NORMAN STARTS BOGEY-BOGEY ... THEN RETIRES FROM AUSSIE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Greg Norman has withdrawn from the Australian PGA Championship due to illness as the tournament began in cool conditions at Palmer Coolum Resort in Queensland. 
The Australian veteran bogeyed his opening two holes before succumbing to food poisoning. 
Play started at 6am local time with Norman, Jake Higginbottom and Stuart Appleby one of the highest-profile early groups. 
With thunderstorms forecast, an early shower ensured a wet start for the early groups and could make the organisers nervous about disruptions, although the weather is expected to settle down as the day continues. 
Newly-crowned Australian Open champion Peter Senior has also begun his opening round alongside Rory Sabbatini and Marc Leishman. 
Reigning champion Greg Chalmers will tee off at 11.50am local time with Rod Pampling and Craig Parry, while Darren Clarke, Geoff Ogilvy and Robert Allenby will follow that group on the first tee at noon.

RYDER CUP CAPTAINCY: PGA of American turns blind eye on Nelson

 LARRY NELSON DIDN'T TAKE UP GOLF UNTIL HE WAS 21 AND AFTER SERVING IN THE US ARMED FORCES IN VIETNAM. HE WENT ON TO WIN THREE MAJORS

FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL WEBSITE

By REX HOGGARD

ORLANDO, Florida – This isn’t about long overdue mulligans or shattering the status quo or even phone calls that were never made. When you’ve lived 65 full years, validation is in the eye of the beholder and for Larry Nelson, three major championships and a loving family provide all the validation one could ask for.
But as Nelson finished his breakfast on a dreary central Florida Wednesday there was no hiding the hurt.
“If they had made a decision a little earlier and let me know. If they had just called us and said, ‘We’re going another direction,’ I’d have been fine. I’m fine anyway,” Nelson said in his signature soft-spoken southern drawl. 
“The way it’s come down and to have someone say that they did contact me when they didn’t, that didn’t make sense.”
That “someone” was PGA of America president Ted Bishop, who was asked by XM Radio’s Matt Adams on Wednesday’s “Fairways of Life” show to comment on reports that he hadn’t contacted David Toms or Nelson about the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup captain’s vacancy.
“The statement you just made is not true,” Bishop said flatly and attempts to clarify his comment with PGA of America officials were unsuccessful.
Semantics aside, neither Bishop nor anyone else at the PGA of America ever contacted Nelson or anyone associated with him regarding the 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy. Or the 1995 or ’97 Ryder Cup captaincies, for that matter.
In fact, Nelson couldn’t recall ever getting a call from PGA HQ even after he won his two PGA Championships. But then the man who led a U.S. Army “A-team” during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam doesn’t really have much interest in protocol or perceived slights.
Nelson is quick to point out that Tom Watson, who will be named the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup captain on Thursday in New York according to various reports, will be an extraordinary leader with an impeccable record. 
Like most of the golf world, however, Larry just doesn’t understand the process.
“There are a lot of people who have been Ryder Cup captains with less credentials and some that have been chosen with more credentials,” Nelson said. 
“It’s not that you sit back and say that you should have been. I think there are plenty of guys that should have been (captain) but have not. 
"It’s just a little bit of a crying shame when you pick someone to do it twice when there are a lot of people out there who haven’t done it once that deserve it.”
Nelson would never call it a slight, that kind of self-indulgent sentiment is not in his DNA, but the oversight dates back to late 1993 when, according to Nelson, Lanny Wadkins suggested that he (Wadkins) should captain the 1995 team at Oak Hill in New York and Nelson would then take his turn in 1997 against the late Seve Ballesteros in Spain.
“That to me was a done deal,” Nelson said. “I assumed everyone would be good to their word and I would captain in ’97.”
For the record, Nelson didn’t receive a phone call when the PGA bypassed him in ’97 and picked Tom Kite.
“It’s amazing through all this I’ve never gotten a call,” he said. “I don’t understand it. It’s not sour grapes, I’m just flabbergasted.”
That the PGA of America seems poised to break from the traditional mold for captains is something of a competitive necessity given the U.S. side’s 2-for-9 record in the last 11 matches. That they would go back to the well and name Watson, the last U.S. captain to win a match in Europe, also dovetails with what Bishop said this week, “we’ve done something a little bit different this year.”
What is surprising is that Nelson was apparently never considered, at least not to the point that it warranted a phone call.
In late 2008, in the wake of the U.S. victory at Valhalla, your scribe cornered a US PGA official and asked if the organisation would consider giving Paul Azinger, whose “pod” system and proactive style wrested the Americans off of a three-match losing streak, a second term.
“We have more qualified potential captains then we do available spots,” was the official’s response.
And yet here we are on the verge of naming the first second-term captain in the modern era and another snub, and not just for Nelson but for a host of viable candidates.
“There are people – Hale Irwin, Mark O’Meara – who have not been named captain that deserved it,” Nelson said. “Watson would be a great captain. I have no problem with that. It is an honour. It is a selection. It’s not earned. But I just don’t understand the selection.”
In a moment of awkward clarity we asked Nelson, who has a 9-3-1 record in three Ryder Cup starts, what he would have said had the PGA of America called him and asked what kind of captain he would be for the 2014 matches in Scotland?
“There is a level of desire to use the talent the way it’s supposed to be used. I’m talking about the 12 guys that are on the team,” he said. 
“Being able to prepare them for the team matches and the individual matches, that’s important and I think I’d have been able to do it.
“When you go overseas you’re kind of in your own little group. It’s kind of like going to a war zone, basically.”
With that Nelson – who is likely the last chance the PGA of America had to name a man who has actually led troops into harm’s way a captain for their faux Ryder Cup battle – set out for a practice round at this week’s PNC Father/Son Challenge with, of all things, his cell phone gripped tightly in his right hand. Waiting, it seems, for a phone call that is two decades overdue.

DEESIDE GC DINNER RAISES £20,500 FOR PAUL LAWRIE FOUNDATION

 Paul Lawrie accepts a cheque for £20,500 from Deeside Golf Club captain Neil Harper for the Paul Lawrie Foundation funds, writes Colin Farquharson.
The dinner, attended by 388 members in The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel, was organised by the Deeside club, of which the 1999 Open champion is an honorary member, to mark Paul's great year, culminating in his part in the last day Europe fightback which snatched the Ryder Cup from the jaws of defeat at Medinah, Chicago.
Paul donated five pieces of memorabilia for auction at the dinner. 
Paul and his family are heading off to Dubai shortly for a holiday over the Festive period. He will make his first competitive appearance of 2013 at the Volvo match-play.
You might think that the highlight of his "annis mirabilis" would be the Ryder Cup glory day, but you would be wrong.
"No, that was a great day but winning the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles was the tops for me. To win on Scottish turf in front of a lot of Scottish fans - what Scottish golfer could ask for more?" he said.   
"My last round at Gleneagles was the best I have ever played in my life."
So what can we look for from Paul in 2013?
"More of the same, hopefully. If I can stay in the World top 50, I'll be happy. Top 50 make it into all the majors and world championship events - 51st and you're out in the cold," he said.
 

VISITSCOTLAND SPONSOR GOLF SHOW FOR EIGHTH YEAR

NEWS RELEASE 

The organisers of the 2013 Scottish Golf Show have confirmed that VisitScotland – the country’s national tourism organisation – will sponsor the three-day, annual show for an eighth consecutive year.

This announcement follows the earlier confirmation that the 2013 edition of the show will take place at the SECC in Glasgow from March 26-28, having been staged last year at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh.

The Scottish Golf Show and VisitScotland have teamed-up to great effect since the show launched in 2006 and show organiser Tom Lovering is confident that this collaborative success will continue next year.

“VisitScotland has given its support to the Scottish Golf Show from the very beginning and we are very grateful to them for that,” said Lovering. “I look forward to working with all of our partners at the organisation again in 2013 when the show makes its return to Glasgow.

“VisitScotland’s ongoing commitment to our event further underlines the Scottish Golf Show’s status as the UK’s premier retail golf show.

“Today’s announcement reinforces my belief that next year’s show is shaping up to be, without doubt, the best yet and will tee off what is sure to be another memorable season here in the ‘Home of Golf’.” 

Dr Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, added: “The Scottish Golf Show has been a huge success and, in our opinion, helps to profile everything that is great about the game here in the country of its birth.

“In 2014, Scotland welcomes the world when we host the Ryder Cup, Commonwealth Games and Homecoming. On top of that there is a lot to be excited about in terms of golf in Scotland over the next few years. 

"In 2013, we will host four full European Tour events, the most of any country in Europe, including the Open Championship at Muirfield while we also welcome the RICOH Women’s British Open back to St Andrews. 

"This is in addition to Seniors, Ladies and Challenge Tour events - wouldn’t it be great if everyone is Scotland could pick up a golf club in Scotland, inspired by these amazing events.

“The Scottish Golf Show in March 2013 will be a great way to tee off this unprecedented era of golf events in Scotland.”

For more information on the 2013 Scottish Golf Show, log-on to the new-look website, www.scottishgolfshow.com, or call 0141 353 2222. 

SGU-SLGA AMALGAMATION TALKS CAN NOW RESUME

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SGU AND SLGA

The process for exploring the possible amalgamation of the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) has moved forward with the re-establishment of a Joint Group tasked with developing an amalgamation proposal.

Substantive discussions on the formation of a single governing body for amateur golf in Scotland can now resume in a positive atmosphere.

Alastair Thornton, a Sheriff (Kirkcaldy) and former solicitor, has been appointed as Independent Chairman of the Joint Group. Thornton, a keen golfer, was for many years a partner in the Edinburgh solicitor practice, A abd W M Urquhart, where he specialised in litigation and mediation. He is also Past President of the Law Society of Scotland.

The SGU chairman, Tom Craig, said: “The SGU, in partnership with the SLGA, is committed to working towards a unified body in the Home of Golf.

“There is a great deal of common ground, and both bodies are ready to re-commence detailed consideration by means of a Joint Group. Alastair Thornton’s credentials are impressive and we look forward to working with him.”

Shona Malcolm, SLGA Chairman, added: “Alastair expressed an enthusiasm for being involved in the process. He is an excellent choice for this role and we are confident that our discussions, as a Joint Group, will enable us to progress this already lengthy amalgamation process to a conclusion which is in the best interests of Scottish amateur golf.”