DEATH OF ABERDEEN QUAICH, HAZLEHEAD SPECIALIST ALISTAIR EDDIE

ALISTAIR J EDDIE WITH THE NE DISTRICT SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY (at Deeside GC) IN 2003. IT WAS HIS THIRD SUCCESS IN THE TOURNAMENT. 

Picture courtesy of Aberdeen Journals.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Alistair Eddie, who played in four out of five consecutive Aberdeen Quaich golf finals in the mid-1970s - and won three of them - has died after a long illness which was diagnosed in 2010.
Alistair James Eddie, who would have had his 71st birthday in February 2013, was at his peak as a Hazlehead Golf Club member at the same time as other leading North-east players such as Sandy Pirie, Ian Creswell, Brian Dignan and Jim Hardie.
No coincidence that Hazlehead won the NE District team championship for the Journal Cup in 1966, 1968, 1970, 1976 and 1980. Hazlehead would win it only one more time (1988) since then. Sic Transit Gloria.
In the days when the City of Aberdeen Quaich tournament at Hazlehead was one of the highlights of the local golfing calendar and would draw big galleries in the later stages, Eddie, then 32 years of age, beat Jimmy Mitchell (Northern) 3 and 1 in the 1974 final. lost to Creswell by one hole in the 1975 final, beat Sandy Pirie at the 19th in the 1977 final and won the the tournament for a third time in 1978, beating John Savege (Royal Aberdeen) by one hole in the final.
Latterly, Eddie became a Deeside Golf Club member. 
He still played a fine game of golf into his later years and won the North-east District Seniors' championship three times - at the Aberdeen Links in 1997, at Banchory in 2001 and at Deeside in 2003.
Alistair was captain of Hazlehead Golf Club for two years in the late 1980s. 
He is survived by his wife Carol (Cooper), who was a champion diver in her heyday, and daughters Anita and Karen from his first marriage, also four grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at Aberdeen Crematorium (West Chapel) at on Friday, December 7 at 1.35pm.
All friends are respectfully invited.
I reported on many of the tournaments in which Alistair played when he was at his peak. He was a fierce but fair competitor and a Hazlehead specialist.
I last met him must have been about two years ago at Deeside Golf Club's driving range where I had taken my older grandson Nicholas to hit balls.
Alistair happened to be there, not playing but watching if I remember correctly. He was particularly interested in the swing and technique of Nicholas -  who had been about 10 or 11 years old at the time.
"That's one of the best swings I've seen in a youngster for a long, long time," said Alistair.
Which was a very nice thing to say and it was, in a way, a compliment to Nicholas's mother Elaine who checks his swing regularly.
I never saw Alistair again. 
LATER: A J Eddie's  funeral service at Aberdeen Crematorium drew a vast number of his friends, relations and acquaintances to the West Chapel on Friday, December 7. A nice touch that all who attended the service, conducted by  Alisa McDonald (and sang "Amazing Grace" and "My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose") were invited by Carol and the family to tea in the Deeside GC clubhouse lounge after the service. 
Many did accept the invitation and reminisced about the "good old days" when Hazlehead were the golfing Kings of the North-east and Alistair James Eddie was one of the princes.
Carol wrote the eulogy to Alistair, delivered by one of his grandsons.
Her closing words brought a tear to my eye:
"Alistair will have found a golf course up there by now ... all I ask is that he wait on the next tee for me."  

RORY McILROY IS VOTED US PGA TOUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

  FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL WEBSITE

By RYAN LAVNER
 Rory McIlroy, 23, today became the youngest player in 14 years to be named the US PGA Tour Player of the Year.
The Northern Irishman won four times in 2012, including the US PGA Championship, and also earned the Arnold Palmer Award (leading money winner, with $8.04 million) and Vardon Trophy for lowest adjusted scoring average (68.87).
The other nominees for Player of the Year were Jason Dufner, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson and Tiger Woods, though the Tour does not release vote totals.

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Photo gallery: McIlroy through the years

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“It’s always nice to get recognition from your peers, the guys you’re trying to beat week-in and week-out,” McIlroy said in a teleconference with reporters. “It’s a nice feeling, very rewarding. And it’s just a great way to end what has been a great year and my best season so far.”
John Huh, 22, was named the US PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year after an impressive freshman campaign in which he won the Mayakoba Classic, finished 28^th on the money list and became the only rookie to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship. He became the first player of South Korean descent to be voted Rookie of the Year.
Huh was selected over Charlie Beljan, Jonas Blixt, Bud Cauley and Ted Potter Jr.
McIlroy won The Honda Classic in March to take over the top spot in the Official World Ranking for the first time. He has since been ranked No. 1 for a total of 24 weeks, including 17 consecutive.
After an eight-stroke victory at the US PGA Championship, he also captured back-to-back titles at the Deutsche Bank Championship and BMW Championship before finishing second in the year-long FedEx Cup. 
He also joined Luke Donald as the only players to win the money title on both the US and European tours in the same season.
Said Tour commissioner Tim Finchem: “McIlroy  has been a significant contributor to what the (US) PGA Tour is all about outside the ropes. He has handled himself in terrific fashion. He has been very direct with the media and entertaining to the fans inside and outside the ropes. 
"He is at a very young age already making a very solid contribution to what is the most important asset of the US PGA Tour, and that is the image of its players.” 
McIlroy is the third European to win the Jack Nicklaus Award, following Donald (2011) and Padraig Harrington (2007), while becoming the youngest to be named Player of the Year since Woods in 1998.
What can he do for an encore in 2013?
“It’s just trying to become a better golfer and player, add more variety to my game, add a few more shots here and there,” McIlroy said. 
“I feel like I can improve in all aspects of my game. If my focus is on that then the tournament wins and success will come.
“We’re judged on wins ultimately, and this year has been a great year.”

WEDNESDAY'S NE ALLIANCE AT NEWBURGH CANCELLED

Tomorrow's (WEDNESDAY) North-east Golfers' Alliance competition at Newburgh-on-Ythan GC, Aberdeenshire has been cancelled because of the wet condition of the course, coupled with a severe weather forecast warning for 4am onwards The Alliance now takes a mid-season break until January 9 at Inverallochy Golf Club where the Tunisia Festival trip prize for the leading professional will be at stake SECOND HALF OF SEASON FIXTURES JANUARY 9 Inverallochy 16 Peterhead 23 Murcar Links 30 Fraserburgh FRASERBURGH 6 Newburgh 13 Oldmeldrum 20 Newmachar Swailend 27 Craibstone MARCH 7 Insch 13 Duff House Royal (Championship Round 1)  20 Montrose (Championship Round 2) 28 and 29 Pro-am foursomes (Murcar Links)

MAURITIUS SCENE OF END OF 2012 EUROPEAN SENIOR SCHEDULE

TOM LEHMAN ... DEFENDING CHAMPION 

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS  

The curtain comes down on the 2012 European Senior Tour campaign this week, with the sunshine island of Mauritius once again the stunning setting for the season-ending MCB Tour Championship.

For Englishman Roger Chapman, the double Senior Major Champion, the tournament represents the chance to sign off his unforgettable year by collecting the John Jacobs Trophy for winning the Order of Merit.

Similarly American Tom Lehman will also have cause for celebration as he ends his own fine season by defending the MCB Tour Championship he won 12 months ago.

Former World Number One Lehman, who recently won his second consecutive Charles Schwab Cup on the US Champions Tour, finished one shot clear of South African David Frost last year in his debut in the event.

Frost had been bidding for back-to-back victories at Constance Belle Mare Plage, having defeated Chapman in a play-off the previous year to win the MCB Open, the tournament which then became the MCB Tour Championship last year.

Frost had been two shots back playing the last hole but produced a sensational eagle to deny Chapman a sentimental victory just days after the death of his long term mentor George Will, the former Ryder Cup player.

“It was a sad day and I was just wanted to do it for George,” he said. “I was four shots behind Frosty going into the last round and played great then he eagled the last. It’s well documented that I have lost a few tournaments and I’ve had a few taken away from me, and that one was taken away from me. 

"I couldn’t believe it. My strategy up the last was the right one – to make five and if he makes three it’s all well and good, fair play, but I wasn’t going to risk a six.

“When things like that happen you think, ‘why me’. My ambition really was just to win on the Senior Tour, then all of a sudden what has happened this year it has been incredible.”

It promises to be an altogether happier occasion this time round for Chapman following his magnificent 2012 campaign. The 53 year old won both the US Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid and the US Senior Open in Michigan and, with a €100,382 advantage over Barry Lane in the Order of Merit, he heads to Mauritius having already secured the John Jacobs Trophy.
That means that, aside from the contest for the MCB Tour Championship trophy itself, the main battle will be for second place in the Order of Merit, with Lane currently €8,157 ahead of the in-form American Tim Thelen, who captured his third victory of the season at the Fubon Senior Open in Taiwan last month.

In turn, Thelen, who also won the Berenberg Bank Masters in Germany and the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland this season, has a €51,048 cushion over Peter Fowler, the 2011 Order of Merit winner, who is fourth in this year’s money list.

With the top four players on the Order of Merit securing a place in the 2013 US Senior Open, Fowler will be looking over his shoulder at the performance of fifth placed Englishman Paul Wesselingh, who is just €13,249 behind him.

Wesselingh, winner of the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship, has already confirmed his status as the 2012 Rookie of the Year, and the Qualifying School graduate will be hoping to end a fine debut season on another high note in Mauritius.

Another debutant who has enjoyed a superb start to life on the Senior Tour is Wesselingh’s compatriot Philip Golding, who recorded back-to-back runner’s up finishes in Scotland and Wales earlier in the season after turning 50 in July,

Golding, who starts the week 17th on the Order of Merit after playing just six events, is no stranger to Constance Belle Mare Plage having won the Mauritius Open in 1996.

Denmark’s Steen Tinning, a two-time European Tour champion, also makes his debut in the MCB Tour Championship after turning 50 in October. The strength of the field means that 1996 Open Champion Lehman is expecting a tough challenge in his bid to defend the title.

“There are many very good players who will be competing at the MCB Tour Championship, so I will have to play my best to have a chance to win again,” said the 2006 US Ryder Cup Captain.

“Guys like David Frost and Barry Lane and Peter Fowler will be tough to beat. Tim Thelen, a fellow American as well as a friend of mine, has had a great year and has a game that will be very suited to the course.”

Another player keen to play well in the €400,000 tournament is Frenchman Marc Farry. The two-time Senior Tour champion is sponsored by the host resort of Constance Belle Mare Plage where he has his own academy, and was last year made an official Ambassador for Mauritius.

 

ROSS FISHER WINS PLAYER'S CARD FOR US PGA TOUR

Former Ryder Cup player Ross Fisher (pictured above) finished joint second in the US PGA Tour Final Qualifying School.
 To view the full list of those who earned playing rights for the US PGA Tour

CLICK HERE

 Patrick Reed set for honeymoon cruise with caddie Karain

  FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL WEBSITE
LA QUINTA, California – Patrick Reed continued his impressive run on Mondays this season, securing a US PGA Tour card thanks to a sixth-round 67 at Q-School. 
Reed, who once played in the R and A Junior Open, can now turn his attention to a much more stressful event.
Reed, who will be making his first trip to the Tour – as a member – in 2013, is scheduled to marry Justine Karain on December 21 in Houston. 
Karain has been a fixture on Reed’s bag this season and, according to Reed, will continue her caddieing duties next year.
“This would be a great wedding gift,” Reed said following his final round at PGA West.
Reed and Karain, who were six for eight in Monday qualifiers this season, plan to take a honeymoon cruise to Mexico, Jamaica and Grand Cayman and the plan is to hit golf balls off a mat into the ocean while they are sailing to keep his game sharp.
Reed said he will start his season at the Sony Open in Hawaii even if he has to Monday qualify. “I’ve gotten pretty good at that,” he smiled.

ADAM SCOTT PRACTISES FOR AUSSIE OPEN WITH CONVENTIONAL PUTTER

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALASIA WEBSITE
By STEVE ORME
Adam Scott appears set to discard his beloved broomstick putter in this week's Australian Open at The Lakes Golf Club.
With the Royal and Ancient and US Golf Association almost certain to ban the 'anchoring' of clubs in 2016 - effectively making 'belly' and 'broomstick' putters illegal - the 32-year-old Australian (pictured) is already planning for the future.
Scott turned up for his practice round today with eight-time major winner Tom Watson WITHOUT the broomstick he has wielded since May 2011.
The Queenslander was spotted on the practice green using a traditional putter with a slightly extended shaft.
He employed a claw-style grip with his bottom hand, similar to his technique with the broomstick, but crucially the shaft was not anchored to his midriff.
There was a clear gap of around eight centimetres between the end of the putter handle and his body.
He then took to the course with Watson and used his new wand exclusively throughout the round.

While Scott has previously declared he would persist with his long putter next season, it appears the 2009 Australian Open champion has had a change of heart.

TOM WATSON SAYS GOLF HAS NO PLACE AT OLYMPIC GAMES

FROM CBS SPORTS.COM WEBSITE
SYDNEY -- Eight-time major winner Tom Watson says golf has no place at the Olympic Games.
Watson, who will play at the Australian Open this week for the first time since winning the tournament in 1984, told reporters today he doesn't support golf's return to the Olympics from 2016.
"I still think of Olympics as track and field and not golf to be honest with you," he said. "I don't want to pour cold water on it, but I don't think it should be in the Olympic Games."
Watson (pictured above) said golf had its four major championships, which remained its pinnacle events.
Golf was played at the Olympics in Paris in 1900 and St Louis in 1904.
Watson supported the decision of golf officials to ban long-handle putters, but added he did so "with mixed emotions." He said a broomstick stroke "is not a stroke of golf but it makes it easier to play.'
"My son Michael, with a conventional putting stroke, couldn't make it from two feet, but he went to a belly putter and he makes everything," Watson said. 
"The game is fun for him now, so there lies the danger. Do we take away the ability for people to have fun?"
Three of the last five major winners have used long putters, including South Africa's Ernie Els who capitalised on the collapse of Australian Adam Scott to win the Open in July.
"I thought Ernie Els said it perfectly after he won the Open Championship," Watson said. "He was asked `why did you go with the long putter Ernie?' And he said `I'm cheating like the rest of them are."'
Watson has been grouped with defending champion Greg Chalmers and young Australian Jake Higginbottom in the first round on the Australian Open at Sydney's Lakes course, starting Thursday.