Tiger likely to play in Phoenix Open

FROM GOLF DIGEST.COM
By RYAN LAVNER

Tiger Woods will likely make his 2015 debut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open later this month, according to a report by Golf.com, which cited two anonymous sources.
Woods hasn’t played the Phoenix Open since 2001. The event begins January 29.
When contacted by GolfChannel.com, agent Mark Steinberg said in an email, “Nothing committed yet. We will advise on the schedule when we do have a commitment.”
The deadline for Woods to commit to the event is Jan. 23 – the Friday before the tournament begins
Last year’s event drew more than 560,000 spectators, and that figure would likely spike if Woods were to make his fourth career start in the desert.
Though Woods has never won in Phoenix – he has a pair of top-5s – his previous appearances there have been rather memorable. He recorded an ace on the boisterous 16^th hole in 1997. Two years later, Woods enlisted the help of the gallery to move a boulder in front of his ball. And in 2001, a fan threw an orange on the green while Woods was putting. The former world No. 1 hasn’t played there since.
Woods has reportedly reserved a courtesy car and accommodations in the Phoenix area, and his appearance would create an even more frenetic atmosphere at this year’s tournament. 
The Super Bowl is being played in Glendale, about 30 miles away from TPC Scottsdale.
An eight-time winner at Torrey Pines, Woods hasn’t played back-to-back regular-season events on the West Coast since 2004.
After missing the cut last August at the US PGA championship, Woods shut it down for nearly four months to rest his ailing back. In his return to competition at the Hero World Challenge, Woods tied for last in the 18-man field.

Keir McNicoll wins by two with a 66 at Gullane 

No. 3 in first East Alliance of 2015

FROM ALAN GREENSHIELDS

Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance

The East Alliance resumed activities on a windswept Gullane No.3 Course today. Thankfully rain only really impacted with a couple of squalls during the last hour of play. 

Numbers were a bit lower than usual with only 80 making the trip, perhaps due to the weather forecast but, as often happens, the Gullane area seems to have seen better weather than other parts of the region. 

Indeed one member commented that the Gullane weather was like a summer's day compared to the weather he travelled through to get there. That said there were a few windswept looks and rosy cheeks when the scorecards were handed in.

Despite the challenge from the wind local assistant pro Keir McNicoll, who hails from Carnoustie, coped very well carding an excellent two-under-par 66 (33-33) to secure top Scratch Prize and also get his name on the John Glen Trophy.

Keir's card included five birdies and the only blemishes were a bogey at the 15th and double bogey at the sixth.

Two shots behind Keir was Neil Henderson (Renaissance Club) on 68. Three players were a shot further behind on 69 - Ryan Buckley (Royal Musselburgh), Richard Johnston (Glenbervie) and Chris Morris (Kingsknowe).

On the handicap front Martin Rennie (Uphall) with a net 68 (72 less 4) secured top prize by one shot from Ross Boyle (Ratho Park) 69 (72 less 3) and Ian Fyfe (Musselburgh) 69 (72 less 3). 

Top Trainee Prize went to Ross Munro (Duddingston) on 70 with top Senior Prize shared on net 70 by Derek Jervis (Prestonfield) (79 less 9) and Willie Miller (Falkirk Tryst) (79 less 9).

The Scratch Order of Merit see no change in the top three:

1. Neil Henderson (Renaissance Club) 392pts

2. Chris Morris (Kingsknowe) 367pts

3. Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre) 336.5pts

In the Handicap Order of Merit Walter Forsyth remains at the top but new entries at 2 and 3:

1. Walter Forsyth (Peebles) 87.5pts

2. David Nicolson (Craigielaw) 82.5pts

3. Martin Rennie (Uphall) 78.5pts

In two weeks the East Alliance heads over the border to Northumberland to visit Goswick for the start of what could be called 'The East Coast Swing' with the next run of events being at The Glen, Eyemouth, Winterfield and Craigielaw.

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW TODAY'S SCORES

Alan Greenshields

Secretary/Treasurer

Edinburgh and East of Scotland Golfers' Alliance

70 Sydney Crescent

Auchterarder

PH3 1BB

Mobile:07730 007100

Alliance Mobile: 07814 983582

E-mail: secretary.eesga@talktalk.net

Scratch Prize Surname Forename Club Score 1st £100 McNicoll Keir Gullane 66 2nd £80 Henderson Neil  Renaissance Club 68 3rd= £40 Buckley Ryan Royal Musselburgh 69 3rd= £40 Johnston Richard  Glenbervie 69 3rd= £40 Morris Chris Kingsknowe 69 Handicap Prize Surname Forename Club Net 1st £100 Rennie Martin Uphall 68 2nd= £70 Boyle Ross  Ratho Park 69 2nd= £70 Fyfe Ian Musselburgh 69 4th= £30 Boyle Tony Glenbervie 70 4th= £30 Roberts Graham  Liberton 70 Trainee  Prize Surname Forename Club Score Professional £20 Munro Ross  Duddingston 70 £10 Dick James Duddingston 73 Senior Prize Surname Forename Club Net £30 Jervis Derek Prestonfield 70 £30 Miller William  Falkirk Tryst 70 £10 Devlin Alan  Pumpherston 72
+Top 50 net scores on display tomorrow on this website TOP 50 SCRATCH   No Surname Forename Club Category Gross 1 McNicoll Keir Gullane Trainee 66 2 Henderson Neil  Renaissance Club Pro 68 3 Buckley Ryan Royal Musselburgh Pro 69 4 Johnston Richard  Glenbervie Amateur 69 5 Morris Chris Kingsknowe Pro 69 6 Marshall Andrew  Houston G.R. Pro 70 7 Munro Ross  Duddingston Trainee 70 8 Blaney Anthony Liberton Amateur 71 9 Neill Ross  Drumpellier Pro 71 10  Stewart Duncan Turnhouse Pro 71 11 Strachan Sandy Deer Park Pro       71 12 Boyle Ross  Ratho Park Amateur 72 13 Fyfe Ian Musselburgh Senior 72 14 Rennie Martin Uphall Amateur 72 15 Dick James Duddingston Trainee 73 16 Fraser Colin  Peebles Amateur 73 17 Law Gordon  Uphall Pro 73 18 Boyle Tony Glenbervie Amateur 74 19 Dunsmore Steven  Falkirk Tryst  Pro 74 20 Fraser Jamie Renaissance Club Trainee 74 21 Free Nathan Longniddry Trainee 74 22 Gaughan Louis Bathgate Trainee 74 23 Gordon Craig  Edinburgh Golf Cen Pro 74 24 Pennycott Malcolm Royal Burgess Amateur 74 25 Erskine Andrew Ratho Park Pro 75 26 Johnston Graeme D Glenbervie Amateur 75 27 Nicolson David Craigielaw Amateur 75 28 Rothney Andrew Deer Park Amateur 75 29 Bradbury Paul Kingsknowe Amateur 76 30 Cockburn Robin Harburn Amateur 76 31 Murphy Kevin Gifford Amateur 76 32 Wilson Iain Longniddry Amateur 76 33 Brydon David Torwoodlee Amateur 77 34 Grieve Scott  Turnhouse Pro 77 35  Laing William  Prestonfield Amateur 77 36  Brown Stuart  Dunbar Amateur 78 37  Forsyth Walter  Peebles Amateur 78 38  Jeavons Ian  Dunbar Amateur 78 39  Louden Michael  Glencorse Senior 78 40  Porteous Paul Uphall Amateur 78 41 Jervis Derek Prestonfield Senior 79 42  Miller William  Falkirk Tryst Senior 79 43  Murray Roy West Lothian Amateur 79 44  Wight Andrew  Glencorse Senior 79 45  MacMillan Peter Uphall Amateur 80 46  Silvestro James Musselburgh  Amateur 80 47  Denham John Torwoodlee Senior 81 48  Doyle Steven  Liberton Amateur 81 49  McElhinney  Andrew Harburn Amateur 81 50  Roberts Malcolm  Duddingston  Amateur 81 51  Sokolowski Mark Archerfield Links Amateur 81		Keir McNicoll (Gullane)			66
	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Score
	£100	McNicoll	Keir	Gullane	66
	£80	Henderson	Neil	Renaissance Club	68
	£40	Buckley	Ryan	Royal Musselburgh	69
	£40	Johnston	Richard	Glenbervie	69
	£40	Morris	Chris	Kingsknowe	69
	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Net
	£100	Rennie	Martin	Uphall	68
	£70	Boyle	Ross	Ratho Park	69
	£70	Fyfe	Ian	Musselburgh	69
	£30	Boyle	Tony	Glenbervie	70
	£30	Roberts	Graham	Liberton	70
	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Score
	£20	Munro	Ross	Duddingston	70
	£10	Dick	James	Duddingston	73
	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Net
	£30	Jervis	Derek	Prestonfield	70
	£30	Miller	William	Falkirk Tryst	70
	£10	Devlin	Alan	Pumpherston	72

North-east Alliance tee times for Murcar Links next Wednesday:

08-00 G. Esson, C. Campbell, A. Campbell, A. Smith
08-08 C. Cassie, B. Harper, R. Masson
8-16 Available
8-24 Available
8-32 B. Nicolson, J. Nicolson, G. Allan, S. Mackie
8-40 H. Roulston, M. Rendall, L. Roger
8-48 R. Brown, S. Davidson, A. Benton, M. Brown
8-56 Available
 
9-04 R. Stewart, M. Paterson, K. Duncan
9-12 K. McGillivray, L. Duncan, W. Beattie, D. Mackay
9-20 G. Craig, J. Duff, D. Lawrie M. Smith
9-28  Available
9-36 S. Shand, K. Stewart, G. Angus
9-44 K. Beveridge, Miss K. Beveridge, J. Hopwood, Miss L. Murray
9-52 J. Forrest, N. Stewart

10-00 B. Fyfe, D. Cragie, C. Grant, N K Parker
10-08 J. Scott, B. Skene, R. McConnachie, M Forster
10-16 M. Duncan, D. Fleming, L. Vannet, A Gall
10-24 B. Lumsden, T. Robertson, D Wright, G. McDonald
10-32 D. Leslie, G. Homer, W. Shaw, H. McNaughton
10-40 G. Milne, J. Duncan, A. Graham, D. Nelson
10-48 P. Walker, R. Davidson, S. Allison, C. Tawse
10-56 D. Lane, G. Thom, R. Duncan, A. Clark

11-04 J. Murray, D. Bisset, J. Borthwick, C. Duffus
11-12 S. Finnie, D. McKay, M. Booth
11-20 Available
11-28 Available
11-35 Available

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW A REPORT AND ALL THE SCORES FROM TODAY'S NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE FIXTURE AT INVERALLOCHY

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE REPORT, SCORES

LEE VANNET'S PAR 65 WINS £100 PRIZE

AT A VERY WINDY INVERALLOCHY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Former British boys champion Lee Vannet from Carnoustie, now a teaching pro at Craibstone, scored his first success of the North-east Golfers' Alliance season with a wind-taming par round of 65 over the winter course at  Inverallochy, near Fraserburgh today.
Vannet, pictured left, was the only player in a field of 65 to match the par of 65, thanks to birdies at the ninth, short 10th and 15th, offsetting bogeys at the first, eighth and 13th in halves of 34-31.
He won the £100 first prize by a single shot from Peterculter assistant pro Ross McConnachie who was five over par with 38 for the outward half. Then he came  home in four-under 28 for a 66 with an eagle 2 at the 16th and birdies at the 12th and 15th.
Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) and young Sam Kiloh (Paul Lawrie GC) completed an all-pro 1-2-3-4 with scores of 67 and 68 respectively.
A dry but very windy day saw 11 No Returns.

The amateur star of the day was senior Nigel Parker (Murcar Links), pictured right, making his Alliance comeback after a lengthy absence during which he had a new hip operation. Nigel won Class 2 by 10 strokes with a net 57 off 18 of a handicap and it cut to 16 on the spot by joint secretary David Wilson.
 
SCRATCH SCORES
Par 65 (33-32)
65 L Vannet (Craibstone) 34-31
66 R McConnachie (Peterculter) 38-28.
67 J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) 33-34
68 S Kiloh (Paul Lawrie GC) 37-31
69 T Robertson (Peterculter), S Finnie (Royal Aberdeen) 36-33
70 K Duncan (Cruden Bay)
71 D Mackay (Newmachar), J Duff (Newmachar)
72 Miss L Murray (Paul Lawrie GC).
73 A Campbell (Murcar Links), A J Smith (Turriff), J Duncan (Newburgh), G Milne (Newburgh), J Nicolson (Hazlehead)
74 R Stewart (Newburgh), A Graham (Aboyne)
75 N K Parker (Murcar Links), D Leslie (Northern), S Allison (Northern).
76 P Morrison (Oldmeldrum), B Murray (Portlethen), C Duffus (Kemnay)
77 P Walker (Cruden Bay)
78 Miss K Beveridge (Aboyne), J Borthwick (Craibstone)
79 D Lane (Deeside), W Shaw (Banchory), R Davidson (Caledonian)
80 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), A Gall (Deeside), M Winton (Caledonian)
81 B Harper (Newburgh), L Roger (Royal Aberdeen), M Smith (Newmachar), J Scott (Peterculter)
82 L Duncan (Craibstone), D Craigie (Peterculter, D Fleming (Portlethen)
83 G Leslie (Northern), K Zeynalov (Paul Lawrie GC)
84  R Masson (Auchmill), R Brown (Kemnay), S Davidson (Northern), A Benton (Kemnay)
85 M Rendall (Stonehaven)
86 B Lumsden (Northern), G Allan (Newmachar)
87 M Brown (Kemnay), W Beattie (Craibstone), B Skene (Peterculter), R Duncan (Deeside)
88 M Booth (Kemnay)
89 D Lawrie (Aboyne)
+There were 11 No Returns
HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS
Class 1 - D Mackay (7) 64; T Boertson (3) 66; G Milne (6) 657; S Allison (7) 68; A Smith (4) 69.
Class 2 - N K Parker (18) 57; M Smith (14) 67; L Duncan (14), M Winton (12) 68; M Brown (18) 69.

TODAY'S BEST SCORECARDS (Par 65)

LEE VANNET 65
OUT: 4-3-4-4-3-4-4-5-3: 34
    IN: 2-4-4-4-4-3-4-3-3: 31 

ROSS McCONNACHIE
OUT: 3-3-4-5-3-5-4-6-5: 38
    IN: 3-4-3-3-4-3-2-3-3: 28.

JOEL HOPWOOD 67
OUT: 3-3-4-4-4-4-4-4-3: 33
   IN: 2-5-4-4-4-3-3-6-3:  34

SAM KILOH 68
OUT: 3-3-4-5-4-6-4-5-3: 37
   IN: 3-4-3-4-4-3-4-3-3: 31

STEWART FINNIE 69
OUT: 3-4-4-5-4-5-4-4-3: 36
    IN: 3-6-3-4-4-3-3-4-3: 33

+UPDATED SCOTTISHGOLFVIEW.COM ORDER OF MERIT  SCRATCH AND HANDICAP TABLES WILL BE
 ON DISPLAY TOMORROW