DAVID LAW TUMBLES DOWN MOROCCO LEADERBOARD

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Two double bogeys within the span of three holes sent David Law tumbling down the German PGA Tour's Al Maaden Open scoreboard from joint third overnight to sharing 20th place at the end of the second round.  The Aberdonian, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, followed up his opening six-under-par 66 with a three-over-par 75 for a three-under tally of 141. Law had a 5 at the short third, and a 6 at the par-4 fifth on his way to an outward half of 39 which included birdies at two long holes, the fourth and the seventh as well as a shot dropped at the second. He boosted his tally of birdies to four on the inward half with sub-par figures at the 10th and long 16th but cancelled them out with bogeys at the short 12th and 17th. Law starts the final round nine shots behind the new leader by two, Dutchman Robin Kind, who has scored 65-67 for 12-under 132.  David'ss Paul Lawrie Golf Centre stablemates, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) and Philip McLean (Peterhead) missed the cut which fell at one-under 143.McLean scored 79-74 for 153 and Findlay had a pair of 77s for 154. Philip, out in 33, was three under par for the first 14 holes of his second round. Then he finished bogey-bogey-bogey-double bogey for 41 home.   AL MAaDEN OPEN Al Maaden GC, Marrakech, Morocco LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES Par 144 (2x72) 132 Robin Kind (Net) 65 67 134 Guillaume Watremez (Ger) 67 67 135 Alexander Knappe (Ger) 68 67, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 66 69. SELECTED SCORES 137 James Wilson (Eng) 68 69 (T6) 141 David Law (Sco) 66  75 (T20). 142 Tom Boys (Eng) 70 72 (T32) MISSED THE CUT (143 and better qualified) 153 Philip McLean (Sco) 79 74 154 Jordan Findlay (Sco) 77 77. TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES CLICK HERE

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL LINKS RE-OPEN ON THURSDAY, APRIL 11

NEWS RELEASE 
Trump International Golf Links, Scotland is delighted to announce that it will reopen its championship links golf course for its first full playing season on Thursday, April 11, 2013. To mark the opening of the 2013 season, the first golfer to achieve a hole in one on the 13th hole will win a spectacular one-off prize. 

 

On opening day, leading golf brands including Taylor Made, Titleist, Callaway, Vega and Trackman will be offering a personalised custom fitting service to all golfers with prior booking.  To be fitted with the latest golf technology, golfers are invited to make contact with Trump head professional, Christopher Campbell on headpro@trumpgolfscotland.com or 01358 743300 to arrange an appointment. 

 

Members of the public are welcome on opening day to book a tee-time, test the latest golf products, and meet the team to find out more about the 2013 coaching offers, private and corporate packages and other services available at Trump International.

 

During the main season, the championship golf course, driving range, practice facilities, golf house restaurant and shop are open to the public from April 11 to October 31 from 6.45am to late.  Tee-times can be booked on-line at www.trumpgolfscotland.com or by phone on 01358 743300.  Access to the driving range starts at £20 per person and no booking is required.

 

Details of the luxury accommodation available at MacLeod House and Lodge coming soon.

Bookings Department Trump International Golf Links, Scotland Menie Park Lodge | Menie Estate, Balmedie Aberdeenshire, AB23 8YE T:+44(0)1358 743300                            www.trumpgolfscotland.com

SOUTH AFRICA v SCOTLAND TEAMS

TEAMS FOR SOUTH AFRICA v SCOTLAND 
MATCH at LEOPARDS CREEK

SOUTH AFRICA
Haydn Porteous (Modderfontein GC, Central Gauteng)
Zander Lombard (Woodhill CC, Gauteng North)
Louis Taylor (CC Johannesburg, Central Gauteng)
Gerlou Roux (Bellville GC, Western Province)
Werner Ferreira (Wingate Park, Gauteng North)
Aubrey Barnard (Centurion CC, Gauteng North)
Dylan Raubenheimer (Strand GC, Western Province)
Callum Mowat (Modderfontein GC, Central Gauteng)
Tertius van den Berg (Pretoria GC, Gauteng North)
Reserve:
Andrew Light (George GC, Southern Cape)

SCOTLAND
Fraser McKenna (Balmore)
Graham Gordon (Newmachar)
Ross Bell (Downfield)
Jamie Savage (Cawder)
Michael Daily (Erskine)
Fraser Moore (Glenbervie)
Scott Borrowman (Dollar)
Ewan Scott (St Andrews)
Scott Crichton (Aberdour)

JOB VACANCY - THE PGA IN SCOTLAND

The Professional Golfers’ Association wishes to appoint a Secretary to manage its operations in Scotland based at King’s Lodge, Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Perthshire.
As Secretary of The PGA in Scotland, you will have responsibility for the business affairs of the Association in Scotland including managing the Committee function, implementing the Association’s Constitution and Regulations, attracting sponsorship and developing professional golf within Scotland.

You will also be responsible for the day-to-day management of the office, including financial planning and budgeting, and managing the administration and tournament staff.

Educated to degree level or equivalent, you will have significant knowledge of both the structure of the game of golf and tournament organisation with specific understanding of the operation of golf in Scotland. Business management and interpersonal skills gained at senior management level are also essential combined with presentation, public speaking skills and computer literacy.

This is a permanent, full-time position and in addition to an attractive salary, the Association is offering a fully expensed company car and, after a qualifying period, private healthcare and non-contributory pension.

To apply you should submit your CV, together with a covering letter describing how you feel you meet the requirements of this post, to Kathy Hughes, HR Manager, The Professional Golfers’ Association, National Headquarters, Centenary House, The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield B76 9PT, or e-mail your letter and CV to kathy.hughes@pga.org.uk.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 12th March and interviews are scheduled to take place on 20th and 21st March 2013 in Scotland.

EUROPEAN TOUR STATEMENT ON ANCHORING

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR

 

The European Tour has confirmed its support for the R&A and the USGA and their proposal for rule 14-1b – the prohibition of anchoring any club when making a stroke under the Rules of Golf.

 

George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “The European Tour has been fully involved in the consultation process which ended on February 28^th, and deeply value this involvement. Our Members support the unique role played by the governing bodies in formulating the Rules of Golf.

 

“Additionally, virtually all of our Tournament Committee and player representatives support the proposed rule even though they are aware, and have taken into account, the fact that some Members and especially our Senior Members use the anchored method.

“We understand the points put forward by the PGA Tour and the PGA of America and respect and sympathise with their views, which are based on their experience and the evidence before them, and have been expressed with great concern for the game. 

"The whole issue has received far greater focus and comment in the United States than in the rest of the world, perhaps because of the numbers of their golfers using the anchored method, and the set up in general terms of their golf courses and the firmness and speed of their greens.”

 

-          Ends -

 

PGA SENIORS MOVES TO DE VERE MOTTRAM HALL, MANCHESTER

NEWS RELEASE
Tokyo-based ISPS (International Sports Promotion Society) is to continue its sponsorship of the prestigious PGA Seniors Championship – one of the leading tournaments on the European Senior Tour schedule.
The ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship has an increased prize fund of £260,000 and will be staged between June 6-9, 2013, at De Vere Mottram Hall, an exciting new venue for the tournament located on the outskirts of Manchester.
Tickets for the event, which will feature a host of past Ryder Cup and European Tour legends, are available via www.europeantour.com/tickets
The championship, which was first competed for in 1957 and is the only 72-hole event on the European Senior Tour outside of the majors, will also see the continuation of the ground-breaking ISPS HANDA PGA Academy Programme to train PGA professionals to coach blind and disabled golfers, which was an overwhelming success in 2012.

AUSTRIANS WIN PGAs OF EUROPE FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE FROM PGAs OF EUROPE

Austrians Uli Weinhandl and Jürgen Maurer carded a ten-under par 61 around the Lakes course at Lumine Mediterránea Beach and Golf Community in Spain to finish at 21-under for the tournament, capturing the 2013 PGAs of Europe Four-ball Championship and taking home the €4,500 first prize.

Weinhandl and Maurer continued their form from the previous two rounds with the lowest score of the week in their final assault, closely followed by England’s Mark Ridley and  David Clark with a total of 20-under par.

The Austrians' comparatively modest opening round 68 set them off on the right foot ensuring it gave them a platform to move forward on day two.  And move forward they did: their excellent second round 64 was aided by a hole-in-one on the 211m Par-3 14^th of the Hills course from Maurer:

“Uli hit a little six-iron before me very close to the pin, so it was one way to make a better score!” said Maurer.  “It was my first ace in a tournament so it was something special.”

A blemish-free third round consisting of 10 birdies meant the pairing completed their round as clubhouse leaders leaving a nervous wait as the final groups finished.

“It was quite close,” said Maurer.  “We were just one ahead and then on the last we saw the other guys holing one for eagle so we actually thought it could be a playoff…overall we’re really happy.” 

“It was a great pleasure to play here and a great start to the season,” added Weinhandl of the win.  “We played really well – the first day we struggled a little bit but then yesterday and today were really good.”

The Ridley and Clark pair began their foray in the tournament with a seven-under 65 around the Hills course, which was followed by an eight-under 63 in Round Two on the Lakes course, securing a late final round tee-time, in which they showed continued fight carding a fantastic 66.

But sadly even their eagle on the 18^th hole was not enough to force a playoff, leaving them just a single shot off the pace: 

“It’s been a great start to the year for us,” said Ridley.  “The course was great and it’s been nice to get away and play some golf.”

Clark also added, “obviously we’re disappointed that we couldn’t quite finish it off but we played pretty good everyday so no complaints…we shot a decent score but the others did better.”

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZE
MONEY DISTRIBUTION

CLICK HERE
-------------------------

For more information from the 2013 PGAs of Europe Fourball Championship, visit the Fourball Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter, or like the PGAs of Europe Facebook Page.

RORY SHOULD NOT HAVE WALKED OFF COURSE, SAYS NICKLAUS

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
If Rory McIlroy had hoped the controversy of his mid-round withdrawal here at the Honda Classic would die down he was sorely disappointed when Jack Nicklaus delivered his admonishment.
In fairness, the 18-time major-winner looked uncomfortable criticising the world No 1 for violating golf’s code of conduct. After all, he had come to the PGA National as the course designer to watch a finale eventually won by the unheralded American Michael Thompson.

There was no avoiding the issue of the week, particularly for Nicklaus. He has become something of a mentor to McIlroy and as his Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation is the tournament’s main beneficiary, he may have expected a call from the young Ulsterman explaining himself.

Nicklaus revealed he has yet to speak to McIlroy, who lives a few miles from the course. While he was keen to point out that he was not sure of the reasons for McIlroy pulling out after eight holes of his second round, his comments left little room for doubt concerning his feelings.

“He shouldn’t have walked off the golf course,“ Nicklaus said. “That was unfortunate. I think if he’d thought about it for five minutes he wouldn’t have done it. I just think he was just so frustrated with how he’s been playing the last month or so it just got to him. That would be my assessment, although I may be talking out of school.”

Nobody would ever dare accuse Nicklaus of doing that; least of all McIlroy. The irony is that McIlroy practised at Nicklaus’s Bear’s Club over the weekend, under the gaze of his long-time coach Michael Bannon He will arrive in Miami on Monday for the WGC Cadillac Championship and will be keen to get tomorrow’s press conference over with.

Initially he told journalists he pulled out because of “being in a bad place mentally” but later via a statement he said it was because of a sore wisdom tooth. Apparently McIlroy will maintain he was in severe pain, but that he now wishes he had battled on.
If only he had listened to Ernie Els and Mark Wilson then he would, at the very least, have taken Nicklaus‘s five minutes of consideration.
Johnnie Miller, the two-time major champion, claimed that McIlroy’s playing partners urged him not to withdraw. The NBC analyst said: “I know the guys he was playing with told him ‘don’t walk off, you really don’t know the mess you’re causing’.”
Within a few hours McIlroy knew exactly what they meant. The social-media reaction was inevitably vitriolic. Els felt sympathy for his young friend, despite saying “it wasn’t the right thing to do”.
“Hopefully Rory doesn’t read too much into the bit of criticism that comes his way because it is par for the course for the No 1 player,” Els said.
If only McIlroy’s problems started and stopped with the withdrawal. Having signed for Nike in £78 million deal in January he has finished only 63 strokeplay holes. McIlroy denies feeling uncomfortable with his new clubs, but Nicklaus revealed he had talked to the player about his Nike insecurities.
“I saw Rory on Monday and we had a discussion,” Nicklaus said. “He told me he was struggling with his irons. I told him, ‘Don’t worry about your clubs; you’re too good and talented. And if you need to get something done about your clubs I’m sure Nike will do something’. But by the time The Masters comes around I’m sure Rory will be fine. He just has to move on.”
There can be no doubt McIlroy wants to. Three days on and it is still commanding the golfing discussion. That is where McIlroy finds himself – occupying the Tiger spotlight. On Sunday Woods could only shoot a 74 and at four-over finished 13 behind Thompson.
Nobody could have predicted this winner, the 11th American to prevail in succession on the US PGA Tour.
The 27-year-old’s best finish this year had been a tie for 78th. But with a superlative short-game display he skipped the field, his final-round 69 - one of only five players under par in windy conditions - earning him a nine-under total to win by two from the resurgent Australian Geoff Ogilvy.
Lee Westwood threatened to contend when he marched to within one after a birdie on the third. But back-to-back bogeys on the fifth and sixth derailed his charge, before a bogey on the 18th saw him record a disappointing 74 to tie for ninth with Graeme McDowell.
It was left for Justin Rose and David Lynn to take top British honours, both finishing in a tie for fourth on three-under. Nobody scored lower over the weekend than Lynn (68-69) and, having outscored Woods by two strokes while partnering him on Saturday, he will take so much from the week.
The Midlander, who finished second to McIlroy at last year’s US PGA, has committed to the US PGA Tour this year and, after an indifferent start, this was just the encouragement he required.
Yet undoubtedly the most impressive story was that of Erik Compton, who finished alongside Lynn and Rose for the first top 10 of his career.
Compton has undergone two heart-transplant operations; the last just five years ago. The 33-year-old from Miami won the Mexico Open last year to earn his US PGA Tour card and his 70 on Sunday highlighted his determination to become more than simply a sporting curio.

MICHAEL THOMPSON SCORES FIRST WIN ON US PGA TOUR

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida -- Michael Thompson's dream of winning his first US PGA Tour event was walking up the final fairway with a big lead and very little stress. 

The reality was much different Sunday in The Honda Classic.
Thompson, 27, had a one-shot lead as he stood in the 18th fairway, some 240 yards from the flag with trouble in the way in the shape of a large lake. The motto from his golf team at Alabama was to "finish strong," and Thompson did just that.
Instead of laying up, he drilled a 5-wood into the bunker left of the green, setting up a simple sand shot and a birdie he didn't even need. He closed with a 1-under 69, one of only five rounds under par on a punishing day at PGA National to finally become a US PGA Tour winner.
"That for me kind of sealed the deal," said Thompson, who picked up 500 FedExCup points to move to 11^th in the standings. "It allowed me to walk up the fairway and enjoy the experience, see the crowd and ... just finish strong."
The start wasn't bad, either.
Thompson holed a 50-foot eagle putt on the third hole, relied on a superb short game around the toughest part of the golf course to build a four-shot lead, and hung on for a two-shot win over Geoff Ogilvy that takes him places he always wanted to be.
He gets into his first World Golf Championship next week at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral, and qualifies for two more WGCs this year at the Bridgestone Invitational and at the HSBC Champions. He's in the US PGA Championship, gets to start next year in Hawaii and earned a two-year exemption on the US  Tour.
And to think just two weeks ago he was so down after a 78-80 performance at Riviera that he wondered if he would ever make another cut.
"This week was magical," Thompson said. "Just had a groove and kept feeling it."
It turned out to be a big week for Ogilvy, too.
The former U.S. Open champion from Australia missed his past four cuts and had plunged to No. 79 in the world ranking. He already missed the Accenture Match Play Championship and was ready to miss another WGC next week at Trump Doral until putting together four solid rounds.
He chipped in for birdie behind the 16th green and two-putted for birdie on the 18th for a 69 to finish alone in second, moving him up to No. 47 to get into Doral.
"I kind of penciled in a week off," Ogilvy said. "So it's nice, and it gets me back in the mix for the Masters."
Ogilvy has to stay in the top 50 by the end of the month to return to Augusta National. For now, he has smaller problems -- he only packed enough for this week.
"I'm going to have to go do some laundry," Ogilvy said. "I haven't got a hotel room for tonight. But half the Tour lives in this area, so I'm sure I can find somewhere to stay."
Luke Guthrie, tied with Thompson for the 54-hole lead, fell behind with a bogey on the second hole and closed with a 73 to finish third.

Tiger Woods was never in the picture. He started the final round eight shots behind, and whatever hopes he had of a rally ended on the sixth hole when he hit his drive so far to the right that the ball was never found.
Woods took double bogey, and only an eagle on the final hole kept the damage to a minimum. He closed with a 74 -- his first time since the Masters last year that he failed to break par in any round of a 72-hole tournament -- and tied for 37th.
It was the second straight year Woods closed with an eagle at PGA National -- the difference was last year, it gave him a 62 and a tie for second.
"I think I passed 62 somewhere around 12," Woods said.
Despite a bogey on the final hole, Erik Compton had a 70 and was part of the five-way tie for fourth. Compton, who already has had two heart transplants, earned his first top-10 finish on the US PGA Tour.
Thompson finished at 9-under 271, a strong performance considering the difficult course and the weekend wind. He was among three players who never shot over par at PGA National.
"You don't have to do much wrong to be making a bogey out there, so it's pretty impressive," Ogilvy said of Thompson's final round. "It's a great effort, really. As you say by the rest of the scores, it's a very hard golf course and it seems to get progressively harder in some ways. There's a disaster waiting everywhere.
"There's a lot of golf courses on tour that it might be easy to close out a golf tournament -- or easier -- but this is not one of them."
Thompson was at his best in the middle part of the final round.
He hit a tough chip off the pine straw to 3 feet for par on the 10th, and then hit flawless chips for easy par on the 11th and 14th holes to build a four-shot lead. Not even the late run by Ogilvy was enough to stop him.
"This is everything," Thompson said. "This is a childhood dream come true. I've dreamed of playing out here since I was 7 years old and to win, it's just unbelievable. I just can't put it into words. The whole day was awesome."
It was a mess for Woods.
He lost two balls in a span of eight holes (the other one in the third round Saturday) for what he believes is the first time in his career. He hit into the water on the 11th for another double bogey, and drove into the water on the 16th.
"I just made too many penalties this week," Woods said. "Today is a perfect example. I didn't play that poorly. I had two water balls and a lost ball. Take those away, and I missed two short birdie putts, and it was actually a decent score. So just got to clean up my rounds."
The final round was never going to be easy with the wind whipping on PGA National, and it showed. Of those who finished before the leaders even teed off, only two players managed to break par. Scoring was so difficult that Lucas Glover played the weekend in 2-over par and still tied for fourth.
"You don't move up very often -- on TOUR -- over par on the weekend, except for a place like this," Glover said.
Guthrie, who fell behind for good with a bogey on the second hole, did his best to stay in range until hitting his tee shot out of bounds on the 14th for a double bogey. From there, it was only a battle for second place.
Everyone else was long gone.
US Tour rookie David Lynn from Stoke-on-Trent finished joint fourth on 277, breaking 70 in each of his last three rounds - 72-68-68-69 to collect $226,200 and boosting his earnings from six events in America to $321,971.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70) 
Players from US unless stated 
271 Michael Thompson 67 65 70 69
273 Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 68 66 70 69
275 Luke Guthrie 68 63 71 72
277 David Lynn (England) 72 68 68 69, Lucas Glover 69 66 72 70, Erik Compton 69 68 70 70, Keegan Bradley 68 68 70 71, Justin Rose 68 66 72 71
278 Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 70 68 71 69, Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 67 68 73 70, Graham DeLaet (Canada) 65 68 75 72, Lee Westwood (England) 66 68 70 74.S 

SELECTED TOTALS
283 Matteo Manassero (Italy) 73 67 71 72 (T29)
284 Tiger Woods 70 70 70 74 (T37)
286 Ernie Els (S Africa) 69 70 75 72 (T46).
287 Martin Kaymer (Germany) 71 66 76 74 (T51)
288 Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 73 66 76 73 
289 Ross Fisher (England) 71 66 77 75 (63rd)
291 Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) 69 71 72 79 (T68)