee and realised I probably wasn’t going to make the cut. From then on, half my body was in Paris and the other half in Wentworth. But that’s totally understandable, I feel.”
NOT BOTHERED
The romantics will yell “yay”, the cynics will mutter “nay”. McIlroy is not bothered what anyone thinks. “We were lucky to find each other; two people doing a similar thing,” he said. “Yeah, fitting in time to see each other can be awkward, but we’re always going to have these logistical problems. We’ve just got to deal with it, get around it and make the best if it. The only thing is she’s a Liverpool supporter. Nobody can be perfect, I suppose.” The Manchester United fan laughed.
He is evidently relaxed, content that everything is in order as it can be in such a strange existence. Something clicked at the Irish Open at Royal Portrush two weeks ago and it was not just his swing. The smile was as natural as the tempo, the connection with the fans as genuine as it was with the ball.
“I enjoyed it much more than I have in the last couple of years and that’s because I approached it in the right way – I embraced it,” said McIlroy. “The Irish Open had come to feel like a burden. I hadn’t handled it well. But then, this year, I thought to myself, ‘There’s 35,000 on this golf course and the majority have come to watch me. That’s a great position to be in. So instead of being miserable and sulking, why not just enjoy it?’ And I really did.”
McIlroy is anything but surly by nature. Professional sport does this to its superstars; distorts the psyche and corrupts the output. By McIlroy’s own admission he had “taken my eye off the ball” in the midst of those missed cuts. Now it is firmly realigned after so much work with his coach, Michael Bannon. “My game feels back where it was,” said McIlroy. “I’m excited about Lytham.”
McIlroy and Bannon spent Thursday and Friday on the Fylde coast and, after hosting a charity day for the junior section at his home club in Holywood on Saturday, which is expected to raise £60,000, McIlroy will return to Lytham tomorrow. That is three days earlier than last year as he extends his arms and prepares to hug the experience.
“I’m going to embrace it and just camp out there and play, play, play,” he said. “Maybe, I’ll play my practice round with just one ball and try to make a score. It’ll get me into a competitive mood when I’m actually reading putts and concentrating, not just chipping and putting willy nilly.” It is an idea handed over by Jack Nicklaus, the 18-time major-winner who has famously become a mentor to McIlroy. “Jack told me about it years ago, the first time we sat down, in fact,” recalled McIlroy. “It’s hard to take in everything he’s telling you at once and sometimes things come into your mind that you’ve forgotten. And you think, ‘I’ll try that’.”
Hence the competition before the competition. “Jack always played four rounds before the major started,” said McIlroy. “And he always played with one ball, trying to make a score. He reckoned whatever total he had shot that week he would do better the next week.”
Nicklaus was usually right, as well, although it is worth noting that he took 13 majors before winning his second, while Tiger Woods doubled up after 17. So McIlroy is not too far off the historic marks. However, there is a palpable urgency.
“The second major will mean more to me than the first,” said McIlroy. “Because while there’s loads of players walking around with one major, there’s not that many with multiple majors.”
To this end, Lytham may well be perfect. “It’s one of those courses that I don’t have to make suit my eye, but does suit my eye,” he said. “The last time I was there, I was five down after six in the Amateur Championship to [European Tour player] Danny Willett, who eventually beat me on the 17th,” he said. “And I had a couple of close calls in the Lytham Trophy, three-putting the last to miss out in a play-off and finishing second in another.
“But when I think of Lytham there are happy memories. It was always my birthday when the Lytham Trophy came around and I remember being there on my 17th birthday when one of the presents from my mum and dad was the Highway Code for me to start driving. I thought, ‘I’m a man’!”
With the special place in his heart, there is a special shot he has always reserved for Lytham, as well. It is a little fade he will use to bring off the bunkers which is ideal for the front nine. “And I don’t mind if it’s windy,” said McIlroy. “It’s only what I said after the third round last year that made people think I don’t like playing in the wind.”
To rewind, McIlroy told a stunned assembled press after his tournament-wrecking 74 that he would just have to wait for a calm Open to collect his Claret Jug. Cue recrimination.
“Those comments were born out of frustration,” he said. “I’d battled really well in the tough conditions to be only two over after 13 but then as soon as the rain had suddenly stopped and wind suddenly died, I hit a ball out of bounds. I thought, ‘Great, all that hard work for nothing’, and I was still annoyed when I came off.
“Of course I can play in the wind. I grew up doing so and have played well in the Dunhill Links and made the best score on a blustery weekend at St Andrews in 2010 after my second-round 80. But I suppose nobody will believe me until I prove that I can.”
Bizarrely, McIlroy has plenty to prove, despite having reached No 1 in the world this year and having gained more ranking points than every other player except Woods. But McIlroy is judged by higher deeds. So, he is right, he may as well cosy up to all that expectation at Lytham. Because it is not going anywhere.

SUTHERLAND CHALICE SCORES SERVICE FROM MID-AFTERNOON

THIS WEEKEND'S SGU ORDER OF MERIT 72-HOLER IS THE SUTHERLAND CHALICE.
WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES ON DISPLAY FOR YOU MID-AFTERNOON AND THE SECOND-ROUND TOTALS AT THE END OF PLAY THIS EVENING.
EDITOR: I CAN GUARANTEE IT BECAUSE I SHALL BE CALLING IN AT DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY GOLF CLUB ON MY WAY SOUTH FROM ABERDEEN TO LANCASHIRE FOR NEXT WEEK'S RandA JUNIOR OPEN.

IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE SATURDAY TEE TIMES FOR THE SUTHERLAND CHALICE

CLICK HERE

REPORT AND SCORES FROM WEB.COM TOUR (formerly Nationwide Tour)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND A SUMMARY OF THE SECOND DAY'S PLAY ON THE US WEB.COM TOUR (formerly the Nationwide Tour) EVENT, THE UTAH CHAMPIONSHIP

CLICK HERE