OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD AT A BENIGN ROYAL LYTHAM

FIRST ROUND
Par 70
64 Adam Scott (Australia)
65 Paul Lawrie (Scotland), Zach Johnson (United States), Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium).
66 Brandt Snedeker (United States)
67 Ernie Els (South Africa), Bubba Watson (United States), Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), Tiger Woods (United States), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Peter Hanson (Sweden), Toshinori Muto (Japan), Steve Stricker (United States).

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+A word of warning. The R and A scoreboard on its website seems to be having problems. It is sticking far too often when you click it to make the other scores come up. Don't say I didn't tell you!

DARREN CLARKE SAYS HE IS DISGUSTED WITH A SIX-OVER 76

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By MICK CLEARY

An early return home to Northern Ireland and the drowning of sorrows was all that was in prospect for Darren Clarke, the defending champion, after the humiliation of signing for a six-over-par 76 on a Open championship course at Royal Lytham that was as gentle and unthreatening as a baby’s smile.

Memories of his tumultuous surge to the title at the age of 42 just 12 months ago at Sandwich had indeed flitted across his mind as he trudged towards the red-stoned clubhouse, his own afflictions in stark contrast to the line-and-length prowess of playing partner, American Zach Jonson and the easy-on-the-eye potency of Ernie Els, both of whom are nestled high up the leaderboard.

“Yeah, coming up the last, I was thinking how the bleep did I manage to win this last year,” said Clarke, his wry reflections masking the contempt within.
 “I don’t think you could really publish my thoughts right now. I’m basically disgusted with myself.”

One year cock of the walk, the next a feather duster, Clarke has got to know that spectrum pretty well over the last 12 months. No wonder he made the most of the moment, showering the Claret Jug with love and devotion as if it were a favoured child.

BATTERED TROPHY
It was no surprise that the trophy returned a little battered by the experience. So too did the player. Deep within, Clarke probably knew too that the pair were not destined to be re-united early on  Sunday evening at the championship ceremony. Hay was made, fun was had, drink was downed, and reality was kept at a respectable distance for just a little while longer.
No more after this. From the moment that Clarke missed a tiddler for birdie on the first, the runes made for ominous reading. Two bogeys followed over the next two holes, Clarke swishing repeatedly into the rough on the second, his torment at trying to get the ball to bend to his will clearly visible.

There was fleeting respite from misery, a birdie on the 387 yard par four tenth, but there was to be no upturn. No sooner had the arm been raised to acknowledge the applause than it was shaping to throttle himself as he skewed horribly only 30metres bunker to bunker on the following hole for a bogey six.
BEFUDDLED PLAY
The clarity of Clarke’s post-round observations was in stark contrast to his befuddled play out on the course. His putting in particular was horrible, just horrible.
“I wasn’t able to make any putts at all to save anything,” said Clarke. “I could not marry the line and pace at all. There was nothing wrong with the greens. It was just me. The crowds out there were great, they kept shouting for me and showing me support. Unfortunately I couldn’t reciprocate. It was a bad day at the office.”

One of his partners, another former Open champion, Els lived up to his billing as the Big Easy, the effortless flow of his game bringing due reward with a three under par 67. Els could empathise with Clarke’s suffering. He’s been in that bleak place himself, although his round on Thursday, allied to his three top 10 finishes this year, with a ninth placing at the US Open, suggests the 2002 champion has much still to offer. Clarke’s predicament was all too familiar.

“Absolutely, I’ve been there,” said Els. “It’s just a confidence thing. I’ve been there for over a year. Your confidence is low, you get the wrong bounces. But I think his attitude is great.”
Clarke will need that fortitude to get back out there on Friday with some pep still left in his soul.

COLSAERTS JOINS PAUL LAWRIE IN SECOND PLACE ON SIX-UNDER 64

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Nicolas Colsaerts boosted his Ryder Cup chances with a brilliant first-round display at the Open Championship which left him just one off the lead.
Adam Scott’s early six under 64 left the Australian a shot clear after the opening day at Royal Lytham and St Annes, Lancashire but Belgian Colsaerts and 1999 Champion Paul Lawrie both shot 65s to be only one back on five under.
The cream certainly rose to the top, with seven Major Champions tied for sixth or better, but Colsaerts and Scott are both yet to join that exclusive club.
Currently 12th in The Ryder Cup points list – ten players qualify automatically before Captain José María Olazábal adds two picks – the 29 year old won the Volvo World Match Play title earlier in the season.
Colsaerts holed his approach to the second from200 yards with an eight iron for eagle and, after bogeying the next, picked up four further gains on a day of largely benign conditions.
“It was really, really good,” said The European Tour’s longest hitter. “I had it on a needle early on - straight at the flag on the first, straight on the flag at the second and holed it, which was a bit of a treat.
“It was just a lot of very good shots in succession early on, so it really got the momentum of the round going, and I just didn't really hit any bad shots today.
“When you play this well, you go through the elements without thinking how hard they get. I was just playing really well and I was just looking at my targets and just trying to stick to my plan and I did exactly that.
Aberdeen’s Lawrie may have fired himself back into Open Championship contention for the first time since he won 13 years ago, but his golf-mad sons were not there, having opted to stay at home to play golf themselves.
PAUL'S BOYS STAY AT HOME
The 1999 victor at Carnoustie equalled his lowest score in the championship with a five under par 65.
But he was relying on his teenage boys Craig - who caddied for him as he missed the cut at last week's Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - and Michael, both good golfers in their own right, watching his heroics at home on television.
"There were quite a few junior opens back home this week so both of them wanted to stay and play in them, which is fair enough," he said.
"They're both now decent players. It's a big deal and they wanted to stay home
"But the courses are shot up in Scotland with the rain so they've maybe had a bit of a disaster by staying at home.
"But they've watched it on the television, I'm sure."
Lawrie, who came from a Major record ten shotsbehind on the final day to triumph in a play-off at Carnoustie, received a warm welcome from the galleries.
BIT OF A SURPRISE
"I heard my name called a lot today, which down in England is a bit of a surprise," he added.
"It's nice. It's The Open and everyone is here to support the British players as well as everyone else.
"I hit some nice shots for them, which was good."
Lawrie, who has missed seven Open cuts since winning, was three under after five holes having chipped in for two of his six birdies and he holed a long putt on the sixth to save par.
"It was probably the strangest start of my career, the first six holes - I didn't really hit many good shots and I was three under," added Lawrie, who is in contention to make the European Team to face the United States at Medinah in late September.
"I chipped in twice and holed it from off the green. We get enough bad luck so it is nice when it goes your way now and again.
"Obviously after that I hit some really nice shots, played some solid golf, and ended up with a good score.
"I've got a little bit of work to do before that (Ryder Cup qualification) happens.
"There's still four to five weeks to go and I'm not a guarantee yet so I need to finish off this week and play as well as I can."
Scott, who reckons he can remember every shot of Greg Norman's closing 64 to win The Open at Sandwich 19 years ago, now has one of his own to sit alongside it in the record books.
The 31 year old has recorded just one top ten in 12 previous appearances in The Open, had the chance to create history when he stood seven under with two to play, therefore needing one more birdie for the first round of 62 in any Major.
However, a bogey on the 18th after a pulled tee shot meant the World Number 13 had to settle for equalling the lowest Open round at Lytham, which was set by Tom Lehman on his way to The Claret Jug in 1996.
"I know there's never been a 62 and when I was waiting to use the bathroom going to the 17th tee I did a look at the leaderboard and realised it was a par-70," the World Number 13 said.
"And I also probably then realised that I wasn't going to be the guy to shoot 62. It's one of those things that you don't want to go through your mind, thinking about your final score and stuff like that. So I got rid of that quickly and got on to playing the 17th, but unfortunately dropped one up the last."
Sharing second place with Lawrie and Colsaerts was former Masters Tournament champion Zach Johnson on five under, with Johnson looking for a second win in succession after claiming the John Deere Classic on Sunday.
Northern Ireland’s US Open winners Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, Masters Tournament champion Bubba Watson, and three-Major winner Ernie Els were all on three under, as was former World Number One Tiger Woods.
The 14-time Major Champion moved into the outright lead with four birdies in his first seven holes, but there were no further gains and he bogeyed the 15th.
World Number One Luke Donald was one under par before dropping his only stroke of the day on the last for a 70, the same as two-time winner Padraig Harrington, but World Number Three Lee Westwood managed only a 73 and defending champion Darren Clarke could do no better than 76.
At 62, Tom Watson continues to do amazing things. Three years after being one putt away from capturing a record sixth title in the event - he would have been the oldest Major Champion by 11 years - he shot 71.

ONLY TWO SCOTS BEAT EUROPRO TOUR CUT

GOLF COPY AND SCORES CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON TEL 01224 869782   ONLY TWO SCOTS BEAT CUT IN EUROPRO TOUR EVENT   Only two Scots - Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) and Cawder's Chris Kelly - survived the 36-hole cut in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event, the Buildbase Open at Frilford Heath GC, Oxfordshire. Kelly scored 78-71 and Stewart 73-74 for them to be sharing 40th place on the limit qualifying mark of 147. They are 13 shots behind the two-stroke leaderk George Woolgar (England) who has scored 66-68 for 10-under-par 134. Among the Scots who failed the beat the cut was Comrie's Wallace Booth (77-77 for 154) who lost a play-off for last week's EuroPro Tour £10,000 prize prize.   PGA EUROPRO TOUR Buildbase Open Frilford Heath GC, Oxfordshire   LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS Par 144 (2x72) 134 George Woolgar (Eng) 66 68 136 Martin Sel (Eng) 67 69 SCOTS QUALIFIERS 147 Chris Kelly (Cawder) 78 71, Duncan Stewart (Grantown o Spey) 73 74 (T4o). MISSED THE CUT (147 and better qualified) 148 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) 75 73 151 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 78 73 152 Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) 77 75 154 Wallace Booth (Comrie) 77 77 155 Mark Rae (Alyth) 80 75.   ends

PLANS FOR £60million GOLF RESORT DEVELOPMENT IN ANGUS

NEWS RELEASE 

A £60m Scottish hotel golf development has secured backing from a prestigious international hotel brand to create the first five star resort in the Angus region.

MAP property and developments (mappld) has signed a deal with Wyndham Hotel Group to create the company’s first namesake Wyndham-branded hotel in Scotland to be called Wyndham Grand The Angus. 

The luxury resort to be located inland near Broughty Ferry will feature a five-star hotel with spa, leisure facilities and lodges, alongside a signature Darren Clarke 18-hole championship golf course, designed directly by the reigning Open Champion with one of Scotland’s most high profile golf course architects, Oldmeldrum-born Graeme Webster (pictured above).
PRIVATE HOUSING

The plans also include a golf club, golf academy and some private residential housing.

Wyndham Grand The Angus will be constructed on a prime elevated position adjacent to the Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort, owned by local entrepreneur Mike Forbes, who worked with Angus and Tayside Council for two years to develop the vision and secure planning consent in November 2010.

Mappld has now invested fully in the project and is moving the development forward to finalise the plans with an aim to begin initial construction work in Spring 2013.  The project is estimated for completion in 2015.

Donald Paterson, Group Managing Director of MAP Property and Leisure Development Group, said: “We are thrilled to be finally developing this vision to create an outstanding resort in Angus which will bring enormous economic benefits to the area for many years to come.  From the construction and development phase this project will provide hundreds of employment opportunities.

“With the backing of an Open champion and set in such a prime location, Wyndham Grand The Angus with its world-class golf course will be a premier destination which will attract visitors from across the globe and, in turn, boost tourism to Angus and the surrounding area.”

Wyndham Grand The Angus joins the Wyndham Grand Collection, an ensemble of distinguished hotels within the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand that represent one-of-a-kind experiences in key destinations with refined accommodations, attentive service and relaxed surroundings.   Wyndham Hotel Group is the world’s

largest hotel company with more than 7,150 hotels across the world, including 98 within the upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand.

OUTSTANDING ADDITION

Joel Goldman, Wyndham Hotel Group Vice President of Development for the UK and Western Europe, said: “Expanding our namesake brand within Europe, Middle East and Africa is an integral part of Wyndham Hotel Group’s overall growth strategy and this newest property will serve as an outstanding addition to the collection.

 “Scotland is a world-renowned golfing destination and this new resort will sit at the epicentre of Scottish golf, just a few miles from Carnoustie and near St Andrews and Gleneagles. We believe that the five-star Wyndham Grand The Angus will offer unrivalled accommodation and service for the area, with excellent leisure and business facilities for golfers and non-golfers alike.”

Forbes of Kingennie owner, Mr Forbes said: “I am delighted to have secured the input of this exceptional team who will now take Wyndham Grand The Angus forward through the final planning stage and detailed design and turn our vision into a reality. 

“These are exciting times for Dundee and Angus, which is enjoying unparalleled investment and redevelopment.  The addition of a luxury five-star resort and championship golf course can only enhance our region’s reputation and put us firmly on the tourism map.”

Open Champion Darren Clarke said: “I first had the good fortune to experience Kingennie, the location for Wyndham Grand The Angus, during the Open at Carnoustie in 2007, and was immediately captivated by the potential of the landscape for a world-class championship golf course.

"Working with Mike Forbes and the talented Team Niblick golf course architects, we took that vision and laid the plans for what promises to be an outstanding golfing experience and world-leading resort. 

“I am delighted to see that vision taking another step forward with the backing of the MAP property and leisure developments and Wyndham Hotel Group and look forward to striking the first ball in the not too distant future.”

Wyndham Grand The Angus is set to create significant employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases of the facility. 
HOTEL WILL HAVE 187 BEDROOMS

Economic reports estimate that the resort will increase tourism in the area by 50 per cent by 2015, and bring around £30m worth of tourism to Scotland.

In addition to the Darren Clarke signature 18-hole championship golf course, Wyndham Grand The Angus will include 187 guest bedrooms, spa and leisure facilities, gourmet restaurant, private dining and bars, along with conference and banqueting suites. There will also be 10 two-bed luxury lodges.

For more information, please go to www.the-angus.com

Issued by Frasermedia Ltd on behalf of MAP Property & Leisure Developments

DAVID PATRICK WINS HIS BIGGEST CHEQUE OF SEASON AT ROWALLAN CASTLE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  David Patrick (Elie Sports Centre) is developing a liking for the Optical Express PGA Tour. He won another one of the popular events today, the rain-shortened Optical Express PGA Tour event at Rowallan Castle Golf Club. It should have been a 36-hole tournament but no play was possible due to flooding of the Ayrshire course on Wednesday - and there was even more rain today but an hour's delay in the start allowed the greenkeeping staff to repair the worst of the damage. Patrick shot a six-under-par 65 - seven birdies and one bogey - to head a strong field. It was David's second win of the Tartan Tour season and, curiously enough, his other success was in the Optical Express PGA Tour event at Tain in early May. His prize at Rowallan Castle was a cheque for £1,500, topping his Tain prize, which makes it his biggest payday of the season so far. Runner-up on 66 was Dunbar's Neil Fenwick who had six birdies and one bogey. He earned £1,200. Joint third on 67 were Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Banchory's Greig Hutcheon and Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle). Their cash prizewas £775 each. LEADING SCORES Par 71 65 David Patrick (Elie SC) (£1,500) 66 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) (£1,200). 67 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) (£775 each) 68 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) (£550). 69 John Henry (Clydebank and Dist), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) (£450 each). 70 Gareth Hardy (Belleisle), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Greg McBain (Gamola Golf), Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy), Mark Kerr (unatt) (£253 each). 71 David Orr (Means Castle), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), David Broadfoot (Dumfries and Co), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Gareth Wright (West Linton), Graham Brown (Montrose Links), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Craig Ronald (Carluke) (£143 each). 72 Chris Currie (Caldwell), Paul Robinson (Largs), Stuart Williamson (West Kilbride), Mark Loftus (Mearns Castle), Stewart Savage (Dalmur), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Daniel Wood (Hirsel), Jonathan Lomas (unatt) (£13.75 each). end

ROSS KELLETT AND NICOL FACE UPHILL FIGHT IN MADRID

Ross Kellett, winner of his first pro event on the Alps Tour last weekend, faces a hard fight to survive the 36-hole cut in this weeks's event at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. The Motherwell man, with a double bogey 6 at the sixth, shot a two-over-par 73 and is joint 62nd. Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol is even worse off. He had a 76 and is joint 102nd. Joint leaders on five-under 66 are England's Chris McDonnell and Spanish amateur Jacobo Pastor. TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES CLICK HERE

LOW SCORING IN OPEN: SCOTT (64) LEADS FROM PAUL LAWRIE (65)

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Paul Lawrie was just one behind clubhouse leader Adam Scott midway through the first round of The Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
The Aberdonian, Claret Jug winner at Carnoustie 13 years ago, chipped in twice in his first five holes en route to a five under par 65.
That was one behind Australian Scott, who had a chance to record the lowest score in Major Championship history when he stood on the 18th tee needing a birdie for a 62.
Instead he pulled his tee shot into the rough and bogeyed, but his 64 was still a fine effort.
Former Masters Tournament winner Zach Johnson was level with Lawrie on five under, one ahead of Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who was four under with two to play.
Lawrie’s effort matched his lowest-ever score in The Open Championship.
The 43 year old, who came from a Major record ten shots behind on the final day to triumph at Carnoustie in 1999, chipped in on the third and fifth holes and had another birdie in between.
Then, after dropping his only stroke of the day on the eighth, he picked up three more shots over the closing five holes, including a three footer at the last.
His previous 65 came in the final round at Sandwich in 1993, when he finished sixth.
SEVEN CUTS MISSED
Lawrie has missed seven cuts in The Open since his shock victory, achieved when he was 159th in the Official World Golf Ranking and in a play-off after France's Jean Van de Velde triple-bogeyed the 18th when three clear.
“It was probably the strangest start of my career, the first six holes - I didn't really hit many good shots and I was three under," said Lawrie.
"I chipped in twice and holed it from off the green. We get enough bad luck so it is nice when it goes your way now and again.
"Obviously after that I hit some really nice shots, played some solid golf, and ended up with a good score.
"The weather helps, it is almost flat calm out there, so I would imagine there will be some good scores.
"Overall I think I drove the ball solidly, hit it in the right place and I rolled the ball pretty nicely."
The par four sixth was an eventful hole for the former champion and playing partner Davis Love.
Firstly, Lawrie was just about to unleash a drive when he was halted as Matt Kuchar, in the group behind, wandered on to the fairway - there is a 50 yard walk back to the tee box - having finished the previous hole.
AMERICAN APOLOGY
After the American apologised Lawrie pulled his drive into the left rough and, after hacking out, then watched as Love shanked his approach 50 yards off line and on to the third green.
Lawrie eventually holed a long putt from the back of the green for par and was grateful.
"When you hit it where I hit it off the tee you are kind of accepting a five in your mind, so it is not a bad thing to get it back in play and give yourself a chance and hole a nice putt," he added.
Asked whether the interruptions had affected him he joked: "I'm just a cool dude.
"I'd had my practice swing and was getting ready to hit and then someone said 'Kuchar's there' and he was walking across.
"It can happen as we are in our own world sometimes but it was quite funny when he put his hands up."
The cream had certainly risen to the top - with no fewer than six Major Champions in the top eight on the leaderboard.
That included Lawrie, Johnson, McDowell and former World Number One Tiger Woods, but it was a player yet to join that exclusive club who they were chasing in the form of Aussie Adam Scott.
Scott, who has recorded just one top ten in 12 previous appearances in The Open, had the chance to create history when he stood seven under with two to play, but the 31 year old had to settle for equalling the lowest Open round at Lytham, which was set by Tom Lehman on his way to The Claret Jug in 1996.
Meanwhile Johnson was looking for a second win in succession after claiming the John Deere Classic on Sunday.
POPULAR SCORE
South African Ernie Els, champion at Muirfield in 2002, and current Masters Tournament champion Bubba Watson returned matching rounds of 67, while former US Open Champion McDowell bogeyed the last to join them.
Scott admitted he had been thinking about shooting the first 62 in Major Championship history, albeit at a slightly inopportune time.
"I know there's never been a 62 and when I was waiting to use the bathroom going to the 17th tee I did a look at the leaderboard and realised it was a par-70," the World Number 13 said.
"And I also probably then realised that I wasn't going to be the guy to shoot 62.
"It's one of those things that you don't want to go through your mind, thinking about your final score and stuff like that.
"So I got rid of that quickly and got on to playing the 17th, but unfortunately dropped one up the last."
Scott finished eighth in the Masters Tournament and 15th in the US Open this year, despite shooting opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively, and revealed his caddie Steve Williams - who worked for Woods during 13 of his 14 Major wins - had helped focus his mind on making a fast start.
"We talked about that mindset because I was playing well at all the Majors this year, but the first round I'm shooting myself in the foot a little bit and making it too much work to get back in it," he added.
"And he [Williams] wanted me to go to that first tee today like it was the 72nd hole and you have three to win. Really switch yourself on from the first hole. That was a good little trigger he kind of helped out with."

LAURIE PHILLIPS LEADING QUALIFIER AT CRUDEN BAY FOUR-DAY OPEN

Home course player Laurie Phillips is the leading scratch qualifier on 143 for the match-play stages of the Cruden Bay Challenge Cup Four-Day Open tournament.

Lawrie had a 75 and then a superb second-round 6 in testing conditions.

CHALLENGE CUP QUALIFIERS

Scratch – L. Phillips 143; C. Gilbert 144; N. McAndrew 146; D. McAndrew 148; J. Godward 151; I. Castles 153; A. Middleton junior, M. Wilson 154; S. Ingram, W. Main, M. Buchan 155; S. McCulloch 159; W. Wood Jr 160; S. Lawrie 161; J. Cardno 162; M. Jones 163.

Handicap

Division 1 – S. Norrie (8), J. Strang (8) 148; R. Willox (6), A. Thomson (7) 154; S. Hutcheon (5), E. Roberts (9) 155; J. Cooper (6), G. Gillan (9), D. Thomson (9), 156; S. Brown (4), D. Houghton (6), F. Durno (9), M. Corrie (5), A. Hastie (10), H. Dunsmore (9) 158; M. C. Smith (7) 159.

Division 2 – C. Watson (11) 150; G. Henderson (13), D. T. Grant (12) 155; W. Prince (18), W. G. Wood (13) 157; C. Adams (12), C. T. Buchan Jr (12) 158; S. Watson (13) 160; D. Benison (12), J. Clark (17) 161; E. O’Hare (11), J. McCormick (20) 162; R. Horseley (15) 163; T. Hamilton (11), S. Sherwood (11) 164; N. McLeave (11) 165;