St Andrews Magazine Edition 02

£5.95 UK / $10 USA

Edition 02

A ST ANDREWS

Edition 02

ST ANDREWS Golf 24

Your Game 78

A Caddie’s Year on the Links

Keep warm and dry this winter

Fab ST ANDREWS 90

with Galvin Green

Art Around Town: Graeme Baxter at the New Golf Club

28

Local Club’s Results

38

Connor Syme

48

John Paterson

50

Finlay Sey

52

51

Peter Dawson

A full review of the 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as Tyrrell Hatton takes the title and Ross Fisher makes Old Course history

84

Yoga: Keep Calm this Festive

98

Best Beauty Experience

Season

Edition 02

82

Golfer’s Stocking

94

The Beauty of Christmas

101

Christmas Shopping in St Andrews

128

Where to eat out on Christmas Day

140

Christmas Services

142

Christmas Market

144

St Andrews Sparkles

152

Deck the Halls

156

An Old Course Christmas Day

A ST ANDREWS

Edition 02

Visit ST ANDREWS

Taste ST ANDREWS

104

What’s on in St Andrews

134

Best Restaurant

112

Best Visitor Attraction

135

122

Best Day Out

ST ANDREWS Life 146

The World of Golf 161

News

Best New Restaurant

176

Matt Hooper speaks to Chris Hanson

136

Best Bar

196

Ten Years of Rory on Tour

137

Best After Dark Experience

212

Alyson McKechin

216

Justin Thomas

218

So Yeon-Ryu

220

The Masters

222

Countdown to the Senior Open begins

226

2018 Calendar

Old Course Sundays

Well, what a year that was! Let me start by thanking each and every one of you who read some or all of Edition 01 of St Andrews Magazine.

Anyone who knows me will tell you I am very much a lover of all things Christmas, and I think I would say this edition reflects that. St Andrews The edition was months in the planning and I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t think there Magazine Edition 02 takes you inside St Andrews at Christmas and gives you all the info to have the best Christmas ever at the home of golf and beyond. would be a great interest, but the fact that it was read by people from over 60 countries in 6 continents is mind-blowing.

I hope that you all enjoyed the content and if anyone has any suggestions on how to improve the magazine, or if you are interested in writing for the magazine then please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Now it is on to Edition 02, and A St Andrews Christmas.

In this edition St Andrews Magazine brings you handy tips from Interiors by Tracy Smith for decorating your house this festive season; The Vintage Beauty Box, fresh from winning the Best Beauty Salon in the Central Area at the Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards, give you advice on how to look your best for the parties you will no doubt be attending over Christmas and New Year; There is a handy guide to where to eat out on Christmas Day, if you just cannot bare cooking and a look at shopping for gifts in St Andrews.

If you are brave enough to venture on to the golf course this winter then you will definitely need to read our guide to staying warm and dry, Jordan Thomson of Auchterlonies of St Andrews tells you why Galvin Green’s layer system is a must buy. And on the subject of golfing in the winter, it is important you stay supple and flexible for the upcoming season, and Sarah McLaughlin of Hot House Yoga has advice on how to stay relaxed during the festive period.

With the RICOH Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship it has been quite a year for golf in our area and John Boyne of Caddie Golf Tours takes you through his year on the course. In this edition St Andrews Magazine presents part 1 of the St Andrews Magazine Awards, recognizing Connor Syme, John Paterson and Finlay Sey for their outstanding years on the golf course and acknowledging Peter Dawson for his incredible contribution to golf. There are awards for Forgan’s, The Criterion, Kazoku & St Andrews Cathedral and in the World of Golf we honour the World’s best with awards for Justin Thomas and So Yeon-Ryu. We also look back on a memorable Masters Tournament and the historic victory of Sergio Garcia. I speak to European Tour professional Chris Hanson and look back at Ten Years of Rory on Tour. All this and much more besides in St Andrews Magazine Edition 02, enjoy and have a wonderful Christmas.

Matt is the editor, founder and publisher of St Andrews Magazine. He began writing about golf in September 2012 and has a wealth of knowledge and experience across the golf industry. Matt first picked up a club in 1993 after seeing Nick Faldo make a hole-in-one at the 1993 Ryder Cup on television, and was a member of North Wilts Golf Club near Devizes, Wiltshire from 1996-2006. He attended the International Institution for Golf Education at Myerscough College (University of Central Lancashire) from 2003-2006, gaining a Foundation Degree in Golf Management. He has worked as a caddie at Royal County Down and St Andrews Links, in retail at Gleneagles Hotel, in hospitality at the New Golf Club of St Andrews, where he is the current Clubhouse Supervisor. He is the chief features writer and lead journalist of St Andrews Magazine. He has also written for Pro Golf Now and All Square Golf.

Photography Matt Hooper, Gabrielle Levey, Rolex, BMW, Getty, Flickr, LET/Tristan Jones, OMEGA, IStock

Design and production

John is a St Andrews Links caddie, owner of Caddie Golf Tours and is a regular contributor to St Andrews Magazine. His knowledge of the Old Course and the St Andrews golfing scene is a great insight for readers.

Aileen is the owner of Vintage Beauty Box in St Andrews and is St Andrews Magazine’s Beauty expert. Aileen is an enthusiastic golfer.

Tracy is the owner of Interiors by Tracy Smith in Cupar and is St Andrews Magazine’s property interior expert.

Jordan is the Manager at Auchterlonies of St Andrews, and is the golf equipment features contributor for St Andrews Magazine.

Matt Hooper

Publisher Matt Hooper

Director Matt Hooper Sarah is the owner and lead instructor at Hot House Yoga, in St Andrews.

©St Andrews Magazine Ltd. 2017

This publication may not be reproduced in part or whole without the expressed written permission of St Andrews Magazine Ltd.

Advertising enquiries Matt Hooper standrewsmagazine@gmail.com Mailing address: St Andrews Magazine Ltd. Chestney House, 149 Market Street, St Andrews, Fife Scotland KY16 9PF

LOCAL CLUB RESULTS & NEWS

CONNOR SYME

JOHN PATERSON

PETER DAWSON

A CADDIE’S YEAR ON THE LINKS

BY JOHN BOYNE

My first recorded caddie job of 2017 was on Tuesday 7th February, a Scottish golfer from Perth, playing the Old Course as a guest of an R&A member. It was a late call from the Caddie Department, the golfer had not been informed that his golf trolley was not allowed on the Old Course so he placed a last minute caddie request to carry his large golf bag. What could easily have been a grudging round because he was not allowed his golf trolley turned out to be an enjoyable one in good company and fine weather for February.

The month of February produced a couple more caddie rounds and then in March the golfers start to arrive taking advantage of the St Andrews Links Trust “Winter Package” which not only gives a guaranteed round on the Old Course but also a round of golf on two other courses in St Andrews when the golfer books accommodation in town. They even get £15 voucher to spend on a meal in the St Andrews Links Clubhouse. A pretty good deal and it helped produce 13 caddie rounds through the month and build up my fitness levels for the full season that began on the 1st April.

This 2017 season has produced a record number of caddie rounds on the St Andrews links courses and with only 6 weeks remaining of this year the total is expected to get close to 33,000. At our peak we had 198 caddies working on the courses, 28 were stationed at the Castle Course, and my contribution to this grand total has been close to 200. I expect to do a few more before the year ends.

This is my 16th year of caddying at St Andrews, having started in 2002, and as you would expect this year has brought a number of memorable rounds and shots, with some burned into the memory! It all starts at the first hole on the Old Course a par 4 called Burn, at 376 yards, it has a rather inviting fairway, over 140 yards wide, that my golfer from Minneapolis was looking forward to in early April.

Unfortunately, his drive soared over the white fence towards the West Sands beach and therefore out of bounds on the right. A second golf ball is set up but once struck it manages to veer off in the opposite direction towards the New Club door on the left and out of bounds.

A third golf ball is placed on a tee and we watched helplessly as the poor golfer then proceeds to duck hook this drive low and left again, under the wheels of parked cars and down Granny Clark’s Wynd! The golfer and I decide to walk the fairway.

A lot happened throughout his round, good shots poor shots and good humour and when he arrived at the iconic 18th tee I was silently hoping the poor golfer would find the fairway, the same one he had missed some 4 hours earlier with 3 tee shots from the 1st.

He did, though it was with a little help from the Rusacks Hotel car park wall from which his golf ball bounced off and back into play onto the 18th fairway. Now we only have 75 yards to the front of the 18th green, a simple wedge is requested but the golf gods decree otherwise, and the dejected golfer shanks it out of bounds towards the Tom Morris shop. Incredible!

There was a wee bit of excitement in late May when Barack Obama, the former President of the USA, visited the Old Course and as I stood on the 1st tee with my golfers for the afternoon round, a family of Republicans from Michigan one of whom was wearing a TRUMP baseball cap, watched along with 2,000 spectators lining the golf course as he putted out on the 18th green.

Astonishingly the ‘Trump family’ all got their mobile phones out walked to the edge of the 18th green and took selfies as he completed his round.

As we progressed into August the Ladies European Tour arrived in town for the Ricoh Women’s British Open hosted at Kingsbarns Golf Links with the final qualifying round held at the Castle Course, and it was great to see many of the golfers taking local St Andrews caddies in their attempt to make the cut and gain entry to the competition. I did not get a bag during the competition but there was so much work on the St Andrews links that helped compensate for this loss.

The men’s European Tour arrived in September for the annual Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and I was referred to an English amateur golfer, Oliver, to look after. A genuinely good 5 handicap player, who had attended St Andrews University, we partnered new professional golfer called Alfie Plant who had won the Silver Medal for his top amateur performance at the Open Championship in July at Royal Birkdale. We may not have qualified for the last day but the golf and company during the practice and competitive rounds was excellent at Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and on the Old Course.

Now that November has crept upon us the St Andrews caddie season is obviously slowing down due to a combination of the oncoming winter months, daylight hours and less golfers visiting. We have around 30 local caddies retained for the winter season and through this month I have been fortunate enough to have had 8 rounds thus far and perhaps another 4 will be completed before December comes around. It has been a great caddie year, meeting new and many returning golfers from across the world and I have 2018, only a few weeks, away to look forward to...Fore!

THE NEW GOLF CLUB St Andrews

WINNERS OF NEW GOLF CLUB COMPETITIONS IN 2017 CLUB CHAMPION MICHAEL DE VRIES ORDER OF MERIT ANDREW FORMANECK MONTHLY MEDALS FINAL DAVE BINYON WINTER MEETING THOMAS BARBOUR SPRING MEETING STEWART DILLON SUMMER MEETING BILLY JONES AUTUMN MEETING MATTHEW BUBBA COMMITTEE CUP GRAHAM CLELLAND PAST CAPTAIN’S TROPHY MALCOLM MITCHELL FOUNDERS’ DAY TROPHY BRETT MURRAY

HAMADA TRI-AM LESLIE PATMORE, MICHAEL PETTIGREW & JOHN WILSON THE R M DOUGLAS QUAICH DAVID TAYLOR THE JOHN L KINNEAR CUP BEN HUNTER THE TOM JARRETT TROPHY STEPHEN TITHER THE GREENSOME TROPHY MARK DICKSON & ALISTAIR MCKINLAY THE FOURSOMES CUP GRAHAM DALTON & STEWART KENNEDY THE GORDON A M BEGG QUAICH GARY KENNEDY, IAN SHARMAN, JIM SCOBIE & JAMES THORPE THE SANCTUS TROPHY TEXAS SCRAMBLE JAUME BERGE, GEORGE WELSH, STEWART DILLON & CHIC HARPER THE SANCTUS TROPHY INVITATIONAL FOURBALL DAVID FORFAR & BRIAN GRAY MCANDREW MIXED FOURSOMES COLIN MAVOR & MARINA BARCLAY HAROLD RIGG CUP IAN MYLES & ROWAN MYLES

CLUB SALVER

VICTORY CUP

STEPHEN TITHER

JOE MYLES

CLUB MEDALLION

DOIG CUP

STAN MARTIN

ALISDAIR WOOD

STAN REITH TROPHY

MURRAY MITCHELL MIXED FOURSOMES

MICHAEL DE VRIES

JAUME BERGE & PAULINE REW

J L LINDSAY PLATE

FOURSOMES CUP

JIM MCARTHUR

DUNCAN FERNIE & JOHN FERNIE

ARNOLD PALMER TROPHY

SNOWMAN CUP

JIM STEWART

ANDREW STAMM & FREYA NOAD

SENIORS’ CUP

HIBERNATION CUP

NICOL WILSON

DAVID CURRIE

THE MURRAY CUP

RAF CUP

ROBIN BELL

FRANK RODGER

THE KARACHI CUP

THE J MULVERY ROSEBOWL

ED SHANNLY

IAN GARDNER

THE ANDREW STEELE TROPHY

TOM MORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY

GORDON IRONS

NEIL BRUCE & ANDREW KILLEAN

THE JACK MCDONALD TROPHY

STEVE WALLS QUAICH

KEN SHARP

ALASDAIR BRYCE, IAN MASON, ROB MAUCHLINE & JASON THOMPSON

THE GREENSOME PAIR’S TROPHY GRAEME COCKBURN & ALLAN FINDLAY

CLUB SHIELD BRIAN EWING

AUSTRALIA CUP RAYMOND DUNN & GARY MURPHY THE FARMERS’ TROPHY JOHN DAWSON, ALEX WALKER, ANDREW PROCTOR & JOHN TODD

GRAHAM CANT TROPHY POL BERGE FELLOWSHIP QUAICH MUNGO SMITH LADIES’ FELLOWSHIP SALVER VALESKA MACLACHLAN AULD ALLIANCE TROPHY THE REST OF THE WORLD

NEW GOLF CLUB MEMBER’S TO HAVE WON SIGNIFICANT LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TITLES IN 2017 R&A LOCAL CLUBS’ GOLD MEDAL ED SHANNLY

ALFRED DUNHILL SCHOOLS CHALLENGE FINLAY SEY SCOTTISH BOYS’ AMATEUR JOHN PATERSON

THE ST RULE CLUB

THE ST RULE CLUB – GOLF WINNERS 2017 Club Championship Inglis Cup Alison White

Violet Brown Prize for Medal Winners Elaine Moffat

SG Silver Division Medal Winner Lynne Tait

SG Bronze Division Medal Winner Lindsay Murray

Optional Competition Winner Christine Revell

Yearly Medals : Gold Medal Fiona de Vries

Yearly Medals : Silver Medal Elaine Moffat

R & A Centenary Quaich Elaine Moffat

Helen Duncan Trophy Penny Bateman

Handicap Challenge Cup – Silver Penny Bateman

Handicap Challenge Cup – Bronze Beverley Wilson

Handicap Challenge - Copper Liz Galbraith

Keith Mackenzie Scratch Trophy Elaine Moffat

Ada Cunningham Bowl Helen Wisdom

Foundation Medal Elaine Moffat

Grainger Medal Penny Bateman

1908 Cup Belinda Sprot

Alexandra Cup Liz Childs

Coronation Medal Eileen Marshall

The Galloway Centenary Trophy Barbara Duguid

Vet`s Trophy Dotty Kennedy

Captain`s Prize Sara Bishop & Lindsay Murray

65 Vase Marion Todd

South African LGU Plate Lindsey Sandford

Bobby Jones Quaich Audrey More

The Charity Cup Judy Aitken

Isabel Ireland Trophy Beverley Brown

Pamela Bairsto Trophy Christine Lawson

Vera Lennox Trophy Kristina Holm

LGU Breakthrough Brooch Jennifer Simmers

Joan McKerrow Salver Mr & Mrs N Denny

The Brodie Lennox Salver Mr & Mrs G Barraclough

McGaw Trophy Lindsay Murray

Lowden Medal Barbara Grounds

Everard Foursomes Penny Bateman & Geraldine Mackle

Summer Eclectic Janice Hulme

Castle Eclectic Eileen Marshall

MacRobert Thistle Cup (Fields in Trust) Joan Dowie

British Red Cross Eclectic Janice Hulme

3 Clubs and a Putter Janice Pirie

Castle Am Am Douce Lawson & Laura Stewart

Winter Foursomes Janice Pirie & Lindsey Sandford

Peugeot Coronation Foursomes Kristina Holm & Dotty Kennedy

Sir Henry Cotton Trophy Janice Hulme

Scott Putting Cup Janice Hulme

Vice Captain`s Prizes Alison White & Fiona MacLennan

Kingsbarns Quaich M Halliday,B Duguid, E Marshall & C Revell

“Birdie” Owl Paperweight Belinda Sprot

ST REGULUS LADIES GOLF CLUB

October Silver Medal - Eden Course

October SG Medal - New Course

1. A McKay (3) 69

Silver Medal Winner L. Tait (9) 76

2. J Pirie (19) 70

2nd A. Bonallack (8) 79

3. K Wilson (13) 71

3rd B. Sprot (12) 80 Bronze Medal Winner J. Bird (21) 86,

October Bronze Medal - Strathtyrum Course

2nd H. Wisdom (25) 87 (bih),

1. J Crawford (28) 63

3rd B. Wilson (27) 87.

2. J. McCormick (23)67 3. K Allan (30) 69 (bih)

November 9-hole competition – Eden Course 1st: Chris Randerson (20) 17 Pts

November Silver Medal New Course

2nd: Susan Clark (33) 16 Pts

1st: Lorraine Morrow (5) nett 76

3rd: Alison Jeffrey (28) 15 Pts

2nd: Hannah Ham (10) nett 77 3rd: Morag McNamara (12) nett 78

December Silver Medal - New Course 1st Charlene Wilson (12) nett 75

November Bronze Medal Strathtyrum

2nd Hannah Ham (10) nett 77 (BIH)

1st: Louise McLaren (22) nett 61

3rd Barbara Malcolm (7) nett 77

2nd: Janet Finlayson (30) nett 64 (bih) 3rd: Janet Cross (22) nett 64

December Bronze Medal - Strathtyrum Course 1st Jan Crawford (26) nett 62 2nd Sheila Glidewell (29) nett 65 3rd Pauline Keith (26) nett 66 (BIH)

St Andrews Magazine Awards

ST ANDREWS’ GOLFER OF THE YEAR 2017

When considering this year’s Golfer of the Year there really was only one standout candidate. The major local competitions were not dominated by any one single golfer, which doesn’t diminish the achievements of the likes of Michael de Vries or Ed Shannly, but this year it is a local who shone on the greatest amateur stage of all and made a dazzling professional debut this autumn.

Connor Syme has been making noise on the amateur circuit for a few years now, and in 2016 the Drumoigbased star won the Australian Amateur Championship, but in 2017 he made a big splash on the world stage.

The highlight of the spring came at the Battle Trophy, played at Crail Golfing Society.

Played over 72-holes on the Gil Hanse-designed Craighead Course, the Battle Trophy is one of the most prestigious amateur events in Scotland.

The Craighead Course is renowned as a hard track, far more unforgiving than its older, more illustrious brother, the Balcomie. Add into the mix a stiff breeze and the course, opened in 1998, can be one of the most demanding in all Scottish golf. All this makes the performance of Syme this April even more remarkable.

The 22-year-old played the first 54-holes in 10-underpar, featuring a sensational 13 birdies and an eagle, to open up a staggering six-stroke lead over Calum Fyfe, the only other player to shoot three rounds under par.

The wind strengthened during the final round, and conditions were at times brutal, sending the average score rocketing upwards with only one player shooting level par and the chasing pack being blown away. Syme kept his cool, and kept his game together as much as was possible, making no worse than a bogey in a fourth round of 79. By day’s end his advantage was five shots, ending as the only player under par to take the title.

The Battle Trophy was first played for in 1998, the same year as the Craighead Links opened, and has been won twice by former European Tour professional George Murray.

After his victory in Crail, Syme had the perfect launchpad for a massive summer of competition across the UK, Europe and the United States. A disappointing missed cut at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s in the Lytham Trophy was quickly erased from the memory by top 10 finishes in the Irish Amateur Championship, Brabazon Trophy and Carrick Neil Scottish Open. All seemed set for a coronation of Scotland’s best amateur at the home of golf in the St Andrews Links Trophy, just down the road from his Drumoig home. However, illness took him out of the tournament after an opening round of 71.

He returned for The Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s and Princes, but failed to make it past the first round of match play. This dip in form was short-

lived and at the European Amateur Championship he tied for 17th place before heading to Final Qualifying for The Open.

The Open was always a dream for Syme to play in, and at Gailes Links he stormed to a place at Royal Birkdale with an afternoon round of 67 to share first place and qualify in style. His plan had been to turn professional ‘when the time was right’, likely in 2018. But the week of The Open changed everything.

Despite not making the cut, rounds of 73 and 76 gave Connor and his father Stuart the belief that he could cut it as a professional, and that it was worth making the transition sooner rather than later.

Nothing was announced publicly, but the Walker Cup would be Syme’s final event as an amateur. Somewhat poetically, for a career which could see his name up in lights fairly soon, his amateur days ended with two tournaments played near Hollywood! First up was the US Amateur at Riviera and BelAir Country Clubs.

Syme began with a round of 72 at Bel Air, including 2 birdies and 4 bogeys leaving him outside the top 64 but in with a chance of making the knockout rounds.

Then at Riviera 2 birdies and 2 bogeys saw him round in level par 70 to finish in a tie for 35th and ease through to the round of 64. The Scot began his quest for US Amateur success with a tough looking match

against American Maverick McNealy, but produced some fine golf including three birdies in a row on the back nine to take the favourite down by the score of 2&1. In the round of 32 he dispatched Ricky Castillo with ease, in a round which featured 5 birdies, winning 4&3.

Now the weekend was in sight for the precocious 22year-old.

The Round of 16 was perhaps the most entertaining match of Syme’s week at the US Amateur.

Playing against Norwegian Kristoffer Ventura, the pair put on a show with only five holes halved during a round which included a total of 8 birdies and 6 bogeys.

The first four holes saw the pair trade victories, with Syme claiming the first and third holes with birdies, and Ventura winning the second and fourth holes with two pars. Syme then took a 2-up lead with wins at the 6th and 7th holes including a birdie at the par three sixth, but Ventura bounced back with a birdie at the 8th before giving it straight back with a bogey at the 9th.

The see-saw battle continued on the back nine as the Norwegian won the 10th and 11th with a par and birdie to tie the game up with 7 holes to play.

It seemed like the Drumoig star had taken a decisive advantage at the 15th with a par taking him 1-up, but Ventura struck at the 16th with a birdie to tie the game

up with two holes play. A pair of pars at the 17th saw them go to 18 all-square. Then Syme produced a dramatic moment, chipping in for birdie to put the pressure squarely on Ventura, he couldn’t match the spectacular efforts of the Scot, and Syme was through to the quarter-finals on his debut in the championship.

With the weekend now in sight Syme had the realistic chance to etch his name alongside Findlay Douglas and Richie Ramsay as Scots which had triumphed in the world’s most prestigious amateur championship.

However, the quarter-finals proved one step too far.

The Scot was ousted 2&1 by American Doug Ghim.

Syme said after his defeat: ““I just didn’t quite have my best stuff today. I was grinding away as much as I could. I felt like I still drove it quite well, but didn’t quite have my best golf to put so much pressure on Doug.

“Any time you get to the quarter-finals in a field like this it’s going to be a good week. It’s just a little early just now, so it’s obviously very sore because I was looking to win. Obviously, it was a good championship, but I’m obviously disappointed to lose today.”

Ghim then reached the final, where he lost narrowly to Doc Redman on the 37th hole.

In the following week Syme achieved his primary goal for 2017, and was selected for the Great Britain and

Ireland Walker Cup team to take on the United States at Los Angeles Country Club in September.

So, as for many emerging talents in the game, his amateur swansong came at the Walker Cup. Unfortunately, it was not to be a happy ending, as Great Britain and Ireland were handed a comprehensive beating by the United States.

Syme himself registered one win out of the four matches he played, but the US came out on top by the tune of 19 points to 7.

In the following days it was confirmed that Syme had joined Modest! Golf, a new golf agency operated by Modest! Management, the company which looks after the affairs of Northern Irish pop star, Niall Horan.

Syme turned professional on Wednesday 13 September and immediately took advantage of a sponsor’s invitation to play in the Portugal Masters.

So the young Scot took the plunge and made his professional debut in Vilamoura, with his friends, family and the Scottish golfing public waiting with baited breath to see the outcome. We have unfortunately been here many times before with promising amateur players, and in general we have seen that they have not been able to live up to the hype, and it is testament to that experience that the hype has not been quite so crazy surrounding Connor.

However, if he was hoping to make a solid and quiet entrance to the world of professional golf, he may have had to reassess that plan after his performance on the Algarve.

A solid opening round of 68 had Syme well inside the projected cut line, and just four shots off the early lead. His round included five birdies and two bogeys, incredibly he would make only one additional bogey in the rest of the week (49 holes).

A 69 on Friday was followed by a 68 on Saturday and then a closing 67 to see the Drumoig star finish in a tie for 12 th place in his first event. As far as debuts go, it ranks alongside any of the leading professionals in the last 40 years.

By contrast Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for 42 nd at the British Masters, Colin Montgomerie was tied for 45th at the German Masters, Sir Nick Faldo was tied for 38th at the French Open, Ian Woosnam missed the cut in his first three events, Seve missed the cut in his first two events and Tiger Woods finished in 60th place at the Greater Milwaukee Open.

Of course, this is no guarantee of future success or stardom, but it does illustrate how comfortable Syme is when playing on the world stage. Syme’s next event as a professional would be a home game, at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Syme’s First round was at the 2018 Open host course Carnoustie, he began the week with a level par 72 featuring a stunning birdie at the intimidating long par three 16th hole. His second round at Kingsbarns saw him move under par for the championship with five birdies and three bogeys for a 70.

Then on the Saturday it was the Old Course, and beginning his round from the tenth tee he made three bogeys and a birdie to leave himself at level par and some four shots outside the projected cut mark.

Birdies at 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 saw him surge home in 31 shots and remarkably make the cut by one.

He began his final round in spectacular fashion too, with a birdie at the difficult par three eleventh hole, and he waltzed round the Old Course without a bogey on his card with three birdies on either nine for a 6under-par round of 66. Syme has shown already he has the assets to become whatever he wants to be, he can make birdies (21 of them during the tournament) and he can grind it out and come back from adversity.

Syme was expecting his next event to be in Spain, but at the European Tour Qualifying School rather than the Andalucía Valderrama Masters, however, he received a last-minute invitation to the tournament hosted by Sergio Garcia. A second round of 70 around the fearsome course at Valderrama to make the cut by two may not win any trophies but it shows the incredible talent and potential Syme has. Valderrama is one of those courses which favours the experienced golfer, and to produce a round like that when required takes incredible skill and nerve.

After making a slow start with bogeys at the second and seventh holes Connor was 6-over-par and heading home, but a birdie at the ninth gave him hope.

Then spectacular birdies at the par-three twelfth, parfour sixteenth and iconic, brutal par-four eighteenth saw him home in 34 shots to make the weekend for the third time out of three starts on the European Tour.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t replicate the weekends he had at the Portugal Masters and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and rounds of 76 and 79 saw him fall to 16-over-par and second off last on the leaderboard. It shouldn’t be seen as a negative though, as every event played in this year is experience for next and for greater challenges ahead.

Syme then moved on to the second stage of European Tour Qualifying School at Las Colinas.

All the early promise shown at Vilamoura, St Andrews and Valderrama may well have been for nothing had Connor not come through Qualifying school and earned his card for the 2018 European Tour.

He did so with ease and in spectacular fashion.

In the first stage he posted rounds of 67, 67, 73 and 68 to finish in a tie for 10th place and earn one of the 21 spots on offer for the final stage at Lumine Golf Club.

The first two rounds at Lumine were modest by comparison, posting 72 and 73 to sit 2-over-par and his hopes of qualifying were in the balance. However, the next two rounds were truly superb, featuring an incredible thirteen birdies and no bogeys to surge up the leaderboard and into the position he wanted to be.

Sitting in third position and with the leading 30 players and ties gaining their cards, Syme knew two steady rounds would be enough to see his dream realized.

10 further birdies over the final two days allowed for the odd mistake, and not even a late double-bogey on the final day could de-rail the talented and driven young man on his journey to the European Tour.

So, after 22 rounds as a professional, the St Andrews area has member of the European Tour in its midst, and one which looks like he could finally deliver success on a significant scale.

Syme made his debut in his rookie season on the Race to Dubai in Mauritius at the start of December.

After over two weeks off since the Final Stage of Qualifying School, Connor displayed signs of rustiness and perhaps fatigue after a long season in which he has transitioned from amateur to professional and played on four different continents.

Two double-bogeys put paid to his chances of continuing his run of making the cut on the European Tour, as he missed out by two shots finishing 1-overpar for 36 holes.

Syme’s final event of an incredible year is at the Joburg Open at Randpark Golf Club near Johannesburg. He will continue his African adventure in the first week of January at Glendower Golf Club in the BMW South African Open.

Connor Syme has had a year to remember, and I am sure things will get even better for him in the coming years, his victory in the Battle Trophy and performances since turning professional have rightly earned him the title of ST ANDREWS MAGAZINE GOLFER OF THE YEAR 2017.

PAST WINNERS ST ANDREWS’ GOLFER OF THE YEAR 2015 – MARK DICKSON 2016 – MICHAEL DE VRIES

St Andrews Magazine Awards

John Paterson had a pretty good 2016, but a win early in 2017 made it truly outstanding for the New Golf Club member. Paterson won the Scottish Boys’ Open at Monifieth Golf Club in April.

In 2016 we saw a glimpse of the talent John possesses with his performance in the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but at Monifieth he demonstrated that he can do it over four rounds with a total of 283 including a final round of 67 to win the title by two shots, having started some five behind Jamie Stewart.

His final round included two eagles, featuring a stunning 60-foot putt at the eighth hole. It was inspired golf from the young man who continues his upward trend.

Paterson finished second on the 2017 Scottish Golf Boys’ Order of Merit.

ST ANDREWS’ YOUNG GOLFER OF THE YEAR 2017

PAST WINNERS ST ANDREWS’ YOUNG GOLFER OF THE YEAR 2015 – KEITH BOWMAN 2016 – JOHN PATERSON

St Andrews Magazine Awards

Finlay Sey won the Alfred Dunhill Schools Challenge and was a part of the New Golf Club’s incredible success story at the Scottish Junior Inter-club championship.

The tournament was played at the Duke’s Course in St Andrews, Fife on Sunday, September 24 where a strong field of young golfers from across Fife, Dundee and Angus competed for the honours.

15-year-old Finlay recorded an excellent gross score of 72. A member of the New Golf Club, St Andrews, he played in his first Boys Scottish Amateur event at Drumoig and Scotscraig earlier this year in June. Speaking after today’s Alfred Dunhill Schools Golf Challenge, he said: “I’m delighted to have been this year’s scratch winner. My game has really come on since the start of the year with my handicap coming down from eight to five since January.

“I’m hoping to further improve my game over the next couple of years. If progress continues I will be looking to secure a golf scholarship in the US once I’ve finished school.”

Just two weeks later Finlay was part of the New Golf Club Junior team which won the finals of the Scottish Junior Inter-club championship at Deer Park near Livingstone.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT

PAST WINNERS SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT BY A ST ANDREWS’ GOLFER 2015 – UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS 2016 – NEW GOLF CLUB JUNIORS

St Andrews Magazine Awards

ST ANDREWS MAGAZINE GOLF HALL OF FAME

PAST INDUCTEES ST ANDREWS MAGAZINE GOLF HALL OF FAME 2015 – JOHN CLARK 2016 – DONALD GREWAR

Peter Dawson’s contribution to world golf cannot be understated, no individual has had such an impact upon the R&A, The Open, the development of the game and golf in St Andrews more than the softly spoken Scot in the 21st century. Dawson was Chief Executive and Secretary of the R&A/Royal and Ancient Golf Club from 1999 to 2015 and during his tenure he overhauled the qualification process for The Open not once, but twice; he was the driving force behind seeing the club admit women members and behind Golf’s bid to return to the Olympic Games.

Dawson also oversaw the devolvement of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club from the Governing Body, a significant change in the structure of world golf. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club admitting women members has also had an almost immediate impact upon other clubs on the Open rota and coupled with golf’s return to the Olympics, is sure to help in the future growth of the game.

2017 Review

Successfully defending any title in golf is a rare feat, the last player to do so on the European Tour was SSP Chowrasia at the Hero Indian Open in March, but to defend a title won playing on three different courses, is something special. Tyrrell Hatton did just that on Sunday when he won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in spectacular fashion. Aside from the stunning late charge by Ross Fisher, Hatton’s golf was simply unmatched. In four rounds across three courses the Englishman made only two bogeys, and 26 birdies. A phenomenal performance indeed.

Starting the final round with a five-stroke lead, things could have been very different after he found the Swilcan Burn with his second shot to the first, but he played a stunning chip shot to save par and then reeled off four successive birdies to take the oxygen out of the chasing pack. Further birdies on the short par four ninth and the par five fourteenth gave him a mind-blowing seven shot lead with four holes to play.

Even the incredible final round of 61 by Ross Fisher couldn’t deny the rampant defending champion, who sealed victory with brilliant second to the 17th, taking dead aim at the pin his ball came to rest some 10 feet behind the hole and the last hurdle was overcome. Hatton’s victory, if it was possible, was even more dominant than 2016, even if the margin ended up being one stroke less than 12 months ago.

The victory moved him into 11th place on the Race to Dubai, and success in the Italian Open the following week saw him finish the season in the top five of the rankings for the first time.

With the many variables this championship throws up, such as being played over three courses in a pro-am format, to win it twice is special, to do it for a second time in a row is remarkable. A fact proven with Padraig Harrington being the only two-time winner and the best finish prior to today by a defending champion being Lee Westwood, who finished in a tie for fifth in 2004 after winning in 2003.

“Yeah, I am obviously very happy. This was the first time I had ever defended a title or had the chance to do it. You know, it felt like it was a lot harder today this year, well winning this year. I’m so happy I managed to get over the line” said an ecstatic Hatton.

He acknowledged the amazing golf which Ross Fisher played in shooting a new course record, 61, to put the pressure on and how playing with Jamie Dornan had a positive impact upon his game again: “I didn’t see a leaderboard on the

back nine until 16 and saw Fish was at 21-under and I was thinking how well he was playing today. The 15minute wait on the 17th tee definitely made the tee shot harder than I wanted it to be. So you know, fair play to Fish. It was an incredible round of golf, and he certainly pushed me all the way.”

“I was happy that we (Jamie Dornan) could play together again this year. Obviously, it’s a winning formula which helps me, so perhaps he should play with me every week!” Hatton said. Hatton wins €673,132 for lifting the title and could move as high as 22 nd in the world with his second European Tour victory. He also moves to the top of the European Ryder Cup rankings.

Ireland’s Paul Dunne returned to St Andrews, the scene of one of his most unforgettable moments, to share the firstround lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts. In 2015, on the Old Course, Dunne became the first amateur since 1927 to lead the Open Championship after 54 holes. Now he has given himself the perfect start in his attempt to win his second straight professional tournament, following his success in the British Masters last week.

After his 67, he will go out for his second round at Carnoustie today in a positive frame of mind. “Life is pretty good for me at the moment. The Open was a great thing because it opened so many doors. How many times are you going to lead The Open at St Andrews with one round to go?

“It was a situation I wasn’t used to and it overwhelmed me a bit. It was one that slipped away, but I think I’m in a better place to deal with it now.” Dunne had four birdies and an eagle at the 9th, where he drove the green and sank a 30foot putt. His only blemish was a dropped shot at the 17th Road Hole.

The Irishman’s victory last week was highly impressive, closing out the tournament with a final round of 61 at Close House. After losing a playoff at the Trophee Hassan II the 24-year-old has shown tremendous consistency without genuinely challenging for a title, missing only 2 cuts in his last 12 events, including 8 top 30 finishes.

Colsaerts’ 67 at Kingsbarns proved eventful. He had a triple bogey seven at the 3rd but fought back with seven birdies, including a birdie, birdie finish.

The big-hitting Belgian has not won a tournament since the 2012 Volvo World Match Play, but if he can perform in the same manner for the next three days then he could have the ability to end that drought, and given this championships’ habit of ending winless streaks who would bet against it?

Five players are tied one shot back: defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, Oliver Fisher, Ryan Fox and Shane Lowry, who were at St Andrews, and Joel Stalter at Kingsbarns.

Hatton is attempting to become just the second player to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship twice and the first to successfully defend the title. The 25-year-old Englishman made six birdies and two bogeys on the Old Course, which was the destination for the leading players in the field, a move away from having them play at the home of golf on Saturday.

Scotland’s David Drysdale leads the home challenge after a 69 at Carnoustie, while former US Open champion Graeme McDowell will be happy with his 69 at St Andrews.

McDowell lost in a playoff to Stephen Gallacher in the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links, with a course record of 62 on the Old Course on the first day. The Northern Irishman will be desperate to avenge that loss to the Scot if he gets the opportunity to do so, Many people’s pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlory, playing with father Gerry in the Team Championship, began impressively with a birdie on the 1st hole on the Old Course, but eventually finished one-over-par. He said: “I feel like I've got off to slow starts here in the past and been able to

recover and get myself back into the tournament. I feel like I can do the same again.”

Rory McIlroy made a disappointing start to his bid for a first Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title, but it could have all been so much different. The Northern Irishman rolled in a putt from off the green at the first for birdie and there was a spring in his step as he walked to the second tee. After a pulled drive into the rough his approach failed to navigate the front bunkers and disaster struck. The bunkers, moved prior to the 2015 Open in a bid to make the approach more of a challenge, are penal, as McIlroy found out to his cost.

His first attempt at extricating himself slammed against the lip of the bunker and the ball flew back over his head into the sand. A frustrated McIlroy pitched out and a chip and putt followed, with a double-bogey draining the early enthusiasm from the former world number one.

A sloppy bogey on the par three 8th saw him fall further back and at 2-over-par it looked a long way back to the lead, which at one point was 6-under-par. McIlroy however has shown resilience many times this season, which by his own admission has been a difficult one, and three birdies in the final ten holes at least managed to see him round in 73. The round, which is testament to his remarkable record, is his third worst score on the Old Course and just the third time he has ever shot over par.

Today McIlroy will attempt to make a comeback on the hardest of the three courses, Carnoustie. He will no doubt have fond memories of the Angus links, which he made his Open Championship debut on in 2007 and on which he has

hit a 400-yard drive before. McIlroy tees off at 11:12 in the same group as Race to Dubai leader Tommy Fleetwood Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Wladimir Klitschko was the centre of attention at the end of the first day’s play in the Team Championship, with hordes of youngsters and fans waiting for him at the conclusion to his round. Following his first round at the Old Course he seemed pretty keen to go over to his adoring fans, and had to be called back having forgotten to sign his card and fulfil his media obligations.

Then after he had got that out the way the Ukrainian made time for a young lady to sign an autograph and to pose for a photo with her, the young lady looked absolutely over the moon, and Klitschko did too.

With his fans congregated around the putting green the Boxing legend hot footed it over to them, with chaotic scenes of youngsters and adults attempting to get the prized signature of one of the world’s most famous sportsmen. After signing a couple he made a quick exit but he also made some people very happy, which is the joy of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

A variety of stars from sport, stage, screen and business played the Old Course on Thursday, including Baywatch star Kelly Rohrbach., the 27-year-old from New York has appeared on TV, in a selection of movies and is a model, appearing in the 2015 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

She demonstrated a pretty neat and tidy golf game too.

Jamie Dornan teamed up for a second successive year with Tyrrell Hatton, and the pair had a successful day, shooting an opening round of 62. Hatton has spoken of his delight at playing with the Fifty Shades star, and how he has a positive influence on his golf, and once again the Englishman is in contention for the tile after a first round of 68.

Jamie Redknapp and Luke Donald were ecstatic at teaming up for the championship again, and the former football star seemed to have a positive influence on the once World Number One, with Donald posting an opening round of 70 on the Old Course.

Former Australian Cricketer Shane Warne and his professional, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, team up to shoot an opening round of 61 to lead the way in the pro-am event.

After wins at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and HNA Open de France, Race to Dubai leader Tommy Fleetwood is in position claim a third prestige title of the season on the European Tour and put daylight between himself and the chasing pack. The Southport man reeled off five birdies in a row in a record-breaking low round of 63 at Carnoustie Golf Links to tie defending champion Tyrrell Hatton at the top heading into the weekend. Playing with pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, new father Fleetwood birdied three holes on the front nine to go out in 33, but picked up the pace with a blistering back nine of 30, including a birdie at the daunting par-four eighteenth.

Speaking after his round, Fleetwood admitted to being in the zone and not really realizing what he was achieving: “You

don’t really think about it much whilst you’re playing”, he said. “to hole that one on the last and as you said it was a course record. So all in all, a good day’s work, wasn’t it.”

Fleetwood acknowledged the prestige of the achievement but also that a score like this wouldn’t probably be possible during an Open there: “I mean, I think I hit it in some

place that you probably can’t hit it when the Open comes around. Any time you have a course record, especially on a golf course like this, it’s brilliant to have. Yeah, very proud at the moment.”

A win here could extend his lead to nearly 1.5million points with the $7million Rolex Series Italian Open coming up next week, but Tommy knows that his job won’t be complete until he gets to Dubai. When asked if a win here would cement the Race to Dubai title, he said “I doubt it. Let’s concentrate

on tomorrow first. I would love to win the tournament.

But if I can keep making that cushion a little bit bigger, then it will feel a lot nicer.”

Fleetwood will be among seven of the top ten on the Race to Dubai which will tee-it-up at next week’s Italian Open, an event with new importance following its elevation to the Rolex Series. The Englishman finished second to Oliver Wilson in 2014, losing out by a single shot, and a win here would put him exotic company of having won at both Gleneagles and St Andrews, two of Scotland’s iconic golfing destinations.

Nobody in the sixteen-year history of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has defended the title, going into the weekend Tyrrell Hatton is in with a superb chance of doing so. The Englishman shot a superb round of 65 around Carnoustie on Friday, a round only bumped out of the limelight by Tommy Fleetwood’s course record 63.

Seven birdies and no bogeys saw Hatton tie Fleetwood at the top on a thrilling day at next year’s Open Championship venue. Despite conditions being favourable a round of 65 at Carnoustie is still notable and Hatton was happy: “Yeah,

happy with today’s round. I got a couple of lucky breaks but obviously you need that. The putter came alive for me over the last 13 holes. It was a really good day.”

Hatton admitted to being motivated by the fact he had won the championship last year, “It’s a strange feeling to think I’ve won the tournament, because I look back and it doesn’t feel like it was me that won” said Hatton rather bizarrely.

After having played the Old Course and Carnoustie, it is on

to Kingsbarns on Saturday, what is widely regarded as the easiest of the three courses, however Hatton doesn’t feel that will be an advantage: “Personally, I’ve never scored

best around there, it’s always been the one where I have scored worst. Hopefully that run doesn’t continue tomorrow.”

Hatton is 11-under-par after 36 holes and tied with Tommy Fleetwood for the lead.

The sun shone, the stars came to play and the Angus public responded. The crowds at Carnoustie on Friday were large in number and energetic in support of the competitors in the second round of the 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Excepting Rory McIlroy, it was Jamie Dornan who attracted the largest gallery, with no disrespect to defending champion and co-leader Tyrrell Hatton. Dornan demonstrated his usual wildness off the tee on more than one occasion, and his approach shots were a little wild too.

One such occasion was on the first hole when his second flew into the crowd on the dunes surrounding the green, to leave him with a particularly tricky lie, as shown opposite.

The other was on the eighteenth when his drive crashed into a photographer, it was lucky the man wasn’t seriously injured, with just the top of his lens a little dented.

Jamie Redknapp proved popular alongside Luke Donald, the Dundee area is an avid football supporting public and the likes of the former Liverpool star is one of the main attractions for some.

Another was Wladimir Klitschko, the former Heavyweight champion teamed up with Germany’s Max Kieffer, and the pair shared great camaraderie with the Boxer living in the country.

Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy demonstrated fighting spirit to defeat the frustration which was clear to all to see with his game. The former world number one played superbly from tee to green but couldn’t buy a putt, until the closing stages of his round.

Great birdie chances came and went on 1 and 2, before a poor bogey followed at 3. He bounced straight back with birdie at the 4th but a calamitous double-bogey at the parfive 6th gave him real cause for concern that Saturday would be his last day of an injury-plagued season.

Then the real Rory stood up, with three birdies on the back nine to turn a possible 75 into a 71, and the Ulsterman heads to Kingsbarns on Saturday at level par and in with a chance of making the cut.

It was clear, as has been the case for much of the year, that his putting was the issue, for most of the round. He lost a couple of tee shots to the right, but in the main his long game was good. The three-time runner-up at the Alfred Dunhill Links Champion can still harbour hopes of bursting into contention with two low rounds, as unlikely as it may seem with him sitting 11 shots back of the lead.

Saturday was moving day and the two contenders for the title after the first two rounds moved in very different directions on a tricky day at Kingsbarns. A day after breaking the course record at Carnoustie, Race to Dubai leader Tommy Fleetwood crashed out of contention for the title with a lacklustre round of 76 which featured six bogeys. By contrast the defending champion played 11 less shots than Fleetwood on a day which looks sure to have secured a second-successive Alfred Dunhill Links title for Tyrrell Hatton.

The Englishman fired a second straight bogey free round and picked up 7 birdies to waltz round Kingsbarns in 65 and roar clear in his defence of the championship.

"Last year, this event was a fantastic moment for me," said Hatton. "It's great to be back and I'm enjoying my first defence.

"Last year was a new experience for me going out leading a tournament and I managed to do a really good job. Made myself very difficult to catch, hopefully I can do that again tomorrow.

"I'll certainly try my best to do that. That's all anyone can ever do is try their best and I'll certainly do that.

Having followed the early play of both Connor Syme and Rory McIlroy, whilst keeping an eye on the remarkable play of Tyrrell Hatton, I was wandering back in to town along the 14th, 15th and 16th with the leading group when something quite remarkable caught my eye. The large leaderboard behind the 16th green had Ross Fisher at 21-under-par.

Suddenly this was game on, and my thinking had changed from ‘walk in the park’ or ‘procession’ to ‘dramatic’ and ‘thrilling’ in terms of the type of finish to this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

After seeing Fisher pound a drive over the hotel shed into the middle of the fairway, I followed the charging Englishman down the road hole. Playing his second from the middle of the fairway was only half the battle on the 17th though, and a pushed shot onto the grass next to the road was not what would have been in his head.

What followed was quite majestic, the 2010 Ryder Cup team member and two-time Alfred Dunhill Links runner-up produced a superb up and down from the road to keep his dream alive. With Hatton still to play the 17th the defending champion still had to navigate the road hole bunker and the road to ensure a comfortable victory.

Fisher drove into the valley of sin, and for the first time in since the Old Course came into being in the 1500’s a golfer stood over a putt to score the magic number in golf, 59. The first 59 in European Tour golf, at the home of golf, on the final day of one of the Tour’s premier tournaments. It simply doesn’t get much bigger than that.

The assembled masses held their breath, and Fisher took the putter back and through, only to see the ball come up some three feet short. Once he missed his second putt, only parring the hole, his dream of winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was over, and the prospect of someone breaking 60 at the Old Course was dead, for now.

He did however set a new course record, 61. 61 magnificent shots on a wild ride to come from nowhere and make the end of this seemingly dull tournament exciting and historic.

Fisher began the final round at 10-under-par, some 8 shots adrift of Hatton and supposedly in a fight with Bourdy and Donald for the minor places. Bourdy began the best with birdies to take him to 16-under-par, but nobody could get close to Hatton. Soon the challenge to the lead was to come from Fisher.

Four birdies in a row, from the second to the fifth propelled the Wentworth man to 14-under-par, and another hat trick of birdies from 7 to 9 saw the four-time European Tour winner burn up the front nine in 29 shots and take second place alone. The Frenchman Bourdy fell away with two bogeys on the back nine, but Fisher kept up his relentless pursuit of Hatton. Another burst of birdies from 12 to 15 set up a grand finale, and the possibility of not only becoming the first player to shoot 59 on the European Tour, but becoming the first golfer in history to do it at the world’s most famous course.

Alas, Fisher failed to birdie any of the final three holes, but he did give Hatton a brief scare and make the end interesting, and create a little bit of history in the process.

Runner-up to Martin Kaymer in a playoff in 2010, Fisher admitted he went out thinking he was playing for second place. “It was fun. I knew obviously we were starting off

kind of playing for second. Obviously, Tyrrell had a big lead but after my performance yesterday, I felt like there was a good one in me today around here, because you saw the forecast, and still a bit chilly but there wasn't much breeze.

When you get St. Andrews on a day like this, it's definitely bearable, but you still have to hit the shots. I got off to a fast start and managed to make some good putts early on. I think I birdied 2, 3, 4 and hit a lovely 3wood into 5, and left it literally hanging on the lip to be 5-under through five.

I birdied 6, birdied 7, birdied 8. Unfortunately, a poor drive on 9 and then kind of caught fire a bit on the back nine. A shame not to birdie the last, a 60, but I'm not going to complain too much with a 61.”

I wouldn’t have thought he would complain about a 61!

Incredibly it is the second consecutive Sunday which the European Tour has seen a 61, last week it was to win by Paul Dunne, this week it wasn’t quite enough to overtake Hatton.

What a week of scoring we have had across all three courses, with both the Carnoustie and Old Course records being shattered by players who didn’t go on to win.

In the midst of a St Andrews winter, it is vital that golfers remain warm and dry on course.

Auchterlonies of St. Andrews is currently the only stockist of Galvin Green clothing in the home of golf.

Galvin Green is a pure golf brand specialising in the design and supply of high-performance clothing to golfers in more than 20 countries worldwide. Designed by golfers for golfers, every garment and layer has been developed to be compatible – providing exceptional comfort, freedom of movement and protection from the elements.

KEEP WARM AND DRY THIS WINTER WITH GALVIN GREEN

By Jordan Thomson

Partnership

The Multi-Layer Concept by Galvin Green is a full range of high-tech garments, designed to match and function in combination – whatever the weather. All Galvin Green garments are specially developed for the game of golf. Designed by golfers, for golfers.

The Outer Protection garment is called a “Shell Layer” Shell Layer garments are specially developed to provide maximum protection against rain and wind, and at the same time allow moisture and excess heat inside to escape. The technology used for providing protection against the rain is called. GORE-TEX®.

GORE-TEX® membrane contains over 1.4 billion microscopic pores per square cm. These pores are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, but 700 times larger than a water vapour molecule, which makes GORE-TEX® membrane completely waterproof from the outside, while allowing moisture to escape from the inside.

The Thermal Regulation garments are called a “Warm Layer” and a “Cool Layer” Garments from the Warm and Cool Layer feature extreme breathability and thermoregulation properties to keep your body at optimum performance temperature, whatever the weather.

The “Warm Layer” items use INSULA™ technology. INSULA™ garments are soft with a light, airy material structure. The fabric has built-in air chambers which are warmed by the body heat and provide extremely effective and long-lasting thermal insulation.

For more information on our Galvin Green products, please visit our Galvin Green section within our store,

The “Cool Layer” items use VENTIL8™ technology. The VENTIL8™ range makes use of carefully selected materials with unique properties. A VENTIL8™ shirt transports moisture and excess heat away considerably more efficient than a conventional polyester golf shirt.

This is made possible by an advanced technology whereby the textile fibres are designed to disperse perspiration and moisture over a larger area, allowing moisture to evaporate considerably more rapidly.

where a product specialist will advise you on the best garments on the market.

Paterson Golf Novelty Headcover - Westie Dog - With Old Course St. Andrews Collar THE PRO SHOP ST ANDREWS

£30.00

Old Course St. Andrews Blackwatch Woven Towel - St Andrews Logo THE PRO SHOP OF ST ANDREWS

A History of Golf WATERSTONES ST ANDREWS £30.00

£7.50

Vintage Railway St Andrews Golfers Placemats and Coasters THE GOLF SHOP OF ST ANDREWS

£12.99-£29.99

A ST ANDREWS

James Pringle Weatherproof Hat EDINBURGH WOOLEN MILL

£10.00

Partnership

St Andrews’ only hot yoga studio opened its doors in August 2015.

Hot yoga is a set sequence of yoga postures practiced in a heated room. Hot yoga is a cardiovascular workout that strengthens, tones and stretches your muscles while calming the mind and reducing stress. The heat allows you to stretch deeper into your tissues, tendons and ligaments, safely leading to improved flexibility, strength and blood circulation.

KEEP CALM THIS FESTIVE SEASON

BY SARAH MCLAUGHLIN

I

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AJPHOTOGRAPHY.VISION

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at this time of year. There’s never enough time to do everything you planned to do, your healthy habits get pushed aside and you still have work demands as your social and family obligations ramp up.

It may feel like you don’t have a spare moment, but you do.

And all it takes is a few seconds, just mere minutes, to pause and hit the reset button for a fresh outlook and a quieter, calmer you.

2.

Seriously, your brain doesn’t know the difference between a fake and a real smile. By smiling more you can actually feel calmer and happier.

3.

Adopt a morning ritual

Set a positive intention for the day. Sit cross legged on the floor after you get up close your eyes and inhale/exhale slowly and deeply in and out through the nose for as long as you can without getting distracted. Visualize what kind of day you want to have.

Let it go

When things start to get on top of you take yourself to a quiet space, stand tall with your feet together, as you inhale raise your hands above your head palms to touch and as you exhale bring your hands to prayer position at your heart centre. Repeat as many times as necessary.

4.

1.

Smile More

Be thankful

When you are feeling overwhelmed write down all the things you are thankful for and be specific then read it back to yourself.

5.

Get moving

You might not have time to get to the gym or your yoga class during the festive period, but you can still exercise at home or with a brisk family walk.

Does matter what you do and how you do it just move more.

Did you know that your posture is also related to your mood? People tend to think that if you are feeling sad then your body starts to slump, but it is vice-versa – changing your posture can change your mood.

Yoga is a great way to straighten up your posture and help you stand and sit taller.

Here are four poses you can do in the morning without even having to leave your bed:

Happy Baby Pose – this brings better awareness to your hip joints and spine.

Reclining Straddle Pose – stretches back of thighs and lower spine.

Reclining Big Toe Pose – strengthen knees and improves digestion.

Knees to Chest Pose – keeps lower back limber and relieves bloating.

HOTHOUSEYOGASTANDREWS.COM info@hothouseyogastandrews.com

THE BEAUTY OF CHRISTMAS

ART AROUND TOWN

ART AROUND TOWN GRAEME BAXTER AT THE NEW GOLF CLUB

Pretty much everywhere you step inside the New Golf Club you will find the work of Graeme Baxter, with several scenes of St Andrews accompanied by the likes of Gleneagles, Turnberry and The Belfry. From the front entrance to the Links entrance, from the restaurant to the entrance to the main bar, Baxter is the dominant artist on display in this 115-year-old clubhouse.

Baxter is a member of the club and is a regular visitor when he is in St Andrews. “A lot of people say St Andrews is not the best golf course in the world and in certain respects I understand that. But while it might not be the best, it is certainly the most famous.

Every golfer needs to have a pilgrimage to St Andrews at one time in their life. It is the Home of Golf and it is always the best-selling print that I do� Baxter said to Golf Illustrated in 2013.

THE BEAUTY OF CHRISTMAS

By Aileen Wallace-Edgar

Partnership

The nights are drawing in, there is a definite nip in the air and thoughts are turning to one of my most favourite times of the year: Christmas!

And with that the prep for the office Christmas parties. At The Vintage Beauty Box we are gearing up by checking out the trends for makeup, hair and nails from the catwalks and we certainly aren’t disappointed with what we have seen!

A ST ANDREWS

The traditional smokey eye has had a bit of an update with a subtle pop of colour in the centre of the lid. Alberta Ferretti went bold with this look using a pop of red but it works with all colours and even some shimmer. We love our Gatsby Pigment from Peaches & Cream for adding that festive shimmer. Team the smokey eye with a nude lip and tumbling waves as seen at Blumarine and you are set for the night.

Not keen for the smokey eye? What about trying the traditional berry lip with a polished and pretty look. Still adding shimmer but in a much subtler manner just in the corner of the eye. This creates an opened eye effect and when matched with flawless skin and groomed brows gives the impression of having lots of beauty sleep while being able to burn the candle at both ends!

Polished and pretty makeup suits all ages and eye shapes so it’s perfect for everyone to try.

Whether you go for the smokey or polished look, Christmas party looks are best topped with a healthy dose of strip lashes or a Lash Lift. Strip lashes from Eyelure or Peaches & Cream are always a winner in the salon. They can look super natural or add masses of volume. And if you’re not keen on the strip lash we can highly recommend a lash lift.

Using serums the lashes are lifted and curled then topped with a tint. This treatment gives the effect of full lush lashes that last up to 6 weeks! Perfect for taking you through the Christmas and New Year season. Add some twisted knots like those seen on the catwalk at Anna Sui or a traditional big and bouncy blowout and you are set for the party.

For the nails nothing beats a bit of glitter and we saw Gucci flaunt long, silver glitter talons. To create this fab effect, we suggest using Calgel nail tips to give long and strong nails. The Calgel system is a gentle treatment for the nails with no nasty abrasive techniques. Combine with Diamond Dust glitter from Iz Beauty of London and your set. Or how about embracing the festive season with some red glitter like our Candy Cane Iz Beauty of London glitter.

So with the party hair, make-up and nails sorted its time to let the hair down and enjoy ourselves! And after all that partying, late nights, and prosecco if you are feeling a bit under the weather the perfect pick me up is a good dose of Vitamin C inside and out.

With its brightening properties when applied topically gives the skin its glow back plus helps to protect from all the damaging free radicals floating around after too many parties.

We highly recommend an Environ Active Facial chock full of Vitamin C to boost the skin and get it back its gorgeous glow. Top it up internally with Skinade or Skin Vit C and your set for the next party!

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St Andrews Magazine Awards

BEST BEAUTY EXPERIENCE

100% of voters have given their seal of approval to Vintage Beauty Box as the first ever ‘Best Beauty Experience’ in the St Andrews Magazine Awards. Owned by Aileen Wallace-Edgar, the Vintage Beauty Box beat off competition from the likes of Hepburn’s Nail Lounge, Eden Spa and the Fairmont St Andrews.

The Beauty industry is extremely competitive in and around St Andrews, and for a small business such as the Vintage Beauty Box to be more popular than the likes of the Old Course Hotel and the Fairmont St Andrews just show the hard work, skill and diligence Aileen and her team show has really paid off.

The Vintage Beauty Box opened in January 2015 in Sophie Butler Hairdressing on South Street offering a range of treatments including massage, facials and waxing. And now offers two treatment rooms, bespoke spray tan room, a luxurious nail treatment area and specialist makeup stations. The business expanded within the premises in August 2017.

Vintage Beauty Box has been voted as the Best Beauty Salon for the Central Area at the Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards 2017.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN ST ANDREWS. THE MAGIC OF THE CHARITY SHOPS. You will undoubtedly notice that St Andrews lacks quite a lot when it comes to retail, and every now and again a journey to Dundee or further afield is required to get what you want.

However, there is a collection of 9 shops in the town which, if you spend the time, and take the care, you can find exactly what you are looking for, or something you didn’t realise you should have been looking for, for not very much money. Part of the ‘charm’ of a town like St Andrews is the variety of small, independent shops in place of a Zara, Burton, TopShop/TopMan etc, and whilst the charity shops are part of a wider nationwide chain, each has its own unique character, and each are managed and staffed by local volunteers which give them the feel of a local independent.

For that good book at bedtime, or even a coffee-table classic, the charity shops of St Andrews sometimes provide the shopper with a little nugget, a novel or reference book which may have originally cost over £40 can be picked up for as little as a few pounds. Recently on an impromptu visit to Barnardo’s book store I picked up two volumes of PLANET GOLF for £7 each, making a saving of £46.

At British Heart Foundation I also spotted a superb winter coat for £12, making a saving of over £50. Many of the charity shops are ideal for picking up that last-minute Christmas gift, or decorations for the house, office or workplace. Recently we needed a selection of candles at the New Golf Club for a dinner, and our office administrator managed to get 6 for just a couple of pounds! It has never been truer to say “another person’s trash is someone else’s treasure” and the charity shops of St Andrews sure are treasure troves and the ideal place to get that unique gift for a loved one.

Along with making a significant saving, every purchase is helping someone in need this Christmas. Whether it is the ill child in desperate need of treatment and support, or the malnourished person from a war-torn, poverty-stricken nation in Africa, by buying that Christmas gift from a St Andrews charity shop you are helping to provide an even greater Christmas gift to someone else less fortunate somewhere else in the world.

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CANCER RESEARCH UK, South Street OXFAM, South Street SUE RYDER, Logies Lane SALVATION ARMY, Church Street SENSE, Greyfriars Gardens SAVE THE CHILDREN, Greyfriars Gardens BARNARDOS, Bell Street BARNARDOS BOOK STORE, Bell Street BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION, Bell Street

WINTER OPENING 1 OCTOBER – 31 MARCH

WHAT’S ON IN ST ANDREWS Theatre, Music and Cinema

VISIT FOR THE GOLF, EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE. ST ANDREWS HAS MUCH TO OFFER THIS FESTIVE SEASON. St Andrews may not have the major chains such as ODEON, and may lack a venue like an SSE Hydro, but you will not be short of places to go and venues to frequent during your winter visit to the home of golf.

This Christmas there is a plethora of theatre, cinema and musical activity available for you to enjoy at a variety of venues across the town.

The Byre Theatre’s annual Pantomime in 2017 is Beauty and the Beast, following the successful and hugely popular Cinderella and Aladdin, and is on stage from 30 November to 31 December.

One of the major motion picture releases during the festive season at the New Picture House is ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas’, a dramatic story of Charles Dickens and the writing of ‘A Christmas Carol’. Fans of Ballet can experience the Royal Ballet Cinema Season at NPH, with the highlight being ‘The Nutcracker’ on December 10.

The University of St Andrews Music Centre’s annual Christmas concert takes place on 2 December, with the All Saints’ Episcopal Church the venue.

As well as watching and listening to others, several activities offer you the chance to take part and experience A St Andrews

Christmas. Fairmont St Andrews are debuting an ice rink

as part of their festive celebrations this year, an attraction which is sure to be popular with visitors and locals alike and open from December 9. Ice Rinks are a popular feature in many Christmas celebrations across the world, including Edinburgh’s Christmas and the Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park.

St Andrews Magazine will be at a number of these events and activities over the festive season, you can follow A St Andrews YouTube pages

Christmas on our Facebook, Instagram and

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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The Byre Theatre’s annual Pantomime in 2017 is Beauty and the Beast, following the successful and hugely popular Cinderella and Aladdin, and is on stage from 30 November to 31 December.

Produced by Bard in the Botanics, the panto is on stage for the season premiere on Thursday 30 November and a total of 38 performances, with 14 afternoon shows starting at 2.30pm.

Tickets are on sale from £17-£20, but hurry because they are selling quick, with December 23 performances already sold out and Christmas Eve having extremely limited availability.

The Byre Theatre is committed to making theatre available to all with a signed performance on Friday 15 December and an audio described performance on Saturday 16 December, both these begin at 7pm. There is also a discounted ticket available for unemployed people who wish to experience performances at the Byre.

Beauty and The Beast is a stage performance which is based on the 1991 animated movie of the same name, which in turn is based upon the 1740 French book ‘La Belle et la Bête’.

The story has since been turned into a Broadway Musical and earlier this year was rereleased as a romantic fantasy film starring Emma Watson. The 2017 movie has become the 10th highest grossing film of all-time, and has taken more at the box office than any other movie in 2017.

The Broadway Musical is the 10th longest running show, and the Byre Theatre Pantomime is one of many across the country, the show is sure to entertain this Christmas.

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A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS The University of St Andrews Music Centre at Younger Hall is the centre of St Andrews’ musical festive events, with the annual Christmas Concert on Sunday 2 December.

The Music Society (MusSoc) Singers and Ukelear Fusion present their annual Christmas concert, bringing Christmas cheer to St Andrews through the unique medium of song and ukuleles. Come along for a chance to hear your favourites as well as a selection of classics. From traditional favourites such as `Carol of the Bells` to more contemporary festive classics such as `I’ll be home for Christmas`, there is sure to be something to please everyone.

The concert takes place at All Saints’ Episcopal Church from 7.30pm.

On the night after you can experience a performance of Handel’s Messiah at St Salvator’s Chapel, celebrating the 275th anniversary of the first performance.

Elsewhere Mitchell’s Deli on Market Street will be bringing their annual Christmas Market to you on December 12, featuring live acoustic music among the attractions. The Fairmont St Andrews is offering a Christmas Party Night with a difference, presenting a Michael Buble Tribute Night on December 15, tickets available online.

On December 9 the Old Course Hotel has a Rod Stewart Tribute Night, paying homage to one of Scotland’s favourite sons and on Sunday 17 December Mitchell’s has some early evening Jazz to finish your weekend off on a mellow note.

Nearby Forgan’s has three acoustic sessions for you on 14, 21 and 28 December, showing the wide variety of musical attractions on offer in St Andrews this Christmas.

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SHOWING AT NEW PICTURE HOUSE

Friday 1 December

5.35pm

Saturday 2 December

5.35pm

Sunday 3 December

5.35pm

Monday 4 December

5.35pm

Tuesday 5 December

5.35pm

Wednesday 6 December

5.35pm

Thursday 7 December

5.35pm

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS For many different generations of Children ‘A Christmas Carol’ has been a part of their Christmas, from a book to a black and white classic, from a colour movie to a ‘Muppet Christmas Carol’. This festive classic story is one of the iconic tales written by Charles Dickens, and in this Mazur / Kaplan Company, Mob Film Company, Parallel Films and Rhombus Media joint production, directed by Bharat Nalluri the audience will get to see the story behind the writing of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and the creation of characters such as Ebeneezer Scrooge.

Dan Stevens, star of the other blockbuster of 2017, Beauty and the Beast, plays Charles Dickens, with Christopher Plummer starring as Scrooge.

This funny, dramatic biopic is set to add to the lore of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and will entertain the family. It is set to be the premier Christmas movie in 2017.

OTHER RELEASES OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD COCO

RELEASED 8 DECEMBER

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

RELEASED 15 DECEMBER

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

RELEASED 22 DECEMBER

BRIGHT

RELEASED 22 DECEMBER

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

RELEASED 29 DECEMBER

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: YOUNG MARX

7 DECEMBER

7PM

ROYAL BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER

10 DECEMBER

2PM

FOR TIMES AND TICKETS VISIT NPH CINEMA ON NORTH STREET or nph.nphcinema.co.uk

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St Andrews Magazine Awards

BEST VISITOR ATTRACTION

St Andrews Magazine Awards 2017 – BEST VISITOR ATTRACTION

Usually if you said that the best visitor attraction in a town was a ruined cathedral and graveyard you would think that the town was boring, lifeless and not worth visiting. But when the Cathedral is one of the most spectacular and important in Scottish history, and the graveyard is home to many of the most important people in the history of golf and St Andrews itself, then it is a different thing altogether.

Built in 1158, the Roman Cathedral of St Andrew became the centre of the Medieval Catholic Church of Scotland, with St Andrews becoming the Ecclesiastical capital of Scotland. Following the outlaw of Catholic Mass during the 16 th century Scottish Reformation the Cathedral fell into disuse and ruin.

Since the time the Cathedral fell into ruin it has been cared for and maintained in its current state, and is now part of Historic Environment Scotland, n executive nondepartmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland’s historic environment. HES was formed in 2015 from the merger of government agency Historic Scotland with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS). Among other duties, Historic Environment Scotland maintains more than 300 properties of national importance including Edinburgh Castle, Skara Brae and Fort George.

WINTER OPENING 1 OCTOBER – 31 MARCH

10am-4pm Adult £5.00, Concession £4.00, Child £3.00

The final resting place of the Morris family

The most striking, symbolic and most visited grave in the Cathedral grounds is undoubtedly that of the Morris Family. Sadly, for Old Tom Morris, he outlived his entire immediate family, with the tragic deaths of Margaret (Meg, Young Tom’s wife) in September 1875 being followed by the sudden passing of Tommy Morris on Christmas Day that year. Myth has it that the four-time Open Champion died of a broken heart, fact says it was an aneurism of an artery in his lung. Less than a year later Agnes, mother to Tommy and wife of Tom, passed away, leaving the ‘Godfather of Golf’ on his own for more than 30 years.

Tom Morris passed away on 24 May, 1908, following an alcohol-induced fall at the New Golf Club. His funeral remains one of the biggest in the history of the town, with thousands turning out for the four-time Open Champion. The Morris family’s contribution to the game of golf and the town of St Andrews cannot be overstated, and isn’t publicized enough.

A place where the ghosts of St Andrews’ golfing icons look down on you

Allan Robertson

Allan Robertson is widely recognised as the ‘World’s first Golf Professional’ and one of the premier golf club and ball makers of the time. Robertson earned a living making golf clubs and balls, and challenging other golfers to money matches in the time before official tournament competition. One such challenge match was against Willie Dunn, Sr., of Musselburgh, who was generally recognized as the top player, in a grand challenge match in 1843; the two played 20 rounds over 10 days, with Robertson coming out on top. Robertson was the first golfer to score under 80 on the Old Course.

He died a few weeks after an attack of Jaundice in 1859 at the age of 49. In the following year, in a bid to determine a new ‘Champion Golfer’ to replace Robertson, the first Open Championship was played, at Prestwick,

The Auchterlonies

After the Morris’s, the Auchterlonies are perhaps the most important golfing family in the history of the game. William Auchterlonie won the 1883 Open Championship, his son Laurence followed him in the role of Honorary Professional for the R&A. William’s brother, Laurie, won the 1902 US Open, but his burial site is uncertain.

The Auchterlonie family learned their clubmaking trade under the tutelage of Forgan, and Auchterlonies store on Golf Place is perhaps the most renowned golf shop in the world.

1902 Open Champion and New Golf Club Honorary Member, Sandy Herd is also buried in the Cathedral grounds along with the following icons of St Andrews: 3-time Open Champion, Jamie Anderson Architect of the Bruce Embankment, George Bruce Golf clubmaker, James Wilson 1898 US Open Champion, Fred Herd 1873 Open Champion, Tom Kidd 1888 Open Champion, John ‘Jack’ Burns 1865 Open Champion, Andrew Strath 2-time Open Champion, Bob Martin 1906 Amateur Champion, James Robb Father of the R&A, John Whyte Melville Architect and former St Andrews Provost, Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair 1891 Open Champion, Hugh Kirkaldy Former Honorary Professional of the R&A, Andrew Kirkaldy

The reformation

In 1559, during the Scottish reformation, the building was robbed of its prized possessions and by 1561 it had been abandoned and left to fall into ruin.

At about the end of the sixteenth century the central tower apparently gave way, carrying with it the north wall. Afterwards large portions of the ruins were taken away for building purposes, and nothing was done to preserve them until 1826. Since then it has been tended with scrupulous care, an interesting feature being the cutting out of the ground-plan in the turf. The principal portions extant, partly Norman and partly Early Scottish, are the east and west gables, the greater part of the south wall of the nave and the west wall of the south transept.

The Kirk discouraged many forms of plays, as well as poetry that was not devotional in nature; however, significant playwrights and poets did nevertheless emerge, such as George Buchanan and the Castalian Band of James VI's reign. Scotland's ecclesiastical art paid a heavy toll as a result of Reformation iconoclasm. Native craftsmen and artists turned to secular patrons, resulting in the flourishing of Scottish Renaissance painted ceilings and walls.

At the end of the seventeenth century some of the priory buildings remained entire and considerable remains of others existed, but nearly all traces have now disappeared except portions of the priory wall and the archways, known as The Pends.

The Reformation revolutionised church architecture, with new churches built and existing churches adapted for reformed services, particularly by placing the pulpit centrally in the church, as preaching was at the centre of worship.

The Reformation also had a severe impact on church music, with song schools closed down, choirs disbanded, music books and manuscripts destroyed, and organs removed from churches. These were replaced by the congregational singing of psalms, despite attempts of James VI to refound the song schools and choral singing.

The Scottish Reformation was the process by which Scotland broke with the Papacy and developed a predominantly Calvinist national Kirk (church), which was strongly Presbyterian in outlook. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation that took place from the sixteenth century. The Reformation resulted in major changes in Scottish society. These included a desire to plant a school in every parish and major reforms of the university system.

Women gained new educational possibilities and religion played a major part in the lives of many women, but there was an attempt to criminalise them through prosecutions for scolding, prostitution and witchcraft. Scottish Protestantism was focused on the Bible and from the later seventeenth century there would be attempts to stamp out popular activities such as well-dressing, bonfires, guising, penny weddings and dancing. The Kirk became the subject of national pride and many Scots saw their country as a new Israel.

St Rule Tower

St Rule's tower is located in the Cathedral grounds but predates it, having served as the church of the priory up to the early 12th century. The building was retained to allow worship to continue uninterrupted during the building of its much larger successor. Originally, the tower and adjoining choir were part of the church built in the 11th century to house the relics of St Andrew. The nave, with twin western turrets, and the apse of the church no longer stand.

The church's original appearance is illustrated in stylised form on some of the early seals of the Cathedral Priory. Legend credits St Rule (also known as St Regulus) with bringing relics of St Andrew to the area from their original location at Patras in Greece. Today the tower commands an admirable view of the town, harbour, sea, and surrounding countryside. Beautifully built in grey sandstone ashlar, and (for its date) immensely tall, it is a land- and sea-mark seen from many miles away, its prominence doubtless meant to guide pilgrims to the place of the Apostle's relics.

In the Middle Ages a spire atop the tower made it even more prominent. The tower was originally ascended using ladders between wooden floors, but a stone spiral staircase was inserted in the 18th century.

St Andrews Magazine Awards

BEST DAY OUT IN THE ST ANDREWS AREA

Cambo House

Just six miles south of St Andrews on the magnificent Cambo Estate lies a grand country house which is a must visit attraction whilst in the area. The current house was built in 1881 after a fire destroyed the original two years earlier, and is still home to the Erskine’s who have been resident on the Estate since the late 1670’s.

Cambo House is a family home but also a country house hotel, offering accommodation year-round with a variety of suites.

The House is available to be rent for weddings and has a perfectly romantic setting for your big day.

Cambo café, situated in the Cambo Courtyard, is open from 10-5 (last orders 4.30pm) daily and serves a selection of teas, coffee and juices. They serve delicious cakes, filled rolls and soup, often made from veg grown in the walled garden. There is also a selection of alcoholic beverages, including wine and local ales.

The Walled Garden

The Walled Garden at Cambo is a truly spectacular wonderland of flowers, plants & vegetables, and is now considered one of the finest in Scotland. It is an oasis of calm and the colours are beautiful.

The striking statues of children doing cartwheels evoke images of what this place must have been like for children growing up on the estate many years ago.

Cambo House and its adjoining Gardens play host to a number of events throughout the year including, for the first time last year, the DON’T WALK CHARITY FASHION SHOW. Other events include Winter Cambolicious, Christmas Food and Craft Fair, Cambolicious, the Snowdrop Festival and the Rose Festival Cambo House and Gardens is open to the public with entry by donation

GET YOUR SKATES ON! FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS WELCOMES ICE RINK AS PART OF FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS Fairmont St Andrews is going all in on Christmas in 2017 with an under-the-stars experience unlike any other in the area, with an outdoor ice rink open to guests and the public for the whole of December. Ice Rinks are a popular feature in many Christmas celebrations across the world, including Edinburgh’s Christmas and the Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park.

The ice rink provides skaters the opportunity to experience a classic winter tradition surrounded by the natural beauty of the Fife landscape and starry night sky above.

Mulled wine, mince pies and festive treats will be available from the market stall nearby the rink.

OPEN 9 DECEMBER – 7 JANUARY 10am-9pm Tickets: £8.00 Children aged 6 and under: £5.00 Fee includes: skate hire, skate aids (if required) and 1 hour on the ice rink.

To make a booking call: 01334 837000

Fairmont St Andrews’ Christmas Celebrations continue inside the hotel with a Michael Bublé Tribute Night on Friday 15 December.

Fairmont St Andrews is located just to the south of St Andrews, with two spectacular golf courses and a recently refurbished 5-star hotel, including a spa, six restaurants and two bars part of this magnificent resort. The resort played host to the inaugural Scottish Golf Tourism week in October 2016, and staged the KPMG Golf Business Forum in 2015. Fairmont St Andrews won Fife Business Award, Excellence in Food & Drink in 2017, Best Hotel Resort at the Scottish Hospitality Awards in 2016 and Best Large Hotel at the 2015 Scottish Golf Tourism Awards.

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WHERE TO EAT OUT ON CHRISTMAS DAY

THE DOLL’S HOUSE, Church Square

THE BLUE STANE, Alexandra Place

£45.95 per person

£39.99 per person

MITCHELL’S, Market Street

FORGAN’S, Market Street

£39.95 per person

£54.95 per person

GREYFRIAR’S HOTEL. North Street £43.95 per person

CROMARS, Union Street Menu’s available on website

THE RULE, South Street

£40 per person

HOTEL DU VIN, The Scores £99 per person

JAHANGIR, South Street Menu’s available on website

THE DINING ROOM, Crails Lane Menu’s available in restaurant

OLD COURSE HOTEL, GOLF RESORT AND SPA Hams Hame, £60 / Sands, £85 / Road Hole, £120

PLACES TO ENJOY A DRINK AND COMPANY ON CHRISTMAS DAY

THE NEW INN THE KEYS

St Andrews Magazine Awards

BEST RESTAURANT IN ST ANDREWS

Readers of St Andrews Magazine have overwhelmingly voted for Playfair’s as the Best Restaurant in St Andrews. This family run restaurant and hotel (Ardgowan) is located on Playfair Terrace just five minutes’ walk from the 18th hole of the Old Course, and just two minutes from the bustling St Andrews town centre.

This comfortable and cosy restaurant and steakhouse is situated on the ground floor of the Ardgowan Hotel and is renowned for its seafood and steaks. Whatever the season, this classic St Andrews restaurant is better than Fair.

St Andrews Magazine Awards

BEST NEW RESTAURANT IN ST ANDREWS

Readers of St Andrews Magazine have voted Kazoku as the Best New Restaurant in St Andrews. The Japanese Dining and Cocktail Bar opened earlier this year on Greyfriars Gardens in the premises formerly occupied by Q-BBQ. Kazoku is Japanese for Family and the bar encourages gatherings and groups to dine and take in the Japanese eating experience.

St Andrews Magazine will have a full review of the Kazoku experience in our February/March 2018 edition.

St Andrews Magazine Awards

BEST BAR IN ST ANDREWS

Readers of St Andrews Magazine have voted The Criterion as the Best Bar in St Andrews. The South Street pub opened in 1874 and despite a recent refurbishment it retains the charm of an old Scottish bar in the heart of town. You’ll find photographs of St Andrews from various times throughout the last century decorating the walls.

One of the last remaining family run pubs in St Andrews, The Criterion is open from 10am daily and serves its ‘famous’ Cri Pie until 11.45pm each day.

The Criterion has a range of over 160 whiskies and 30 Scottish Gins.

St Andrews Magazine Awards

BEST AFTER DARK EXPERIENCE

Readers of St Andrews Magazine have voted Forgan’s as the Best After Dark Experience in St Andrews. Forgan’s is a restaurant and a bar with a twist, featuring intimate bothy’s and it comes alive after dark with its regular Ceilidhs.

This Christmas Eve they are holding a special Christmas Ceilidh from 8-10pm.

This year Forgan’s celebrated four years since they opened. The restaurant is said to be based in the site of an old Cleek Factory owned by Robert Forgan, and as such is the ideal place to visit for a bit of golfing nostalgia over the Christmas period if you are here for a winter visit.

INTERIORS BY TRACY SMITH

OLD COURSE SUNDAYS

LIVING IN ST ANDREWS AT CHRISTMAS This will be the fourth Christmas I have spent in St Andrews, I generally tend to go back to see my family every other year, but the first in what I would call ‘home’. During the golfing season and the time when students are here living in the centre of the town can be a little noisy, but at Christmas time it truly is peaceful. The town is lit up with Christmas lights on South Street and Market Street, and this year BID St Andrews have funded a project to provide even more festive lighting right across the town centre, which will turn St Andrews into a winter wonderland.

Something which is striking though is the lack of a Town Christmas Tree. The town which I grew up in has a large tree in the market square, and just across the Tay in Dundee they have an enormous Norwegian Spruce which is awesome to see in person. In the summer St Andrews has the continental market during the Lammas Fair, but there isn’t any Christmas Market here, which is something which would bring people in to the town.

Since my first Christmas in St Andrews, back in 2011, it has been my intention to attend a midnight Christmas service at one of the churches in town. Sadly, I have never managed to do so, but this year I am going to make a promise to myself to do it, the last time I was in a church was for the funeral of my grandmother, and I would like to say goodbye to this year and celebrate Christmas in a different kind of way this year. I am not religious, and I barely ever attend church, but it just feels right to attend at Christmas.

Something I discovered a few years ago is that despite the Old Course and St Andrews Links being closed on Christmas Day, you can play the course, with the flags left in. When I wandered down a couple of years ago there were many families teeing it up on the first, and several early birds just finishing. Obviously, the links trust do not promote this, but it is just a part of the charm of this unique place that the locals go out for a quick Christmas Day round and pay homage to the game of golf before tucking in to Christmas Dinner.

So far, there hasn’t been a white Christmas in the 6 years I have been here, we had snow on St Andrew’s Day in 2015 and in February this year, but a snowy Christmas morning would make it just perfect. St Andrews is magical at any time of the year, but Christmas time and the Hogmanay Celebrations which follow make it even more amazing.

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CHRISTMAS SERVICES

CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICES IN ST ANDREWS HOLY TRINITY CHURCH CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY SERVICE 3PM SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER

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CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE 11.15PM SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER

HOPE PARK CHURCH NATIVITY SERVICE 9.45AM SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER JOINT MORNING WORSHIP 11.00AM CHRISTMAS EVE SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER CHRISTINGLE SERVICE 5.00PM CHRISTMAS EVE SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER CONGREGATIONAL CAROL SINGING 11.00PM CHRISTMAS EVE SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER WATCHNIGHT SERVICE 11.30PM CHRISTMAS EVE SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER HOLY COMMUNION JOINT SERVICE 11.00AM CHRISTMAS DAY MONDAY 25 DECEMBER

ST JAMES’ CHURCH CHRISTMAS EVE MASS 6PM SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER

ST LEONARDS PARISH CHURCH FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS, CHRISTMAS EVE SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER 11.30AM-12.30PM

PYJAMA SERVICE CHRISTMAS EVE SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER 6.30PM WATCHNIGHT SERVICE CHRISTMAS EVE SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER 11.30PM CHRISTMAS DAY FAMILY SERVICE MONDAY 25 DECEMBER 10.30AM

COME IN FROM THE COLD, ENJOY THE PEACE AND QUIET DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON ST LEONARD'S PARISH CHURCH on Donaldson Gardens is going to be open in the evenings from 4-7pm during Advent (1-24 December) & will be lit by candlelight - an opportunity for people to come into church & enjoy the peace & quiet & away from the hustle & bustle that is Christmas shopping & other stresses.

CHRISTMAS MARKET.AND LATE NIGHT SHOPPING

A ST ANDREWS CHRISTMAS NIGHT MARKET SET TO DEBUT AS ST ANDREWS GOES ALL IN ON CHRISTMAS 2017 Visit Bell Street under our magical canopy of lights and experience our first ever outdoor Christmas Night Market!

This year St Andrews LIVE is hosting their first outdoor Night Market where local businesses will bring their wares out onto the street and offer local residents and visitors the opportunity to try free samples, pop into stores and grab those last-minute Christmas gifts!

Stores on Bell Street include CREW CLOTHING, PITLOCHRY, JO MALONE, BOBBI BROWN, BARNARDOS, BARNARDOS BOOK STORE, THE HALCYON, LADYBIRDS, ALPACA LINKS, ST ANDREWS WINE COMPANY and JOULES along with eateries such as GORGEOUS, ROCCA DELI, MOZZA and MINICK OF ST ANDREWS. The rest of St Andrews town are set to join in, with many stores opening late until 8.pm.

Other great European Medieval Towns hold major Christmas Markets every year, and if successful, this could be an event which grows to encompass the entire town centre in the years to come.

BELL STREET 6-8PM THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER.

A ST ANDREWS BID ST ANDREWS AND HAMISH MCHAMISH FOUNDATION RAISE MONEY TO LIGHT UP ST ANDREWS FOR THE WINTER In response to the criticism of St Andrews’ Christmas lights in years gone by the BID (Business Improvement District) and the Hamish McHamish Foundation have joined forces to raise the funds to give the town the lights it deserves for the festive season.

The two organisations are ‘Working together for St Andrews’ and to be able to turn St Andrews into the Winter Wonderland it deserves to be they need to raise £55,000. They already have funding in place from other sources but unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough to enable them to do what they need to…

The project aims to light up South Street, Bell Street, Market Street, Logie’s Lane/Church Square and Church Street. The aim is to light up St Andrews from November – March with classic winter lighting and a few surprises too! The lights will change colour for St Andrews Day and Valentine’s Day. If they raise enough money we can install architectural lighting that can be used year-round.

The two organisations ran a campaign on JustGiving and to date have raised £49,000 towards their target of £55,000.

THE LIGHTS WILL BE SWITCHED ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 1 AT 6.15PM

OLD COURSE SUNDAYS

If you should venture down to the Old Course on a Sunday in search of a tee-time you will be in for a big surprise, because you are more likely to see a Teddy Bear’s Picnic than the masses of golfers who usually occupy the world-famous golf course. Except for the final day’s play in the Local Clubs’ Gold Medal, St Andrews Links Trophy, St Rule Trophy and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship the Old Course is closed to golfers on Sunday.

Historians trace the Old Course’s Sunday closure to religious laws dating at least to the 16th century, when some residents of St. Andrews were cited in town criminal logs for playing on the Sabbath. It was not until 1941 that the New, Jubilee and Eden courses were opened for play on Sundays.

The scene on the Old Course each Sunday is one which will take most avid golfers breath away, with small football matches, the odd beach ball and a gaggle of dogs.

The Old Course on a Sunday is just a great place to get away from it all, going for a stroll with man’s (and women’s) best friend, or for a wander after lunch with your family having just tasted what the local restaurants can offer.

Can you imagine this scene at Augusta, Pinehurst, Pebble Beach, Royal Melbourne, Turnberry, Birkdale or any of the other cathedrals of the game? Of course not. It couldn’t happen. St Andrews and the Old Course is unique. After all the land belongs to the people of St Andrews, even if you may forget that when the hordes of visitors and club members clog up the course throughout the week.

And if you are a golfer and you’re about to fulfil your lifelong dream of playing the Old Course, Sunday is the perfect opportunity to take a stroll down each hole and study the Old Lady. St Andrews is the town of romance, and there is nothing more romantic than an Old Course Sunday.

DECK THE HALLS

By Tracy Smith Partnership

Christmas is fast approaching, and it is time to start considering how to decorate your home for the festive period. So far 2017 Interior Design trends has involved natural textures, botanicals, pastels and deep blues. Grey has continued to dominate as base colour of choice and works well in either cold or warm tones, it is also great for layering up on tones and hues.

Remember when you add you also need to take away, what I mean by this is take objects and items away e.g. vases, ornaments that you normally have in the room can be put away until January.

This is a good way of de-cluttering for the future.

A ST ANDREWS

Mix it up try out new colour palettes you do not have to do the same every year.

(Although if you are like me you will have been gathering special baubles for your tree over the years and they definitely need to go on the tree).

Try and stick to two to three colours, it makes decorating easy and the end result looks perfectly put together.

Feed the other senses, festive candle, diffusers or sprays can make your home smell all Christmassy. A cosy throw over a sofa will immediately give a sense of warmth to a room on a cold winters night.

If you can exchange a couple of your cushions for festive ones this will bring your whole scheme together.

Candle light is magical at this time of year but I know not always practical, there are some great battery powered tea light and church candles which work just as well. (For Elf and Safety reasons of course).

Christmas is the one time of year you can truly go over the top with decor, remember to include bedrooms, bathrooms and the kitchen. Spread the joy.

Enjoy decorating your home for Christmas it should not feel like a chore.

Put a Christmas film on tv or some Christmas music and take your time.

I love bringing foliage into our home at Christmas and I like to make my own wreathe, if you do not have time to do this then you can purchase one from your local supermarket and add to it with your own baubles or berries. It is a quick way of making something look home made for not a lot of effort.

A ST ANDREWS

When putting things out on display think about how you are going to place them. The rule of threes applies in most situations, or any odd number five and seven work just as well. Stacking and Layering is also important in creating the right amount of detail with objects or pictures.

Take pictures as you are going along, often we can over do it and by taking a photograph you can see clearly if something is out of place.

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

AN OLD COURSE

A short story by Matt Hooper

I’ll never forget my 10th Christmas, I had asked Santa for a Baby Rabbit. Sure enough when I entered the lounge on Christmas morning there was a box next to the Christmas tree. I approached it and slowly opened it. As soon as my eyes caught a glimpse of this blonde, fluffy animal I, like most children, lost all control and started jumping up and down on the spot. There it was, or he was, as we thought. He was to be called Oliver, until we shortly discovered it was indeed actually a female. Lucy it was.

For the next few years I would lovingly take care of Lucy, mainly because she could be quite aggressive towards other females, or other animals, as the black cat once found out when he ventured into her pen and Lucy pinned him to the floor! Devastatingly Lucy had to be put to sleep five years later, just before Christmas.

That Christmas we were having a family reunion of sorts in Scotland, and my uncle, who was fairly minted had booked for 12 of us to have Christmas dinner at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews. Two years earlier I had taken up playing golf, the first to do so in my entire family. Soon my dad also had the bug and we would regularly spend Sunday mornings playing golf with each other, whilst mum dragged the trolley for me and my younger brother did for my dad.

Then for this Christmas I now knew Santa did not exist and I had asked my dad for a new set of golf clubs. Titleist 981’s.

We were staying at a Cottage at Blebo Craigs, just a few miles outside of St Andrews near Strathkinness. It really didn’t matter where we were staying, it was Christmas morning and our dog at the time, Floyd (a cocker spaniel), was desperate to venture outside for a wee. It was 7am and our Christmas presents were adorning the large Norwegian Spruce in the corner of the lounge. The log fire was up and running and it was time to open our presents. This time when I opened the box it wasn’t blonde and fluffy, it was steel and shiny, it still had that same impact.

Then it dawned on me that I would have to wait to use these amazing clubs until we got home. Mum was busy in the kitchen making breakfast when dad came up with a suggestion.

“Do you know that if you’re brave enough you can just show up and play the Old Course on Christmas Day?” He whispered to me.

“No way” I shouted back! Mum came running from the kitchen. “Hey, what’s going on?!”

She barked. Dad said “Me and Matt are going to play the Old Course this morning, and you and Steven are coming with us, bring Floyd too.”

Dad put the clubs carefully into the boot of the car and he and mum got into the front whilst Steven, Floyd and Myself crammed into the back of this Renault 5 Campus we had at the time. I am pretty sure the golf clubs were more expensive than the car. Off we went along the B939 into St Andrews, once we had navigated our way through the town the R&A Clubhouse came into sight. Then you could see the waves crashing onto the beach and eagerly looking to see the world famous old course, and just as excited to see it as I was a rabbit five years earlier. Incredibly there was a queue to tee off, all of them either father and son, or mother and daughter or in some cases all four!

As it was Christmas Day there weren’t any starters or greenkeepers anywhere to be seen, and the clubhouse was closed, but here we were, standing next to the first tee of the world’s most famous golf course, ready to play it for the very first time. When you stand on the tee you suddenly realise that the first and eighteenth fairways are not as large as you are led to believe. The nerves took over and a fairway which should be hit with regularity suddenly becomes very daunting, both of us just managed to keep the ball in play.

The history, the ghosts of the past and imposing R&A clubhouse envelopes you and your thoughts. The carry over the burn on the first is much further than anyone imagines, especially into the wind. The second hole demands a straight and well-positioned tee shot and the approach, depending upon the hole location, is one of the most difficult on the course. The greens can be undulating and beguiling.

And don't believe the hype about this being a flat course. It may not have the imposing dunes of Royal County Down or Trump International, but the Old Course is subtle in its inclines and is only truly enjoyed by playing the game along the ground. As it was meant to be. The advice from most caddies is take the left line off the tee, but for the better player you have to take on the trouble down the right. This is a course of magnificent strategy, it demands every shot in the bag and you will likely use every club in the bag.

You will use your putter more often than on any other course and not just on the enormous double greens.

As we played 16 it began to snow, very lightly, by now the match was in the bag, as the older and less fit man had wilted under the pressure! As we teed off the 17th the snow got heavier and heavier, not what you wanted when playing the hardest hole on the course!

Ewen Murray said that you don't walk up this fairway, it is "like a magic carpet ride." His words sum the feeling of playing this hole up perfectly. Once you have holed out on 18 you turn and look back down towards the Old Course Hotel and to West Sands on the right.

The drive is famous, or infamous, but not really the hardest part of this hole. The approach has to be the hardest approach to any hole. You could take the shed away and this hole would not lose any of its difficulty.

Your round on the most famous course in the world has come to its conclusion. You will want to come back time and time again. And many do. There simply is nothing like golf in St Andrews and nothing like the Old Course.

You still have to hit the fairway and no matter whether you are coming into the green with a wedge or long iron this green is extremely daunting to play to and even harder to hit.

By now the snow and slowed it down to about 2 on the stimp!

There was mum, Steven and Floyd waiting for us behind the green, having nipped into the hotel for a hot chocolate or three and watched while we silly buggers had tried to play golf in Blizzard conditions.

Incredibly it was a White Christmas and we were playing golf on the Old Course. A Christmas dream come true! We hit off the 18th tee knowing we probably had more chance of finding the ball when out of bounds than on the fairway! The par four eighteenth is the final hole of the most impactful golf experience you will ever have. Back to that wide fairway, but this time you are facing the R&A clubhouse, with the road even closer to the right and the town in the background.

I would say it was worth every penny, but incredibly it was free and an experience I would love to have again in the future. What a privilege, playing the Old Course on Christmas Day.

ALYSON MCKECHIN

JUSTIN THOMAS

CHRIS HANSON

TEN YEARS OF RORY ON TOUR

UNITED STATES RECLAIMS WALKER CUP IN DOMINATING FASHION AT LOS ANGELES COUNTRY CLUB Sept. 9-10, 2017, The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club (North Course).

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Two years ago John “Spider” Miller and Maverick McNealy left Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s on the wrong end of a seven-point defeat, one of the largest for a USA Team in the Walker Cup. Two years later, in a town known for hit movies, both captain and veteran player wound up writing a very different script.

Miller watched his talented USA side, led by world No. 2 McNealy, produce a 19-7 victory over Great Britain and Ireland at The Los Angeles Country Club. McNealy, a 2017 Stanford University graduate who plans to turn professional on Monday, was one of three Americans to go 40, a feat that had never before been achieved in a single Match.

In three Walker Cups, the USA had two players post 4-0 records – 1977 (John Fought and Lindy Miller), 1997 (John Harris and Brad Elder) and 2009 (Peter Uihlein and Rickie Fowler) – and GB&I achieved it once in 1999 (Luke Donald and Paul Casey). McNealy was joined by local product Collin Morikawa from nearby La Cañada Flintridge, Calif., and 2017 U.S. Amateur runner-up Doug Ghim, of Arlington Heights, Ill., with perfect marks.

“I think it starts with the U.S. team getting that big trophy and that was our goal at the beginning of the week and I'm so excited to be part of the 2017 winning Walker Cup team,” said McNealy. “That's what's most important to me. I’m so glad we could win this for our team, win this for Captain Miller, and win this for the country. “It’s been unbelievable. I’ll never forget this week. It’s the end of my amateur career, but it means so much more than that to me, it’s been incredible.”

The Americans came into Sunday’s double session of four foursomes (alternate shot) and 10 singles matches with an 8-4 advantage, and instead of faltering to allow GB&I to narrow the lead, they built on it. The USA went 3-1 in foursomes and 7-1-2 in singles to tie for the Match’s second-largest margin of victory. Only the 19-5 victory in 1993 at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn., was greater, though the format and schedule were not the same. That year, 20 singles matches were contested due to weather postponing Saturday’s morning foursomes session. The USA also won the 1997 Match at Quaker Ridge in Scarsdale, N.Y., 18-6.

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The Walker Cup format was tweaked in 2009 to add two more Sunday singles matches and 26 total points. “I’m so proud of all the players,” said the 67-year-old Miller, a two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion from Bloomington, Ind., who called the 2017 Walker Cup would be his swan song in amateur golf. “They have conducted themselves great this week, they have done everything I've asked, and I'm very proud of them all.”

Starting the day, GB&I held high hopes it could dent the USA’s four-point margin in foursomes, but only the English duo of Jack Singh Brar and Scott Gregory could forge a 2-up victory. With the USA needing just 2½ points going into

Starting the day, GB&I held high hopes it could dent the USA’s four-point margin in foursomes, but only the English duo of Jack Singh Brar and Scott Gregory could forge a 2-up victory. With the USA needing just 2½ points going into the 10 afternoon singles matches to reclaim the Cup, the biggest drama surrounded who would get the clinching point.

Even with the Match’s outcome decided, seven other matches were still on the course, with players looking for some history. That included Morikawa and Ghim, who defeated reigning British Amateur champion Harry Ellis (2 and 1) and Matthew Jordan (3 and 1) – both of England – to complete their perfect weekend.

A dominating 6-and-5 victory by reigning NCAA champion Braden Thornberry, of Olive Branch, Miss., over Paul McBride, of the Republic of Ireland, produced the first point. Reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Stewart Hagestad, of Newport Beach, Calif., a Los Angeles Country Club junior member who had a large throng of supporters all weekend, avenged his Saturday defeat to Singh Brar, 2 and 1. The match ended in unusual fashion with Singh Brar, who was bidding to be GB&I’s only 4-0 player, striking the sand in the bunker on No. 17 after his third shot failed to get out of the hazard. It resulted in a loss-of-hole penalty under Rule 13-4 (touching sand in a bunker).

“It's a dream come true,” said Morikawa, a junior at the University of California. “I’ve never really gone undefeated in one of these team events.

“It's really unfortunate the way it ended,” said Hagestad. “From a competitor one to another that's never the way that you want it to go. My heart goes out to him and I knew that he was going to make that putt and it's weird, I almost wanted to put the pressure on myself to try to make that 3, 4-footer.

“To have the [13th point] on my home course, in front of all my friends and family, is pretty special. I think I'm going to have to take some time and sleep on this and let it marinate. But to do it in a team setting, to do it representing the United States … it's just so gratifying. And I can't wait to celebrate with the guys tonight.”

The clinching half-point came from 18-year-old Norman Xiong, of Canyon Lake, Calif., the youngest player on the USA side, who halved his match against Gregory, the 2016 British Amateur champion, to finish with a 3-0-1 mark. Gregory, in fact, rallied from 2 down with two to play to earn that halve, converting a 30-foot par putt on No. 17 and making an 8-footer for par on 18.

Despite ending up on the losing end of the scoreboard, Gregory was proud of his fight in what was his final match as an amateur.

“I’m so competitive that I … would still want to try and do my best,” said Gregory, who posted a 2-1-1 mark in the Match. “Obviously the goal at the start of the week was to win the Walker Cup and unfortunately we [did not] do that. But I think on a personal note I played really well, played well against Maverick [on Saturday], and the same again today. Both guys are such nice people.”

“To wear the red, white and blue all week since [Aug. 31] when we got here, it couldn't be a bigger honor than to come out and compete against a GB&I team that two years ago kind of beat us down, it’s good to get a little fun back and win.”

Two past U.S. Junior Amateur champions also finished with singles victories. Texan Scottie Scheffler, the 2013 champion, notched his first victory of the weekend with a 1-up victory over 2017 U.S. Amateur quarterfinalist Connor Syme, of Scotland. Zalatoris, the 2014 champion, beat Jack Davidson, of Wales, 3 and 2.

GB&I’s lone singles victory came from 2016 Stanford graduate David Boote, of Wales, who defeated reigning U.S. Amateur champion Doc Redman, of Raleigh, N.C. It prevented GB&I from failing to garner at least one Sunday singles victory since the 1989 Walker Cup at Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta, which ironically was the first GB&I victory on American soil. Robert MacIntyre, of Scotland, the 2016 British Amateur runner-up, halved his match with Cameron Champ, of Sacramento, Calif. Neither player won a hole after the left-handed MacIntyre birdied the 10th to square the match.

“The Americans are amazing, what a team,” said GB&I captain Andy Ingram. “Got to take my hat off to them, they have been superb all week.

“This is such a wonderful place. I love the climate, I love the people, I love the golf course. We have had some great fun.”

The 47th Walker Cup Match will take place Sept. 7-8, 2019, at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), in Liverpool, England, where the USA will look to win for the first time on UK soil since 2007. Until then, they will celebrate a hard-earned victory over an equally admirable GB&I team.

Brian DePesquale, USGA via prnewswire.com

MACARENA CAMPOMANES EGUIGUREN WINS THE LADIES SENIOR BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP Spain’s Macarena Campomanes Eguiguren shot a final round 73 to win the Ladies Senior British Open Amateur Championship at Royal Belfast Golf Club. The championship, which suffered a suspension of play due to heavy rain and flooding on Wednesday, got underway at 8am on Thursday with the cut reduced from the top 40 players and ties to the leading 25 players and ties progressing to the final round instead.

Finishing on five-over-par 218, she won by five shots from Australia’s Sue Wooster with the defending champion, Laura Webb, in third place on 11-over-par after a closing round of 74. Tied with Wooster at the start of the final round, Campomanes Eguiguren, who captained the Continent of Europe in the Vagliano Trophy on three occassions, made a fast start and never lost control.

A twisting 25-foot putt went down for a birdie at the long opening 1st and she holed from six feet for another gain at the 3rd. The Spanish lawyer did drop a few shots in the damp underfoot conditions, but no one threatened to stop her from claiming the title for the first time. By the time Campomanes Eguiguren made her next birdie at the short 14th she had a comfortable five shot lead. Her final two-over-par round was the joint best of the day - Gertie McMullen (The Island) also shot 73 in the final round and rose to finish tied for seventh place on the leaderboard.

Wooster started positively, chipping in for a birdie at the opening hole. But a doublebogey from the bunker at the 2nd followed by more trouble in sand at the 3rd and 4th saw her slip behind. Winner of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in August and on her way home from a golfing tour of America, she finished with a 78. Webb, the winner at Caldy last year, put up a spirited defence. A member at East Berkshire, but originally from Northern Ireland, she returned a best of second round 74 to move into third place going into the final 18 holes. Capomanes Eguiguren, who twice helped Spain win the World Championship, she now has another title to add to her list of achievements. Now in the Senior ranks - finishing third at Royal Dornoch three years ago - she now has another title to add to her list of achievements. The cut fell on 18over-par and 26 players completed the 54-holes.

The 2018 Ladies Senior British Open Amateur Championship will be held at Crail in Scotland from 18 – 20 September.

SCOTTISH GOLF: Fyfe, Howie and Henderson Claim Order of Merit Honours The trio of Calum Fyfe, Darren Howie and Stewart Henderson are celebrating success after winning their respective domestic Order of Merit titles at male level in 2017. For Cawder’s Fyfe, winning the Men's Order of Merit has seen him secure a notable double after claiming the Boys’ rankings in 2014, while Peebles’ Howie stormed to this year's Under-18 crown. Hamilton’s Henderson, meantime, secured the Senior Men’s title for the first time by a slim margin from last year’s winner, Graham Bell from Downfield. Indeed, their battle came down to the final putt on the final green of the season. Fyfe, 20, looked back on a year of consistency, one which saw him post five top-five finishes, to total 1345 points and beat Scottish Men’s Amateur champion Sam Locke (Stonehaven) into second spot on 980. Clydebank & District’s Steven Stewart was third domestically on 863 points.

Finishing his season on a high with remarkable rounds of 64 and 62 for an individual qualifying total of 18 under par at the recent GolfKings Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship at Newmachar, Fyfe said: “I’ve practiced so hard to play consistently and that’s what I’ve achieved. “I’ve worked hard on a good set up with my coach, Alan McCloskey, and it’s made a massive difference, as well as knowing exactly what I’m doing in practice. Newmachar was the highlight, absolutely. I’ve played good golf all year so to cap it off was great as everything clicked for me.

I need to thank my dad, John, massively, as he has been great support to me this year. My focus next year is now on the world rankings and playing in the bigger events.”

Meantime, Howie amassed 1424 points in easing to Under-18 glory, as the Boys’ internationalist saw off the challenge from Boys Open Stroke Play winner John Paterson (New Club St Andrews) and Inverallochy’s Marc Watt. Howie topped strokeplay qualifying at the Scottish Boys and the Boys’ Amateur, as well as finishing second in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters. The 18-year-old, brother of fellow internationalist Craig, said: “If you had said to me at the start of the season that I’d be in this position, I’d have ripped your hand off! It was all due to consistency for me, I think every strokeplay junior event that counted on the Order of Merit I was inside the top 10 so that gave me a lot of points. “Whenever John overtook me, I managed to do well in big events like the Henry Cooper and Boys’ Amateur. Next year I’m now looking to play a schedule that includes the bigger events like the St Andrews Links, European Amateur, British Amateur and try and get selected for the teams at Men’s level.”

Elsewhere, Henderson, 51, is celebrating his best year in the amateur ranks after ending the title hopes of the defending champion, Bell from Downfield. It all came down to the Seniors Order of Merit Finals Day at Blairgowrie, where Henderson finished just a stroke ahead of Bell after the latter missed a five foot putt for par on the final green. Henderson finished on 903 points, just 20 ahead of Bell. Having won the Autumn Meeting and earned a Scotland cap at European level in Sweden, Henderson said: “I only played in one event last year, the South of Scotland, which I won, so this has been my first full year really. “I’ve been happy with my consistency and coming out on top against guys like Ronnie Clark from Erskine and Graham I feel is a great achievement. It’s been a really, really good season and to get capped also satisfied a lot of ambitions.”

ROLEX TESTIMONEE ANNA NORDQVIST CLAIMS THE 2017 EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP Evian Resort, Évian-les-Bains, France, Sunday, 17 September 2017

Rolex Testimonee Anna Nordqvist has claimed her second Major title, at The Evian Championship, France, in a playoff following a closing round of five-under par.

By achieving this momentous feat, the 30-year-old joins fellow Testimonees, Annika Sörenstam, Juli Inkster and Lydia Ko, among the prestigious list of past champions at the beautiful setting of Évian-les-Bains, overlooking the shimmering waters of Lake Geneva.

The first to congratulate Nordqvist, after sinking the winning putt on the 18th green, were fellow Swede Annika Sörenstam and Gary Player, both legends of the game and part of the Rolex family.

The fifth Evian Championship winner said: “I didn’t know Gary Player was here; I was excited to see him. Annika has been a huge role model and a huge inspiration for me and it’s great to see her this week.

Nordqvist continued: “It’s a dream come true, being from Europe too, winning The Evian Championship. I’ve worked really hard over the last couple of years – this year has been testing a little bit, but I am very proud of myself for keeping my head up and staying positive.”

Lydia Ko, who became the youngest ever Major winner when she won The Evian Championship in 2015, finished tied third in the 2017 edition, with a final round of 69.

Rolex Director of Communication & Image, Arnaud Boetsch, said: “Rolex applauds Anna Nordqvist on her incredible achievement of winning The Evian Championship.

This achievement demonstrates Nordqvist’s extraordinary dedication and commitment to excellence and performance at the highest level – qualities Rolex recognizes in all its Testimonees.”

JOBURG OPEN GETS NEW DATE, NEW TEMPORARY HOST Tournament to be tri-sanctioned by Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and European Tour; Showcase for Johannesburg set for bright future

The Joburg Open, traditionally played at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, will be played at the prestigious Randpark whilst the former undergoes necessary renovation works, one of several announcements made on the tournament’s future recently. Randpark last hosted a significant event in 2000 with the South African Open, won by Sweden’s Mathias Gronberg. Retief Goosen won the 1995 SA Open there, but over the last 20 years the courses and club has undergone a major renovation, with locals raving about the condition of the courses.

The tournament will also take place in December as part of the European Tour’s initial portion of the Race to Dubai prior to the Christmas break, and will be tri-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour, European Tour and Asian Tour. 240, an increase of some 36 players, will compete for the title, which is part of the R&A’s Open Qualifying Series on the road to Carnoustie in 2018.

The Firethorn and Bushwillow Courses at Randpark will provide a challenging test for the truly international field.

Soweto Country Club will host the Pro-am for the second successive year.

MATT FITZPATRICK WINS THE OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS, CLAIMS FOURTH EUROPEAN TOUR TITLE

DANE BJERREGAARD CLAIMS FIRST EUROPEAN TOUR TITLE AT PORTUGAL MASTERS SCOT SYME DAZZLES ON PRO DEBUT

Matt Fitzpatrick added another prestige European Tour title to his impressive collection with a stunning victory over Scott Hend at Crans Montana. Fitzpatrick, the former US Amateur champion, had won the British Masters, Nordea Masters and DP World Tour Championship, and his success at the OMEGA European Masters gives him four victories in just three seasons on the European Tour.

The Englishman came into the final round at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club four shots behind Hend after dropping a shot in the final three holes of his third round on Sunday morning.

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard shot a final round of 65 to win the Portugal Masters, after coming into the week battling to save his card on the European Tour. The 26-year-old entered the final round with a one-stroke lead over South Africa’s George Coetzee, but opened with a birdie and never looked back, racing to a four-stroke win over Scotland’s Marc Warren.

He had caught Hend by the eighth and when he birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th, he had a two-shot lead before a bogey on the penultimate hole left him back in a share of top spot at 14 under.

8 birdies and 2 bogeys saw him round in the lowest round of the day, earning him a career-changing win. At the start of the week Bjerregaard was 114th on the Race to Dubai and staring down the barrel of a trip to Q-School, after winning the tournament he rose to 47th and a place in the WGC-HSBC Champions and DP World Tour Championship.

Hend lost this event in a play-off to Alex Noren last season and he suffered more late heartbreak in the mountains, with Fitzpatrick parring the third extra hole to take the title.

Drumoig’s Connor Syme made an impressive professional debut shooting four rounds in the 60’s to earn a tie for 12 th place.

Hend missed a six-footer for victory on the second trip back up the 18th and when the Australian found sand off the tee and went through the back of the green with his second, a par was enough to hand Fitzpatrick victory.

Fitzpatrick had finished in the top ten at this event the last two years and this was the second time he had been involved in a final-day shoot-out after losing to countryman Danny Willett by a single shot in 2015.

DUNNE AND DUSTED – IRISHMAN PAUL SHOOTS SUNDAY 61 TO HOLD OFF RORY AND WIN FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR BRITISH MASTERS CONTINUES TO SHINE Paul Dunne produced a sensational final round of 61 to win the British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Close House in front of the largest crowds since the tournament returned in 2015. The Irishman kept his cool and fended off the challenge of a charging Rory McIlroy, who himself shot a 63 on the hilly Lee Westwood Colt Course near Newcastle. Dunne, a runner-up at the Trophee Hassan II earlier in the season, came into the final round one shot behind 54-hole leader Robert Karlsson, and the scene was set for a thrilling contest with the top 11 players separated by just two shots and tournament Host Lee Westwood just a further shot adrift. England’s Chris Hanson made the first move with birdies at the opening two holes to tie Karlsson at the top but it was soon to be Dunne who leapt to the front. The Dubliner made three birdies and an eagle to reach 16-under-par and open up a three-stroke lead, with Karlsson, Hanson, Storm, Hatton, McIlroy and Ramsay jockeying for position behind him.

Germany’s Florian Fritsch fired a super final round of 63 to set the clubhouse target at -14, but with many of the leaders still on the course it was not going to be quite enough to get the non-flying German a first tour victory. Karlsson got off to a slow start, but five birdies in his final 14 holes saw him leapfrog Fritsch into third place on 16-under-par. Rory McIlroy, a late entry after his elimination from the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup, started the day two off the lead, and three birdies on the front nine put him three back of Dunne. But a poor bogey at the par-four eleventh hole seemed to have ended his challenge. However, the four-time major winner surged back into contention with five birdies in his last 7 holes, unfortunately though he was unable to birdie enough holes to deny Dunne an incredible first win.

Dunne made further birdies at the 11th and 13th, and put the exclamation mark on a remarkable performance with a birdie at the short par-four 17th and a spectacular chip-in at the par-three 18th hole to post 20-under-par and secure a fabulous three-shot winning margin over a strong field at one of Europe’s most prestigious events. Dunne follows Matt Fitzpatrick and Alexander Noren as winners of the British Masters since it returned to the schedule in 2015, adding his name to a roll of honour which includes Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Sir Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Tony Jacklin and Bob Charles.

Over 68,000 attended during the tournament and pro-am, a record number for the British Masters since it returned to the European Tour.

2018 BRITISH MASTERS Justin Rose will host the 2018 British Masters supported by Sky Sports at the wonderful Walton Heath Golf Club next October.

The club and its courses are steeped in history and tradition, and have played a huge part in the development of the European Tour, US Open, Ryder Cup and amateur golf for over a century.

Host to 21 News of the World PGA Match Play Championships, 5 European Opens and the 1981 Ryder Cup, Walton Heath is no novice when it comes to welcoming the world’s best. Since 2005 the Old and New Courses have played host to US Open qualifying, and in that year Michael Campbell progressed to Pinehurst and ended up winning the championship.

Walton Heath is a truly iconic location, with two splendid, authentic heathland courses, which should help to attract the strongest ever field to play in the British Masters. Its date, the week following the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and two weeks after the Ryder Cup in France, could tempt many players from America and the rest of the world to stay on and play. Situated just inside the M25 and only 15 miles from Gatwick and 25 miles from Heathrow, Walton Heath could be attractive to many of the world’s top golfers.

Rose follows Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood as host for the British Masters supported by Sky Sports.

TYRRELL THE TITAN TAKES THE TITLE WITH STUNNING FINISH IN ITALIAN OPEN MILAN EVENT SHINES ON ROLEX SERIES DEBUT Tyrrell Hatton won the Italian Open with a stunning birdie at the 72 nd to cap a fine back nine charge on a thrilling Sunday at Golf Club Milano in Monza. The Alfred Dunhill Links Champion fired four birdies in a row in a low-scoring week near the worldfamous Formula One circuit outside of Milan, and clinched victory with a 10-foot birdie putt at the last hole, edging out Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and England’s Ross Fisher, who both finished at 20-under-par. Hatton started the day two shots back of playing partner and 54-hole leader Matt Wallace. The winner of the Open de Portugal had led from the first day and was set to win for the second time in his rookie season, but a final round of 69 wasn’t enough to stop a pack of players passing him like a Mercedes would pass a McLaren on the nearby Monza circuit. The Thai Aphibarnrat looked set to add to his collection of European Tour titles when he took the lead at 21-under but a double-bogey on the 16th put paid to his chances, and even a bounceback birdie on the 17th was not enough, he finished in a tie for second with Ross Fisher.

Fisher, who has now finished second in each of Hatton’s three European Tour wins, looked set to match his stunning final round at the Old Course when he reached 8-under-par for the day with four holes to play. But four pars to finish saw him post 20under in the clubhouse, at least an hour ahead of the leaders. Hatton entered the final nine holes some four shots adrift of Fisher’s target, but he blitzed his way to the title with four straight birdies from the 11 th and came to the 72nd hole tied at 20under. The Englishman’s previous titles have been won in dominating fashion, leading from the front and coasting to the win.

This time he had to demonstrate guts and determination to overhaul a rampant field which were making the Milanese course look like a pitch and putt. For Hatton it was a thrilling moment: “It's amazing to win one but to win back-to-back and defend in two weeks is unbelievable”, said the two-time Alfred Dunhill Links Champion.

The Italian Open has grown in stature over the last few years, which has been aided by a loyal and large following from the locals and golfing population of the host nation. Golf is enjoying a resurgence following the successful bid to host the 2022 Ryder Cup, and part of the commitment to stage the showpiece event was to elevate the Italian Open and increase the prize fund to $7million. This has seen the field increase in strength over the last few years, as shown by the Official World Golf Ranking Points increase from 24 to 42 in the last three editions. The Italian Open was the second-weakest event in terms of strength of field on European soil in 2015, now (as of 15/10/2017) it is the sixth strongest, behind only the HNA Open de France, Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship and The Open Championship.

24 of the world’s top 100 played in this year’s championship and 7 of the top 10 in the Race to Dubai.

ITALIAN OPEN MOVES TO MAY IN NEW EUROPEAN TOUR SCHEDULE The 2018 edition of the Italian Open will be played in May, the week following the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour announced when unveiling its 2017-18 Race to Dubai. This gives the Italian Open a key date, not so much for 2018, but for the future. Both the PGA Tour and European Tour schedules will be significantly different in 2019, and with the PGA Championship moving to May it may allow the Italian Open to flourish as Europe’s only significant event in that month.

With the weather also likely to be more reliable at that time of year the Italian Open could be played in a larger variety of locations across the country.

All indications are that once the renovations to the Marco Simone Country Club in Rome are completed, ahead of Italy staging the 2022 Ryder Cup, that the Italian Open will move there, perhaps permanently.

However, in recent years the tournament has grown massively, the galleries in Milan are large and the atmosphere is vibrant, and maybe if the event is to get a foothold in the worldwide schedule it is worth investing in the Golf Club Milano and make it a truly world-class host.

WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS

ANDALUCIA VALDERRAMA MASTERS

RAMPANT ROSE ROARS TO STUNNING COMEBACK VICTORY IN SHANGHAI AS WORLD NUMBER ONE IMPLODES ON DRAMATIC FINAL DAY

GLORIOUS GARCIA WINS AT VALDERRAMA AGAIN TO TURN UP THE HEAT IN BATTLE FOR THE RACE TO DUBAI

Justin Rose clinched a first win since his glorious Olympic Gold in Rio with a stunning final round to overhaul world number one, Dustin Johnson at the final World Golf Championship of the year. The HSBC Champions has a history of dramatic final days, and this year’s edition continued that tradition in spectacular fashion. Dustin Johnson, the only man to have won all four individual World Golf Championship titles, held a six-stroke lead through 54 holes and seemed set to win in Shanghai for the second time. The American was some 8 shots ahead of Rose, who seemed to be out of contention, but golf once again showed it is not a game to predict.

Johnson’s nearest challengers heading into the final round were 2017 US Open Champion, Brooks Koepka, and 2016 Open Champion, Henrik Stenson, but the big hitting duo had much to do on the Sunday if they were going to overhaul the seemingly certain champion.

They, and the rest of the field and watching world had not reckoned on Johnson imploding in such spectacular style. Bogeys at the opening two holes saw his lead shrink from six to two over Stenson through the first nine holes, but Rose was still some six shots off the lead after three birdies and three bogeys over the outward nine saw him make little progress. But Sheshan International is a course which comes alive on the second nine, with several risk and reward holes and plenty of water in play, and Rose surged into contention with birdies at the 11th, 13th and 14th and after Johnson bogeyed the 12th hole the gap was just two shots. Two magnificent birdies at the 16th and 17th saw Rose home in 31 strokes, but with holes to play Johnson was still the favourite to take a fifth WGC victory. However, this was not to be the world number one’s day as he bogeyed 15 and 16 to fall two behind. And after he failed to make birdie on either of the final two holes, Rose’s stunning comeback was complete.

The 2016 Olympic Gold Medallist and 2013 US Open Champion had come from 8 back, making it the biggest comeback win of the season and securing the Englishman a first win since that epic battle in Rio with Henrik Stenson in August of 2016. After an agonizing defeat to Sergio Garcia at Augusta it was redemption for Rose, and the 2007 European Tour Number One moved firmly into the rear mirror of Race to Dubai leader Tommy Fleetwood.

The WGC-HSBC Champions is Justin Rose’s 9th win on the European Tour, 2nd World Golf Championship and 18th official title of a career which has marked 20 years this summer. The win also means Rose has won at least one tournament in each of the last 8 years.

Sergio Garcia emulated Rory McIlroy by winning the tournament he hosts, when he produced a fine performance to see off Joost Luiten at Valderrama in the Andalucia Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Foundation.

The win is Garcia’s third of a year which includes successes at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic and The Masters. Garcia has now won twice at the celebrated Valderrama, and sixth of his career in his home country.

A final round of 67 saw the Spaniard hold off Dutchman Joost Luiten and Daniel Brooks, the Englishman who was battling to save his card in the final regular event of the season. Garcia’s wining total of 12-under-par is the joint lowest winning score over four rounds of any tournament played at Valderrama.

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE

TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN

GRACE CLAIMS THRILLING WIN AT SUN CITY, BECOMES FIRST HOME WINNER OF ‘AFRICA’S MAJOR’ IN TEN YEARS

ROSE MAKES IT BACK-T0-BACK WINS TO CLOSE GAP ON TOMMY

Branden Grace had been having a pretty average year, except for one day at Royal Birkdale where he set the major championship scoring record with a stunning round of 62 in The Open Championship. That was until he claimed a stunning victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player. The penultimate Rolex Series event of the 2017 European Tour season was played at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, near Rustenburg in South Africa, and attracted 30 of the world’s top 100 to compete for a record prize fund of $7.5million.

Justin Rose edged out Nicolas Colsaerts with a final hole birdie to claim a second successive win on the European Tour and boost his hopes of a second Harry Vardon Trophy.

‘Africa’s Major’ came down to a three-way battle for the title in tricky conditions. The tournament was, as usual, delayed somewhat by thunderstorms over the first couple of days, but with a limited field competing at Sun City play was able to finish on the Sunday. Scott Jamieson, Victor Dubuisson and Grace fought for the title on a thrilling Sunday, with Grace surging from the pack. Grace fired a superb round of 66 featuring 6 birdies and no bogeys to win by a single shot from his Scottish and French challengers. The crucial moment came at the par-three 16th, where the home favourite rolled in a forty-foot putt for birdie to move to 11-under-par. Pars at the difficult final two holes of the Gary Player Country Club earned Grace his 8th European Tour title and 14th professional win of his career.

Rose, who won the WGC-HSBC Champions to end a run of nearly 15 months without a victory, lifted his 12th European Tour title at the Carya Golf Resort. The Englishman won the 2012 Turkish Airlines World Golf Final, the pre-curser to the Turkish Airlines Open.

Rose came out on top in a tight contest with former Ryder Cup star Colsaerts, South African Dylan Fritelli and 3-time major champion Padraig Harrington. Entering the final round the 2016 Olympic Champion was 2 shots adrift of 54-hole coleaders Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Shane Lowry, but the Thai and Irishman quickly drifted out of contention.

Rose began the final day in Antalya two shots off the pace but a solid front nine put him in a four-way tie for the lead at the turn.

Birdies on 15 and 16 meant that he was tied for the lead with playing partner Nicolas Colsaerts at 17 under going in to the final hole of the tournament and when both men put their approach shots close, it was a matter of who could hold their nerve.

In the end it was Rose who sunk his putt to secure back-toback wins for the first time in his career.

DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP RAMPANT RAHM ROARS TO GLORY IN DUBAI

FABULOUS FLEETWOOD SURVIVES THRILLING CHASE FROM ROSE TO CLAIM THE RACE TO DUBAI IN MOST DRAMATIC FINISH IN THE HISTORY OF THE SEASON-LONG COMPETITION

Spaniard claims second Rolex Series title of 2017, and third worldwide win of incredible rookie season Tommy Fleetwood is the 2017 Race to Dubai Champion after a season which included two wins, a runner-up spot in a WGC and a top five finish at the US Open. But following a stunning finish to the season by Justin Rose, the race went right to the very last hole of the season at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Rose’s wins in Shanghai and Turkey meant a victory or even a top 3 finish could have guaranteed him a second order of merit crown. But once the 2013 US Open champion’s putt for eagle drifted away from the hole on the par-five 18th on Sunday, Tommy knew the title was his.

Jon Rahm’s hopes of claiming the Race to Dubai in his rookie year on the European Tour were extinguished with his no shows for Turkey and Sun City, but the flamboyant Spaniard capped a stunning season with a sensational surge to victory at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

The dominant winner of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open clearly loves the city and all that it has to offer, adding the DP World title to his resume with a final round of 67, overtaking Justin Rose for the win. Rose seemed to have one hand on the trophy with nine holes to play, but uncharacteristic mistakes on the inward nine saw the Masters runner-up fall out of contention for the tournament.

Rahm made just one bogey in his final 45 holes, and his 18 birdies took him to victory.

CAMERON DAVIS, JONAS BLIXT AND MATT JONES QUALIFY FOR THE OPEN IN AUSTRALIA 26 November 2017, Sydney, Australia: Cameron Davis, Jonas Blixt and Matt Jones secured their places in the starting field of The 147th Open after qualifying at the Emirates Australian Open today.

The 102nd staging of the championship, played at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, was the first opportunity for players to book their place at Carnoustie next year through The Open Qualifying Series.

It was a day to remember for home-grown talent Cameron Davis, who lifted the Stonehaven Cup after just over a year in the professional ranks. A five at the par-4 16th was the only blemish on the 22-yearold’s final round scorecard as he notched up six birdies and an eagle to card a 64 (-7) to top the leaderboard and take the tournament on 11-under-par.

Davis, who won the Australian Amateur in 2015 at the same golf course, and was part of last year’s winning Eisenhower Trophy team at the World Amateur Team Championships in Mexico, looked to have lost momentum after following up an opening day 63 with rounds of 72 and 74. Davis produced the low round of the day, however, for a one shot victory and will now travel to Carnoustie next July to play in his first major championship.

Jonas Blixt and 2015 Emirates Australian Open champion Matt Jones secured the remaining spots on offer at The Open finishing in joint second place in Sydney on ten-under-par (274). Blixt returns to golf’s original championship after a two-year absence and will make his fourth start at The Open after playing from 2013 to 2015.

The Swede worked hard for his final day 68 which included a double bogey at the 9th putting him at one over for the day. His recovery was a statement of intention – three consecutive birdies followed by another at the 14th saw the 33-year-old climb the leaderboard and come within one shot of forcing a play-off for the Stonehaven Cup. Jones, who reclaimed his PGA TOUR card in October after finishing 17th on the Web.com Tour’s final money list, got off to a slow start on Sunday after racking up four bogeys after six holes. The 37-yearold managed to regain his focus and begun to reduce the deficit with a birdie 3 at the 7th before delivering a further six birdies on the back nine.

He finished tied second alongside Blixt and booked his return to The Open, where his best finish stands at a tie for 30th at St Andrews in 2015. Jones will also stake his claim for the famous Claret Jug for the fourth time when he travels to Carnoustie in July.

EMIRATES AUSTRALIAN OPEN -- Cam Davis lives out his dream

Coming to the par-five 18th hole, he had the outright lead although knew there was plenty of golf to go.

Utterly nerveless and oblivious to the leaderboards, he wedged in close with his third shot and rolled in the birdie, signing for 64, a round for the ages in high winds.

Cameron Davis lived the dream for four and a half hours at The Australian on the final day, and he is now an Emirates Australian Open champion. Davis, the 22-year-old Sydneysider who has had a difficult first year as a professional, bolted around the layout in just 64 - the lowest round of the day by three shots - to post 11 under, closing with a birdie from 3.5m at the 18th hole.

None of them could catch him and one by one they fell. Davis was on the driving range blasting drives when Day’s improbable three-wood shot at the 18th plopped in the front trap when it needed to go in for an albatross to tie. He was embraced by colleagues including caddie and former touring pro Andrew Tschudin, and he barely took the beaming smile off his face for the next few hours knowing that his name will join Nicklaus, Player, Palmer and company on the Stonehaven Cup and that he is $225,000 richer after his first pro victory.

He then waited on the practice range as a string of players behind him tried to match his score.

Another New South Welshman, Matt Jones, had a long eagle putt at the last to force a playoff, but burned the hole and was left a shot away. But the closest was Sweden’s Jonas Blixt, who hit his third shot at the par-five 18th to the fringe of the green, just 4.5m beyond the cup with a chance to force a playoff.

But with a full amphitheatre of fans on the bank under the clubhouse, Blixt left his birdie roll a few centimetres short, and had to settle for a share of second with Jones. All three players earn berths at the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie via the Open Qualifying Series. Cameron Smith, who finished at nine under, also had threatened to win midway through his final round before faltering and finishing fourth, just ahead of fellow Queenslander Jason Day, who played a faltering final round of 73, two-over par, that will sting him for a while.

Davis, a product of the Roseville and Monash golf clubs in Sydney’s north, emerged from the Golf NSW elite amateur programs and became the youngest Australian Open winner since Aaron Baddeley in 2000 at 19 years old. He won an Australian Amateur Championship in 2015, earned a piece of internet fame for his ability to play both left and right-handed shots with no discernible deterioration in his swings, and was low individual and part of a winning Australian team at the 2016 Eisenhower Cup, the World Amateur Team Championship.

He had led the Open after shooting a 63 on Thursday, but by the time he added 72 and 74 on Friday and Saturday, he was seven under and three shots back from no less a figure than Day at 10 under. What this did was to allow him to play unfettered golf, free of pressure in the sixth-to-last group. Davis birdied three of the first four holes to set it up. Another birdie at the par-four 10th put him in the mix and then the thunderclap of a hole-out eagle with a wedge from the fairway at the 12th to take a share of the lead at 10 under.

Coming to the par-five 18th hole, he had the outright lead although knew there was plenty of golf to go.

Utterly nerveless and oblivious to the leaderboards, he wedged in close with his third shot and rolled in

“It’s a little bit numb at the moment,” he said. “I just didn’t expect to be in this situation. Even though I had a great round, I just didn’t think I was going to be far enough up the leaderboard. But to finish my round and see where everyone was at, I was kind of surprised. I’m just relieved right now. That’s all I can say.”

Davis received a rapturous welcome to the green at 18 but still refused to look at the implications, focussing on what he was doing. “I didn’t even see a leaderboard before I hit that putt on the last hole.

So I made that, and I thought, ‘I’ll be up around the top’. But to come into the scorers’ hut and see where I was at, I was kind of blown away. I had no idea I’d be there.”

It came from the blue. Davis lost his card to play on the Mackenzie Tour in Canada this year and before today, had never logged a top 10 as a professional. Last week he missed the cut in the New South Wales Open, but he felt that some good golf was coming.

He remembers watching Australian Opens through his boyhood, even played a couple where he missed the cut. “You never think you’re going to be there. You want to be there, but you’ve got no idea what the road’s going to be like to get there.”

World No.2 Jordan Spieth closed with an eagle at his 72nd hole to finish eighth in his title defence. The low amateur was Victorian Matias Sanchez, who finished tied 15th.

Aside from his Open berth, Davis may find himself with a few invitations to play around the world. Later this week he will head to the final stage of the Web.Com Tour school in the United States. Suddenly, Australian golf has another great young player to watch.

OPINION: THE FUTURE OF THE EMIRATES AUSTRALIAN OPEN EMIRATES AUSTRALIAN OPEN TO RETURN TO MELBOURNE IN 2020 AND 2022 Dates and venues are yet to be determined, but in conjunction with the Victorian Government, Golf Australia is pleased to confirm that the two “release years” in the current eight-year contract to play in Sydney will be exercised on Melbourne’s famous Sand belt. Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt said the 2020 event would be the first since 2005 to be played outside Sydney. “We're excited to see the national championship return to Melbourne in 2020 and 2022 and we know that the golf clubs and golfers of Victoria will be delighted to have the Emirates Australian Open played on Victorian soil again,” Pitt said. “These tournaments will be played on two of our country’s greatest courses and we are expecting them to be wonderful events.”

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren was delighted that Melbourne would host the nation’s oldest continually run professional event. “Victorian golf fans have a lot to look forward to as we bring the Emirates Australian Open back to Melbourne after 15 years,” Eren said. “Thousands of travellers will be making their way to Victoria to see the world’s best in action and we’ll be showcasing what we do best to millions more on television.”

Mark Hardess, Australian Open tournament director for promoter Lagardère Sports, was also excited. “The national Open is one of the most prestigious events on the Australian sporting calendar and I’m delighted for the golf-loving fans of Victoria that the Emirates Australian Open will again be staged in Melbourne after a 15-year wait,” Hardess said.

The Emirates Australian Open was last played in Melbourne in 2005 at Moonah Links, with Victoria Golf Club, Commonwealth Golf Club, Kingston Heath, Metropolitan Golf Club and Royal Melbourne Golf Club all previous Victoria state hosts of Australia’s National Open.

Melbourne will stage the Presidents Cup for the third time in 2019 at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, and has recently hosted two World Cups of Golf at Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath, along with being the former home of the discontinued Australian Masters from 1979 to 2015.

The Emirates Australian Open has come a long way in the 8 years since the Dubai-based Airline came on board with one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious National Championships. Having a permanent base in Sydney since 2005 has enabled the championship to go a long way in restoring its prestige and attracting some major names to play in the event each November. And as a National Open I was happy to hear that there would be some years where the championship would be played in other parts of the country, however surely this would have been a great opportunity to take it to somewhere else other than Melbourne.

As stated adjacent, Melbourne will have staged three Presidents Cups in 21 years, and the Australian Masters for nearly forty years along with two World Cups in the last five years.

Yes, Melbourne has some of the world’s most iconic golf courses, but somewhere like Adelaide, which has been without a significant event since the demise of the South Australian Open, would have been a better candidate to help grow the event and make it a ‘big deal’. You only have to look at the impact the city had on the Australian Grand Prix to see how well the area can put an event on. But location isn’t the only element which needs to be addressed to enable the Australian Open to consistently attract the world’s best, or at least most of them.

As the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia celebrates 21 years of cosanctioning events, including the ANZ Championship, Greg Norman Holden International, Australian Masters, Australian PGA Championship, Perth International, ISPS Handa World Super Six Perth, Johnnie Walker Classic and New Zealand Open, it is time that the biggest and best of all the Australian events was a part of the Race to Dubai.

Emirates has a long-standing partnership with the European Tour, and with the Rolex Series now nearing the end of its first year, perhaps the Australian Open could in time become part of this prestige group of tournaments. Europe has 7 of the 8 events, with 1 more in South Africa, an Australian event would ensure the series had a more global feel, and have incredible benefits for the Australian Open and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The date is also key to attracting a deeper field of world class players. The Johnnie Walker Classic and Heineken Classic, played in late January/early February used to attract a large contingent of European players. With the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic taking place in the last week of January 2018 and followed by the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, the ideal date could be the one currently held by the ISPS Handa World Super Six. The Super Six event could be moved back by a week and the New Zealand Open moved forward creating a mini-Australasian swing with the Emirates Australian Open at its heart.

This would mean the Australian Open would be part of a huge four-week period for the European Tour with events in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Malaysia and Australia.

A recent article in Melbourne-based Herald Sun suggested that the Emirates Australian Open or another tournament could replicate the format of the Alfred Dunhill Links and be played on three of Melbourne’s famous sand-belt courses. Which got me thinking about another thing which could enhance the Emirates Australian Open and make it a truly unique tournament.

Firstly, the tournament could have a team element to it from Thursday to Saturday, but instead of amateurs and celebrities, the two Australian Open Championships for men and women could be merged. Each championship would remain individual, but the 160 men and 160 women could be drawn into 2-player teams to contest a better-ball competition which would conclude on the Saturday evening. The 320 golfers would be spread out across three courses and play would be completed in a much faster time, which would make for better television as well as making it a completely unique event. The leading 50 men and 50 women would make the cut on Saturday evening, with play in fourballs off the 1st and 10th tees on Sunday featuring two men and two women according to leaderboard order.

Secondly, Sydney could be showcased to the world as the home of Australia’s greatest golf event. First played in 1904 at the Australian Golf Club, the Australian Open has been played 42 times on the great courses of Sydney, more times than any of the other major metropolitan areas of Australia. The championship could be played at Royal Sydney, The Australian Golf Club and the Lakes Golf Club, with each alternating as the primary site for final round play.

To further showcase Sydney as the home of the Emirates Australian Open, the Hero Challenge, which accompanies the British Masters, Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and the DP World Tour Championship, could be staged in Sydney Harbour, with half of the field men and the other half women.

The Emirates Australian Open would show golf as an inclusive sport for men and women, played side-by-side on the same courses in the same week, elevating the event to a similar stature as the Australian Open in Tennis. Yes, it wouldn’t be a Major Championship, but the Australian Open would become that Must-Play event it used to be and should be.

Additional benefits for the PGA Tour of Australasia could be other events around the Emirates Australian Open gaining a stronger field as players try to acclimatize to the conditions and make the trip Down Under worthwhile. Also, the elevation of the Emirates Australian Open would make the other events on the Tour even more important, as players battle for place in the Australian Open field.

Prize money for the men’s Rolex Series event would be $7million, so this transformation would have to take time, as the current purse is less than $2million. The women’s purse would also have to be elevated, because if the Emirates Australian Open is to show men and women as equal in golf, then the purse would have to be equal, making it the richest event by far in women’s golf, and guaranteeing the strongest field of any in the women’s game worldwide.

For far too long Australian golf has just accepted the status quo, accepted having its national Open with a smaller prize fund than the Japan Open, and 6 times smaller than the Greenbrier Classic or John Deere Classic in America, events with comparatively no history played on average golf courses. It is time for the tournaments and governing bodies to stand up and elevate themselves to the same worldwide stature as the great players which have come out of that country. When the PGA Tour, in their rather patronizing manner say the game is “going global” when they take the Presidents Cup or World Cup to Australia, I think “It went global over 100 years ago, the Australian PGA is 12 years older than the PGA of America!”

Nicklaus had it right, the Australian Open is the fifth major, and should be seen as so.

It is time for the powers that be to put it on the stage it deserves.

WOOSIE LEADS THE WORLD (GOLF HALL OF FAME) WELSH WONDER INDUCTED WITH LOVE III, MALLON, OCHOA AND LONGHURST

New York, New York (September 26, 2017) – Just two days before the playing of the 12th annual Presidents Cup at nearby Liberty National Golf Club, the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum kicked off a historic week in New York with the enshrinement of its 2017 Induction Class at Cipriani Wall Street.

Former World Number One, 1991 Masters champion and 2006 Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam led the 2017 class of inductees. Woosnam, one of Europe’s big six of the eighties and nineties, won 29 tournaments on the European Tour and appeared in 8 Ryder Cups as a player for Europe and led his team to a record-equalling margin of victory at the K Club in 2006. The most recent induction ceremony for the World Golf Hall of Fame took place at the Younger Hall in St Andrews in July 2015, during The Open Championship. More than 30 Hall of Fame Members, including icons Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam and the entire 2015 Class returned to support the new members: Davis Love III, Meg Mallon, Lorena Ochoa Reyes, Ian Woosnam and the late Henry Longhurst.

Davis Love III, United States In a career that has spanned four decades on the PGA TOUR, Love has notched 22 victories including the 1997 PGA Championship and two victories at The PLAYERS Championship in 1992 and 2003. His quality of play has earned him a place on six U.S. Ryder Cup teams and six Presidents Cup teams. He has captained two Ryder Cup teams, including the victorious 2016 team. Love is a recipient of both the Payne Stewart and Bob Jones Awards.

Meg Mallon, United States Her 18 career LPGA Tour victories and four Major Championships are just part of Mallon’s winning makeup. A member of nine Solheim Cup teams (captain in 2013), Mallon was recognized during the LPGA’s 50th Anniversary as one of the LPGA’s top-50 players and teachers. She also earned the Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year award in 1991.

Lorena Ochoa Reyes, Mexico In her first full season on the LPGA Tour, Ochoa Reyes had eight top-10 finishes, finished ninth on the LPGA Tour’s money list and was named Rookie of the Year. She finished with 27 victories on the LPGA Tour, including two major championships. She was ranked World Number One for 158 consecutive weeks (2007-2010). In a three-year stretch (2006-2008), she won 21 tournaments, including the two majors and in 2008, she dominated with wins by as many as 11 strokes on more than one occasion. Ochoa Reyes is the first Mexican-born golfer to enter into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Henry Longhurst, United Kingdom A weekly columnist for the London Sunday Times for 40 years, Longhurst was also considered to be the first golf TV personality providing coverage for the BBC from the 1950s until his death in 1978.

“Our heartfelt congratulations go out to Davis, Lorena, Meg, Ian and the family of the late Henry Longhurst,” said Jack Peter, President of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “Between Scotland and now New York, we are very pleased with the direction and the momentum the Hall of Fame continues to build. We are grateful for the opportunity to kick off Presidents Cup week and share the stories of these five worthy inductees with audiences all over the world.”

Emceed by well-known television reporter Cara Robinson, the ceremony was broadcasted live on the Golf Channel in the United States and seen in more than 25 countries.

First to receive the Induction Crystal was Mallon, presented by friend and former LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw who described the four-time Major winner as the “owner of a big, crinkly, beautiful smile.”

Prior to the start of her induction speech, Mallon first asked her family and friends in the audience to stand to be acknowledged for helping her reach her goals, which included a scholarship to her beloved Ohio State University. Mallon also recalled her memories as a member of the LPGA family, which included nine U.S. Solheim Cup appearances.

Following Mallon’s acceptance and to the delight of the audience, the Hall of Fame played an emotional video to honour the late Arnold Palmer, who passed away just over one year ago on September 25, 2016.

Shortly after, Player took the stage to introduce his friend Woosnam who proudly accepted his Induction Crystal and dedicated it to his family, including his late mother and father. Woosnam, known for his power off the tee, smiled while reminiscing about his long, successful career.

Longhurst, a hybrid journalist who wrote extensively for the London Times before seamlessly transitioning to broadcast work for the BBC, was presented by fellow journalist, countryman and admirer, John Hopkins. On hand to accept the Induction Crystal, was Longhurst’s granddaughter Virginia “Ginny” Hudson.

Next to be honoured was Ochoa Reyes, the first Mexican-born golfer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. LPGA golf legend Juli Inkster introduced Ochoa Reyes, who took the stage before more than 80 friends and family members. Unlike many other Hall of Fame Members in the room, she is best remembered for leaving the game on her own terms at age 28 to pursue a family and help others in her home country. Before exiting the stage, a very grateful Ochoa, looked down at her parents, who were sitting in the front row and delivered a heartfelt message in Spanish.

The final inductee recognized was Love III, a 21-time PGA TOUR winner, 1997 PGA Champion and a two-time THE PLAYERS champion. On stage to present Love III, was mentor and fellow Hall of Fame Member Tom Kite. Upon accepting his Hall of Fame honor, an emotional Love III brought his three-year old granddaughter, Eloise on stage as a symbol of the Love family golf lineage, which includes his late father and his son, Dru Love. He concluded his speech by saying “induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame is the greatest honour of my life.”

The next Induction Ceremony will take place in 2019 in Pebble Beach, California the week of the men’s U.S. Open Championship. The Class of 2019 will be announced in 2018.

USA WINS PRESIDENTS CUP AGAIN, FUTURE IN DOUBT STORY BY ROLEX OPINION BY MATT HOOPER

ROLEX TESTIMONEE STEVE STRICKER LEADS THE U.S. TEAM TO RECORD SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE PRESIDENTS CUP VICTORY AT LIBERTY NATIONAL

2017 PRESIDENTS CUP RESULTS

Rolex Testimonee Steve Stricker showed steadfast leadership as Captain leading the U.S. Team to victory at the 2017 Presidents Cup. Over four days of singles, four-ball and foursomes match play at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, the best U.S. and International golfers, including 10 Rolex Testimonee players, competed for the Presidents Cup trophy, resulting in a 19-11 win for the U.S. Team. In sealing at least a half-point from his singles match, Rolex Testimonee Daniel Berger ensured the U.S. Team win, with a par at Hole 15, taking his match to three up with three-to-play. The 24-year-old went on to win his match 2&1.

Scott/Vegas lost 1 up to Johnson/Kuchar

With this achievement, Stricker keeps the Presidents Cup on United States’ soil for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year. Stricker joins an exclusive list of Rolex Testimonees to lift the Presidents Cup as Captain including legends of the game Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, better known together as The Big Three. Famously, Nicklaus and Player agreed to share the 2003 Presidents Cup title after three playoff holes failed to determine a winner. Following the final day’s play, Steve Stricker said: “These guys played so well all year long and they came here with a lot of confidence. They continued it right through this tournament. I’m so proud of them all. They never lost focus.

They feel a special connection to one another. “

Oosthuizen/Grace lost 3 & 2 to Fowler/Thomas

Day One – FOURSOMES INTERNATIONALS 1 ½ - 3 ½ USA Matsuyama/Schwartzel lost 6 & 4 to Fowler/Thomas

Kim/Grillo lost 5 & 4 to Spieth/Reed

Vegas/Grillo lost 2 & 1 to Mickelson/Kisner Oosthuizen/Grace halved with Thomas/Fowler Oosthuizen/Day lost 2 & 1 to Reed/Spieth Vegas/Matsuyama lost 3 & 2 to Berger/Thomas Lahiri/Kim won 1 up against Chappell/Hoffman Leishman/Grace lost 3 & 2 to Koepka/Johnson

Oosthuizen/Grace won 3 & 1 against Koepka/Berger

Day Four – SINGLES

Day/Leishman halved with Mickelson/Kisner

INTERNATIONALS 11-19 USA

Day Two - FOURBALLS INTERNATIONALS 2-8 USA Matsuyama/Hadwin halved with Spieth/Reed

Day/Leishman lost 1 up to Mickelson/Kisner Schwartzel/Lahiri lost 6 & 5 to Chappell/Hoffman Scott/Vegas lost 3 & 2 to Johnson/Koepka

Leishman halved with Chappell Day won 2 & 1 against Hoffman Matsuyama won 3 & 1 against Thomas Kim lost 2 & 1 to Berger Schwartzel won 1 up against Kuchar Oosthuizen won 1 up against Reed Grace halved with Johnson Scott won 3 & 2 against Koepka

Day Three – FOURSOMES & FOURBALLS

Vegas won 2 & 1 against Spieth

INTERNATIONALS 3 ½ - 14 ½ USA

Lahiri halved with Kisner

Day/Leishman lost 4 & 3 to Reed/Spieth

Hadwin lost 2 & 1 to Mickelson

Scott/Hadwin lost 4 & 3 to Johnson/Kuchar

Grillo lost 6 & 4 to Fowler

OPINION: REVOLUTION NEEDED TO MAKE PRESIDENTS CUP RELEVANT, INTERESTING AND COMPETITIVE 40 years has now passed since Jack Nicklaus wrote to Lord Derby suggesting to him that the PGA included players from the Continent of Europe in the team to face the Americans in the Ryder Cup. Four decades later the Ryder Cup is without question golf’s biggest event. Europe, as a continent and as a tour has a bond, and the European team’s bond has grown stronger year after year. Sadly, for the Presidents Cup they cannot expand the International Team to include some super alien who can shoot 58 every time they play.

So how about this for a suggestion? Split up the International Team.

Woah! I hear you say. The Americans would thrash Australasia or Africa or Asia. Really?

Next step? Make the winners of the Ryder Cup compete in the Presidents Cup. Yes, the Americans would virtually never play in the Presidents Cup! Only joking!

In each Ryder Cup year, the Gary Player Cup would take place in the Middle East, featuring a match play competition between teams of 12 from Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas (excluding the USA). The winners would qualify for the Presidents Cup and play away and home matches against the Ryder Cup winners from that year.

This means that only one Ryder Cup would count every four years for qualification for the Presidents Cup, and only one Gary Player Cup would be played every four years.

So, this is how it would work, starting with 2016/17:

2016 USA WINS THE RYDER CUP; AUSTRALASIA WINS THE GARY PLAYER CUP 2017 USA HOSTS AUSTRALASIA IN THE PRESIDENTS CUP 2018 RYDER CUP – NO PRESIDENTS CUP ENTRY FOR THE WINNERS 2019 AUSTRALASIA HOSTS USA IN THE PRESIDENTS CUP 2020 EUROPE WINS THE RYDER CUP; ASIA WINS THE GARY PLAYER CUP 2021 EUROPE HOSTS ASIA IN THE PRESIDENTS CUP 2022 RYDER CUP – NO PRESIDENTS CUP ENTRY FOR THE WINNERS 2023 ASIA HOSTS EUROPE IN THE PRESIDENTS CUP

This would make the Presidents Cup a compelling watch, help grow the game worldwide and would mean that there is more team golf played regularly and wouldn’t always feature the United States. I am sure those who will say that there will be a much larger margin between the teams, but Australians and Kiwis have a much closer bond than an Australian and a Korean. It is just fact. And the Asians grow

up playing very similar courses, as do the Africans and the Australasians. This will give them a distinct advantage to have 12 team members which have played the host course or a similar one, with similar grasses many times in their careers.

This advantage was negated particularly in 2011 at Royal Melbourne, with only 5 of the 12 being Australian. In 2019 this number could be even smaller with the rise of the Korean and Chinese players. And the rise of Asian golfers is sure to make an Asia v Europe and Asia v America Presidents Cups even more competitive. Asia tied the first edition of the EurAsia Cup, and defeated Europe 10-6 in the 2009 Royal Trophy.

Asia now has 9 players within the world’s top 100, including the World Number 3, Hideki Matsuyama. 4 of these 9 are Japanese and 3 Korean, so a national bond is already there for much of a prospective team. The team would represent all Asian golf and all play regularly on the Asian and Japan Golf Tours, as well as other tours throughout the world.

The Presidents Cup, as it stands, is dead. It hasn’t ever captivated interest from American or worldwide golf fans, and I didn’t actually watch any of the event this year. A startling admission I know, but it shows how predictable the event has become. There virtually isn’t an event featuring a ‘Rest of the world’ team which is relevant or interesting.

Rory McIlroy once labelled the Ryder Cup as an exhibition. The only exhibition in golf right now is the Presidents Cup. Let’s change it. The Presidents Cup is dead. Long live the Presidents Cup.

Ikeda making bogey on the same hole the deficit was just one again and the prospect of a first amateur winner of the Japan Open in the history of the championship was very real.

The pair bogeyed the par-four 16th and Ikeda managed to fend off the challenge of Kanaya to clinch his second national Open title and 19 th Japan Golf Tour title. The win takes the 31-year-old into the world’s top fifty and could see him claim a place in the 2018 Masters Tournament.

IKEDA HANGS ON FOR SECOND JAPAN OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY Veteran wins another national title as stars Matsuyama and Tanihara play elsewhere

Yuta Ikeda won the 82 nd Japan Open Golf Championship at the Gifuseki Country Club with a final round of 72, finishing 1 shot ahead of Amateur, Takumi Kanaya. Ikeda, world number 52, survived two late bogeys to hang on to the title after beginning the final round with a fivestroke lead.

A double-bogey at the third to Kanaya’s birdie saw the lead shrink to two strokes before the young Amateur birdied the fourth hole to get to within one of Ikeda. The 2014 champion birdied the 6 th and 7th to get back to 10under-par, before a bogey on the 9th saw him enter the back nine with a 1 stroke lead. He birdied the 11th to return to 10-under, and saw the lead increase to three shots when Kanaya bogeyed the 12 th. The amateur bounced back with a birdie at the par-five 15 th and with

Kanaya, ranked 194th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, is 19 years of age and was playing in his third Japan Golf Tour event of 2017.

Japan’s number one and world number three Hideki Matsuyama was the defending champion but decided to compete in the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia. The third best Japanese golfer on the rankings, Hideto Tanihara is a member of the European Tour, and played in the Rolex Series Italian Open. Perhaps this is further evidence that the calendar needs to be addressed to allow golf’s national Open’s the prominent place they deserve.

Former Japan Number One and rising Star Ryo Ishikawa has had a terrible time with injuries in the last two years, and playing in his 22 nd event worldwide this season he missed the cut for an 18th time. Ishikawa has fallen from a career high of a place in the world’s top 30 at the end of 2009 to outside the world’s top 200 this winter. Hideki Matsuyama has taken his mantle of best golfer in Japan and recorded wins in two World Golf Championships and 12 other tournaments worldwide.

The 2018 Japan Open will be played at Yokohama Country Club, October 18-21.

KOEPKA IS THE KING OF MIYAZAKI AS US OPEN CHAMPION ADDS DUNLOP PHOENIX TITLE TO MAIDEN MAJOR IN BREAKTHROUGH YEAR American leaves Matsuyama trailing in his wake with stunning weekend performance

Brooks Koepka successfully defended the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament at the Phoenix Country Club near Miyazaki, Japan with a 72-hole score just one shy of his own tournament record from 2016.

The American was one of the star names playing in this year’s edition of the tournament won by the likes of Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, David Duval, Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn, Lee Westwood, Craig Stadler, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller.

Koepka won by a 9 shots from three players including the TOUR CHAMPION, Xander Schauffele. Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama finished 10-under-par, some 10 shots behind the dominant US Open champion.

WWW.BUNKER-MENTALITY.COM Congratulations to SUSAN MARTIN Susan correctly answered Polygeine and won the Golf Gameday Outfit from BUNKER MENTALITY in our Launch Competition

About St Andrews, his 2017 season, life on tour and ambitions for the future

The word “Journeyman” is often used to describe a long-term Professional Golfer who has spent many years on the tour, earning money but not having much success in terms of trophies. However, when we look at Chris Hanson we can see the incredible Journey of a man, a man who has seen the ups and downs of life and professional golf over a relatively short number of years.

I first met Chris when we studied for a Foundation Degree in Golf Management at Myerscough College near Preston in Lancashire. You could tell, even then in 2003/4 that this was a young man who had aspirations to be a professional on the tour, he was clearly head and shoulders above our contemporaries and was often away from class at major amateur events. Our paths rarely crossed in truth, despite being classmates, Chris had a different group of friends, which he had made through the college and I was making new friends having come to the college at University level from my home in Wiltshire.

Nevertheless, over the years since graduating in 2005 I have followed his progress and it has been a long and winding road to full European Tour status, which he gained in 2015 via European Tour qualifying school.

This October I caught up with Chris during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and we discussed his performance at Close House, his career, life on tour, his ambitions and the home of golf.

My schedule for the week meant that the best place and time to conduct the interview was at Kingsbarns on Wednesday, Chris was getting in some final practice at the course ahead of the championship beginning on Thursday. I met up with him between the thirteenth and fifteenth, he was plotting his itinerary with just a wedge and a putter, along with his caddie Steve Tooby.

The road to the European Tour began at Myerscough College, the International Institute for Golf Education, a college given accreditation by the University of Central Lancashire, based in Bilsborrow near Preston, Lancashire. The college is the leading institution in the UK for land-based studies and golf education, and provides both a playing and industry pathway for aspiring students to forge careers within the golf industry. Many graduates from Myerscough are based around the world in destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, China, Australia, Florida and of course, yours truly in St Andrews. Organisations such as the R&A and St Andrews Links are lucky enough to have Myerscough educated individuals among their staff.

The college is also the launchpad for aspiring golfers and runs a two-tier tour for its students, with events played at a variety of courses in the North of England including Royal Lytham and St Anne’s. There is a gross and nett division, with tour finals at the end of the year in Vilamoura, Portugal. Each week students have access to coaching from the colleges’ team of PGA Professionals at the state of the art golf academy on-site, and they can also play the 9-hole golf course which is open to the public.

Chris Hanson honed his game on the ‘Links at Royal Myerscough’ and competed in many of the early tour events during his time at the college.

“I wouldn’t be here now (On the European Tour) if it wasn’t for Myerscough College, they gave me the opportunity to play a lot of golf.”

Of course, Chris did not begin his golfing journey at Myerscough, he was born and raised in Yorkshire and cut his golfing teeth at Crosland Heath. “I started early, my parents made me a member at Crosland Heath in Huddersfield when I was three.... as a family we spent a lot of time there.

My dad was a huge inspiration to me growing up, he was such a fantastic role model. We also had a great junior section up at The Heath, there were always four of us wanting to play, I made some great friends growing up with golf” Sadly, Chris’s father John passed away in 2011. It was a huge loss to Chris, as it would be for any young man.

After turning professional Chris had some limited access to Challenge Tour events but chose to focus on getting his card for that tour via the EuroPro Tour, and he did so with great success. A victory came in his rookie season at Bovey Castle in Devon and then in 2011 he dominated the tour, winning three times and recording 6 other top ten finishes on his way to winning the Order of Merit.

Hanson acknowledges the importance of the EuroPro Tour in his career. “It was a long road on the EuroPro, I sure did the ground work!! If I would have changed a few things in my game sooner and learnt a bit quicker maybe I would of been here quicker but who knows....

I learnt how to win out there but also how to deal with the disappointments along the way as there is always more of them!”

Perhaps the passing of his father motivated Chris to his greatest year on a golf course, and the loss of his father would certainly set him up for the challenges he would face on and off the course over the next four years, helping him to put things into perspective. The Challenge Tour proved to be a significant step up in competition, and Chris failed to finish inside the top 40 of the rankings in all of his four seasons playing on the tour. But the focus was on qualifying school and in 2015 he dramatically secured his card for the 2016 European Tour.

Hanson was in perfect position to ease onto the tour for 2016 going into the final round of qualifying school, but his sixth round turned into a nightmare, with five bogeys and a double-bogey seeing him post a 78, all seemed lost for the Yorkshireman. However, the chasing pack for a place in the top 30 couldn’t find the birdie they required to edge out Hanson, and after 8 years as a professional the man from Huddersfield had finally made it to the big time. Chris talked to me about the differences between Q-school and a European Tour event. “Totally different feelings, Q-School finals your playing for a job.... it’s like a week long job interview...

Once you’re out in the big events it just feels like golf.... most events blend into one as you do so many things the same each week!!

Chris kept his card in nerve-wracking fashion, avoiding Q-school by just three places, finishing 108th on the 2016 Race to Dubai. He missed just five cuts and highlights included top ten finishes in Morocco, the Netherlands and Austria. Surviving the drop enabled him to plan a better schedule and 2017 would turn into the best season of his career, with peaks in performance throughout the season. His best result came in the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco. He finished in a tie for sixth, just four shots off the winning score, posting rounds of 74, 70, 72 and 71 and this moved him inside the world’s top 300 for the first time in his career.

If his best result was in Morocco then arguably his best performance was at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports. An opening round of 64 gave him a share of third place at the end of the first day’s play at Close House, and rounds of 67 and 69 saw him enter the final round in a tie for seventh.

CHRIS HANSON’S FAVOURITE TOUR COURSES:

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB

Birdies at the first two holes on Sunday saw him move into a share of the lead, and despite a bogey at the third he bounced back with further birdies at the 6th and 9th put him right into contention to take the title. However, three bogeys on the back nine saw the dream of a first victory on the tour die. Finishing up with a 69 and nine shots back of winner Paul Dunne.

It was easy for Chris to take the positives out of such a good week. “It was a great to be near home, lot of friends and family there, it was fantastic and the crowds were massive” he said.

“I knew a lot of people were going to make birdies out there, it didn’t change my strategy or thinking (getting into a tie for the lead early in the final round), the course was pretty short. I made a few birdies early, but there were a few guys playing behind me who were already in that position, so it didn’t really change anything. I had a good game plan, to stay patient and I played quite nicely.”

Unfortunately, he couldn’t follow up his great performance at Close House in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and missed the cut after three average rounds at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Despite some high finishes throughout the year he was plagued by inconsistency, missing 10 cuts.

Chris was hoping to get into the top 75 on the Race to Dubai to qualify for the Turkish Airlines Open, but missing the cut at the Alfred Dunhill Links, and not contending at the Italian Open (events with purses of $5million and $7million) realistically ended his chances. However, Chris agrees that this has been his best season and his goals are reflecting an increased confidence in his ability. “It feels good, have been doing a lot of good stuff this year. I probably made more cuts last year, but have had some better results in bigger events this year.”

“At the beginning of the year I was hoping to finish in the top 60 to get into Dubai” he said.

LE GOLF NATIONAL

CRANS MONTANA

THE DUTCH

EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

Following a 10th missed cut of the year in St Andrews, Chris headed to the Italian Open, and had high hopes after a tie for 20th in the 2016 edition of an event with elevated status within the Rolex Series. Once again it was a week of what ifs with the putter, finishing in a tie for 50th place at the Golf Club Milano.

The final event of Chris’s 2017 European Tour season came at Valderrama in the Andalucía Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Foundation, and a fabulous weekend of 68 and 70 saw him surge up the leaderboard and claim a top 20 finish.

The tie for 18th made sure of his card for the second consecutive season, finishing in 89th place on the Race to Dubai, an improvement of 20 places on his 2016 Ranking.

As is the way now in the world of golf the 2018 season began immediately in the week following the DP World Tour Championship, which meant a trip to Hong Kong to begin his third full season on the European Tour. Rounds of 71, 66 and 67 had put him in position to challenge for a decent finish heading into the final round at 6-underpar and in a tie for 8th. But a disastrous final round of 76 including two treblebogeys saw him crash out of contention and have to settle for a tie for 41st.

Chris’s final event of his best season to date came at the Australian PGA Championship in Queensland, and he made the cut with two rounds of 71, but a tough weekend saw him fail to make a challenge for a first win, posting 75 and 74 to fall into a tie for 62 nd, some 21 shots off the champion. It has been unquestionably his best year in professional golf, but it could have been so much better, and that is something I am sure Chris feels too. His season has shown how much difference every shot makes to the eventual result, but there’s no question he will take the positives out of 2017 and look to 2018 with confidence.

Chris has seen it all when it comes to playing on tour and has the following advice for any young golfer aspiring to join him on the European Tour: “Build a team around you early, people you trust and who believe in you!!!! It’s actually a team sport!”

With his best European Tour season in the books and a new one underway, Chris will undoubtedly be looking to add consistency to his game in 2018 and finally claim that elusive first victory at the highest level. They do say golf is a never-ending search for perfection, and for Chris the journey has been long and winding, but when he does eventually break through he’ll be making a lot of people happy and fulfil the incredible potential he showed over a decade ago.

CHRIS HANSON’S CAREER RECORD EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYED

62

WINS

0

TOP 10

4

BEST FINISHES

T-6 2016 TROPHEE HASSAN II

RACE TO DUBAI 2017

89

WORLD RANKING

329

CHALLENGE TOUR PLAYED

62

WINS

0

TOP 10

8

BEST FINISHES

T-3 AEGEAN AIRLINES CHALLENGE

4 WINS ON THE EUROPRO TOUR 2011 ORDER OF MERIT WINNER

On St Andrews

The Old Course has grown on me, the more you play it the more you appreciate it and enjoy it a lot more. St Andrews is a fantastic little town, my wife loves it. It’s a very unique town, it’s cool, its chic, it oozes a bit of class.

THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2007 IS THE DATE. THE BELFRY IS THE VENUE. AT THE HISTORIC HOME OF EUROPEAN RYDER CUP GLORY, AND AN ICONIC VENUE FOR THE TOUR, A NEW STAR MAKES HIS FIRST STEPS IN TO THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL GOLF. FOLLOWING A SENSATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE AND STARRING ROLE AT THE WALKER CUP, RORY MCILROY TURNED PROFESSIONAL. TWO WEEKS LATER HE STORMED INTO CONTENTION AT THE HOME OF GOLF, FINISHING THIRD TO SECURE HIS EUROPEAN TOUR CARD IN RECORD TIME. TEN YEARS ON, NOW 28, THE BOY FROM HOLLYWOOD IS THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH HIS STORY, AND WITH FOUR MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, THIS STORY COULD BECOME AN EPIC. NOW ON A SELF-IMPOSED BREAK TO RECOVER FROM INJURY, MCILROY IS OUT OF ACTION AND IT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT HAS BEEN AND LOOK FORWARD ON WHAT IS TO COME. HERE, WE CELEBRATE THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF RORY ON TOUR.

STORY AND IMAGES BY MATT HOOPER

A RISING STAR FROM HOLLYWOOD I first heard of Rory McIlroy in the summer of 2004 when I was a caddie at Royal County Down Golf Club in Northern Ireland. I was lodging with the assistant professional of the club, Stephen Sweeney, and he was attending an event in Belfast and he mentioned this prodigious young talent. It would be some three years before I heard his name mentioned again. This time it would be at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, by this stage I was working as a seasonal retail assistant in the Dormy Clubhouse at Gleneagles. I had bought a ticket to the Friday of The Open that year and on the Thursday Rory, then the leading amateur in the world, had shot an opening round of 68, without a bogey, to sit inside the top 10 and just 3 off the lead.

I arrived at Carnoustie early on the Friday and followed the majority of the young Ulsterman’s round. Unfortunately, Rory couldn’t follow up his opening round, shooting a 76 to fall out of contention. He went on to win the Silver Medal and finish in a tie for 42 nd. A star had been born. Then later that September the Walker Cup came to Royal County Down and McIlroy was the star which shone the brightest among a galaxy of stars. That Walker Cup included Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Billy Horschel, Webb Simpson, Danny Willett and Rory.

On the final day McIlroy and Horschel went head-to-head and the huge crowd of 10,000 roared the home favourite on to a dramatic 4&2 victory, with the Americans winning by a single point courtesy of a miracle shot by Jonathan Moore at the par-five 18th. This was to be Rory’s final act as an amateur, and he would turn professional at the completion of the event.

There hadn’t been a buzz about an amateur from Europe turning professional like this since Sergio Garcia in the late 1990’s. Rory signed with Chubby Chandler’s International Sports Management (ISM) and joined the likes of Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Ernie Els under his wing at the start of his professional career. At the time ISM ran the British Masters, which was being played at The Belfry and naturally Rory made his professional debut in the prestigious tournament. Rory had played in several European Tour events before turning professional including the Dubai Desert Classic, Open de Portugal, Open de Espana, Australian Open, Australian Masters, British Masters, Scottish Open and Irish Open between the start of 2005 and the middle of 2007. This gave him some experience prior to turning professional.

Rory opened his professional career with a round of 69, which only added to the excitement and increased the expectations on the 18-year-old. He followed it, much like at The Open in July, with a round of 78 and further rounds of 70 and 73 saw him finish in a tie for 42 nd place. But greater things were to come. At the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship just two weeks later the County Down man burst into contention for the title, in just his second event as a professional. Rounds of 71, 67, 67 and 68 saw him finish in third place with Nick Dougherty taking the title, but McIlroy taking the headlines. The top ten included Justin Rose, Paul Lawrie, Trevor Immelman, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington, winners of a combined 10 Major Championships and 113 tournaments worldwide. The finish secured his card in record time for a European Tour rookie and he was the youngest ever to secure his card through playing events on the tour.

In the following week he went to Madrid for the Open de Madrid and finished in fourth place, Rory ended 2007 in 95th on the European Tour Order of Merit and 232 nd in the Official World Golf Ranking. 2008 would be in many ways a frustrating year for McIlroy, as the win he and many had anticipated did not arrive. He was, however, very close to lifting a trophy on multiple occasions. At the OMEGA European Masters, he cruelly lost out to Jeff Lucquin in a sudden-death playoff, lipping out for victory on the 72nd hole. Then in November, in the second event of the first ever Race to Dubai, he agonizingly lost out to Korean Lin Wen Tang by a single shot, but he did leave a mark on all our minds to illustrate his vast talent. On the 72nd hole, with one last chance to deny the Korean an unlikely victory, McIlroy pulled his tee shot into the trees, he was left with around 100 yards and hit an incredible hooked sandwedge to around 8 feet. It was a stunning flash of what he was capable of. His next chance of a first win came at Peal Valley Golf Estates in the South African Open.

Starting the final round some three shots back of 54-hole leader Lee Westwood, in a star-studded field McIlroy posted a final round of 70 to finish on 13-under-par, one shot shy of getting into a playoff with fellow Northern Irishman Gareth Maybin and eventual champion Richard Sterne. The third-place finish pushed McIlroy inside the world’s top fifty for the first time and set him up for a first appearance in the American majors including The Masters in April.

A win was surely just around the corner.

BREAKTHROUGH With a 2nd and a 3rd place finish in events on the 2009 Race to Dubai under his belt at the end of 2008, Rory was set for a great year, and the next two years would see him elevate his game to incredible heights.

In Abu Dhabi, on his first appearance, McIlroy finished in a tie for fifth place, four shots behind the winner Paul Casey. Following a tie for 46th in Qatar he headed for Dubai, a place which had been good to him over the past four years and provided him with vital experience ahead of turning professional. The 20th Dubai Desert Classic had attracted a strong field of major champions and worldwide winners, but Rory would stun them all with a dazzling opening round of 64. Nine birdies and a bogey saw him hold a one stroke lead, a lead which he would not relinquish despite challenges from Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia. A second round of 68, including a sensational eagle at his final hole, saw him hold a one stroke lead heading into the weekend.

A third round of 67 gave him a two-stroke lead going into Sunday, with a birdie on his final hole giving him breathing space from a chasing pack which included Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey, Robert Karlsson and Martin Kaymer. A sensational start to his final round gave McIlroy a six-shot lead with six holes to play over playing partner Justin Rose, and heading to the last tee McIlroy had a solitary stroke lead over the Englishman.

McIlroy laid up with his second, and his third flew the green into the back bunker, but a superb up and down saw him hold on to deny Rose a shot at a playoff, collecting the first title of his professional career. The win moved him up to 16th in the world and the world had to sit up and take notice, Europe had found a star in Rory McIlroy.

“To hold off a field like this, as well – the likes of Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Colin Montgomerie – makes my win all the more satisfying” said the 19-year-old. The win made him the seventh youngest winner on the European Tour at the time and put him in serious contention for the Race to Dubai title.

Rory’s next seven events were in the US, including his Masters debut. He finished in the top 20 at the Accenture Match Play, Honda Classic, CA Championship and The Masters, showing that he could play at the highest level all over the world.

Top ten finishes at the BMW PGA, US Open and PGA Championship followed in a mixed summer which included a missed cut at The Players and disappointing performances in The Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, but Rory was in contention for the European Tour’s Race to Dubai along with Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher.

Good finishes in the Alfred Dunhill Links, WGC-HSBC Champions and UBS Hong Kong Open set up a grand finale in Dubai, with McIlroy having a genuine shot winning the first season-long title. But a dominating performance from Westwood saw the Englishman claim the prize, and despite a third-place finish from McIlroy there wasn’t anything he could do to overtake him. McIlroy ended 2009 as world number nine, and after several encouraging performances in the US a breakthrough win seemed to be just around the corner. A third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship continued to build the hype and increase expectations for McIlroy, but an inconsistent period including failing to defend his Dubai Desert Classic title and missing the cut at the Houston Open and The Masters gave no indication as to what was to come at Quail Hollow.

Opening rounds of 72 and 73 left the 20-year-old on the cut mark, and well out of contention, but a third round of 66 was the lowest of the day and his bid for a first PGA Tour title was back on track. Still four behind, and with the likes of Phil Mickelson ahead of him, nobody expected what McIlroy produced on that Sunday in Charlotte. 8 birdies, 1 eagle and no bogeys resulted in a course record 62 to win. But it wasn’t just the numbers, it was the way McIlroy took Quail Hollow apart and left the field trailing in his wake. Massive drives, towering iron shots and laser putting saw the course record beaten by two shots and captivated the thousands in attendance. This was the day and the week in which we saw just what Rory McIlroy was capable of.

And symbolically it was also the week in which Tiger Woods missed the cut for only the sixth time in his career and shot his highest ever 36-hole total (at the time). It was as if Tiger entered stage left and entering stage right was his heir, the only man in world golf who could come close to hitting the shots he could in his prime.

MAJOR CHAMPION With wins on both the European Tour and PGA Tour secured, a place in the world top 10 achieved and positive results in the majors recorded, the logical next step for McIlroy was to win a major. His other high finishes in the majors came from decent weekend scores without being in genuine contention, this was to change at Augusta in 2011.

A blistering opening round of 65 gave the Northern Irishman a share of the lead with Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, and on Friday he took control of the tournament. Four birdies and a bogey gave the 21-year-old a two-shot lead over Jason Day, and he was three clear of Tiger Woods. On Saturday came what seemed a seminal moment for McIlroy when he drained a tricky downhill putt on 17 for birdie to extend his lead to four shots. A third round of 70 put the young star on the verge of his first Major triumph in just his third appearance at Augusta.

The scene was set for a coronation of golf’s new king, but in golf as in life, we don’t always get what we want or expect. After a slow start including bogeys on the first and fifth holes, McIlroy’s lead had dissolved, but a birdie on the 7th seemed to get him back on track. Entering the back nine he was still in a share of the lead and 9 holes from Masters glory. Then on the 10th disaster struck, a horrible pulled tee shot hit the trees and ricocheted into the cabins, six shots later McIlroy’s tournament was in tatters. A treble-bogey seven left him back in the pack, and a bogey at 11 and double-bogey at 12 ended his bid for a first major. The now iconic image of him slumped over his driver on the 13th tee must surely have served as a motivation for him to never repeat the mistakes he made on the final day.

He ended up in a tie for fifteenth, with Charl Schwartzel birdieing the last four holes to win the tournament.

However just nine weeks later he would break his major duck, in quite remarkable fashion. The 2011 US Open was played at Congressional Country Club, which had experienced a wetter than usual summer and it played right into Rory’s hands, although that does not detract from the incredible performance which carried the Ulsterman to a shattering victory. Rounds of 65, 66, 68 and 69 resulted in an 8stroke victory, the second largest winning margin in US Open history, and just one of 11 US Open records he set that week.

The nearest player was Jason Day, on 8-under-par, with a whole host of major winners and top ranked players trailing by at least 10 from McIlroy’s torrid pace at the top. The bounce back from his final round meltdown at Augusta and the manner of his victory stunned the golfing world, and helped to make McIlroy an overnight superstar. His 8-shot win meant the comparisons with Tiger grew, as there weren’t many golfers in the world which could dominate a field like that in a Major Championship. His return to the UK, at the 2011 Open was to a hero’s welcome on the first tee at Royal St George’s, but he couldn’t follow it up, finishing in a tie for 25th as countryman Darren Clarke finally broke through for his maiden Major title.

12 months later at Kiawah Island in the 2012 PGA Championship McIlroy would once again blow away the opposition in breathtaking fashion. On a considerably tougher course in vastly more tricky conditions, Rory repeated his feat of Congressional, winning by 8 and CBS commentator declared him as the “new ruler of the game of golf.” This win wasn’t just impressive for the margin of victory, but for the fact only 19 other players broke par and he made only 2 bogeys in the final 36 holes. He had proven he could conquer the wind and win in all conditions, and became the first player from the UK to win the PGA Championship since 1920. After a welldocumented slump in 2013 McIlroy bounced back in even more spectacular fashion with a win at the BMW PGA Championship setting the scene for a tilt at the Claret Jug at the 2014 Open Championship. Right from the first hole McIlroy showed he wanted The Open badly, and an opening round of 66 gave him a lead which he would never relinquish. A second successive 66 opened up a four-shot lead through two rounds, and he emphasised his dominance on Saturday with two eagles in the final three holes to extend his lead to six shots. Even a final round of 71 couldn’t deny him a two-shot win and a third major title. The win gave McIlroy three quarters of the career grand slam, something which he is still waiting for.

Two weeks later he came to the 2014 PGA Championship as the overwhelming favourite, and proved he could also win in a battle with others. Henrik Stenson, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler all held the lead at different points during the final round, but it was McIlroy with a string of incredible shots and nerveless putting touch which prevailed. So far, this is the last Major Rory has won, but he is sure to win more as he closes on Seve and Sir Nick Faldo’s totals of 5 and 6 respectively.

Grand Slam quest

WORLD NUMBER ONE AND GLOBAL GOLFER

PERSONALITY AND DEALING WITH ADVERSITY

After claiming his first Major at the 2011 US Open the next goal for McIlroy was to to be the best golfer in the world, and an autumn and winter featuring a victory at the UBS Hong Kong Open and runner-up finishes in St Andrews, Korea, Abu Dhabi and the WGC-Accenture Match Play gave him the chance to ascend to the top spot in the world rankings for the first time at the Honda Classic in March 2012.

A dominant performance at Hoylake in The Open saw McIlroy at his free-flowing best, striking towering irons and running away with a major for a third time. Once again, he was one win away from the world number one spot. That victory came at Firestone in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, by two shots from Sergio Garcia, and he headed to Valhalla for the PGA Championship as the best in the game. In Kentucky he showed he could win in a dogfight too, narrowly defeating Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson to claim a fourth major title and third win in a row.

He did so in dramatic fashion.

A final round 69 on the PGA National Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens was enough to fend off a charging Tiger Woods, who made eagle at the 72 nd hole for a final round 62. McIlroy won by two strokes, his third win on the PGA Tour and became the fourth European in a row to hold the number one ranking since Woods lost it to Lee Westwood in 2010.

McIlroy would hold on to the top spot for a couple of weeks before a tie for 40th finish at Augusta saw him fall back to number two, he regained it at the Wells Fargo Championship after having lost a play-off to Rickie Fowler, before losing it again after missing the cut at Wentworth. He would regain the title of world number one in dramatic and dominant fashion at the PGA Championship, winning by 8 shots at Kiawah Island. This time he wouldn’t let anyone get near him, as he won the BMW Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship and DP World Tour Championship to crown the year of his career, and hold a commanding lead over the chasing pack heading into 2013.

With two majors in the bag and the world number one ranking achieved, it seemed McIlroy would go on to even greater things in 2013, and a change of equipment to Nike in January of that year seemed to be the next logical step for a global superstar, however, the change did not work.

McIlroy had the worst year of his career, missing four cuts and failing to contend in any of the majors. He slid from 1st to 6th in the world rankings and barring a stunning comeback victory at the Emirates Australian Open in November, he failed to win a significant title around the world. The win at Royal Sydney was somewhat of a turning point, giving him optimism for the 2014 season. A solid, but frustrating and winless start to the year saw him fall outside of the world’s top ten, before victory at the home of the European Tour sparked a sensational summer for the Ulsterman.

He was number one and everyone knew it, not just based on the rankings. He gave off an aura, in a different way to Tiger Woods, but everyone knew he was the king of the game. Three more victories in the first half of 2015 reaffirmed his place at the top of world golf, but disaster struck when he damaged his ankle in a friendly football game with friends. He would miss The Open, and following a tie for 17th at Whistling Straits in the PGA, Jordan Spieth would replace him as number one. He hasn’t reached number one since.

Sometimes McIlroy lets frustration get the better of him when he is on the golf course with the 2010 Open being a key example, as he was unable to cope with the weather conditions and his chances ended with a second-round 80 on the Old Course. But in general Rory has coped with adversity tremendously well over the last decade, coming back from a slump in form to perform even better than before, and having the mental toughness to put his meltdown at Augusta behind him and win the US Open by 8 in 2011.

He is a confidence golfer, and when he is confident he is near unbeatable. As shown in 2012 and 2014 when he got on a crazy run of form. The one thing which holds any golfer back though is injury, and over the last 12 months a niggling rib injury has hampered his progress severely, with him having his first winless season ever in 2017.

McIlroy’s personality is laid bare on the golf course and you will struggle to meet a more honest and say-it-as-you-see-it golfer. Sometimes it has come back to bite him, like in 2010 when he called the Ryder Cup an exhibition, and when referring to Olympic Golf, saying it wasn’t a golfer’s responsibility to grow the game. He says things you and I may disagree with, but at least he is honest, and doesn’t produce what you want to hear all the time.

LOYALTY TO HIS COACH AND CADDIE So far McIlroy has been called numerous adjectives when it comes to the remarkable golf he has played, and he has been called honest due to his open nature about most topics, and another adjective to describe the four-time Major Champion is Loyal. JP Fitzgerald served as McIlroy’s caddie from his first full season on the European Tour until this year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Throughout his early days he was often called out by some in the media for not hiring a higher profile caddie to make the difference, but Rory stood by his man and ended up winning four major titles and over 20 tournaments worldwide with him. It was only when the relationship on the course was damaging their off-course relationship that he made the decision to end the partnership which had worked so well. It came as a shock to us, but it was his decision, he did not bow down to the demands or recommendations of the media, he did it himself.

And against the speculation Rory did another thing, he brought in his best mate as caddie for the remainder of the 2017 season. Harry Diamond was the best man at his wedding and has grown up with McIlroy, playing many rounds with him and likely knows him better than anyone bar his family. It worked for Rory at the time, who knows what will happen in 2018 and beyond, but this is a man who is his own man, and knows what he wants. He treats people with respect.

The clamour for McIlroy to change coach at various points in his career has not stopped Rory from keeping Michael Bannon as part of his team. Bannon has been his coach since the Holywood days and has helped McIlroy make the subtle changes he has needed to make over the last decade.

What we have seen over the last ten years is the development and growth of a young man into an adult, but he has never gone away from the principles he was raised by.

He works hard, sometimes too hard. He is loyal and honest, sometimes too honest.

But above all he is human, which is a rare commodity for a 21st century sportsman, especially a golfer.

PERSONAL LIFE AND BEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT

THE NEXT TEN YEARS

Rory has been in the spotlight since he was very young, but especially so since he moved to America and took up PGA Tour membership full-time. Each dramatic victory has only increased the hype around this remarkable athlete. His personal life has been very public at times, even from his childhood relationship with Holly Sweeney he has had to deal with tremendous attention. When that relationship broke up McIlroy entered the realm of single golfer, a dangerous place for any famous athlete.

The facts are simple and undeniable. If Rory McIlroy has a second decade on tour as successful as his first, he will be the most successful European golfer of all-time. 8 Major Championships, beating the century-old record of Harry Vardon; Over 20 wins on the PGA Tour, matching the likes of Norman and Player; 8 Ryder Cup appearances; 6 European Tour Order of Merit titles, only 2 behind Colin Montgomerie’s record and nearly 200 weeks as world number one. However, no sport is as straightforward as that, and with injury and competition to consider, McIlroy’s goals may simply to be the winner of the career grand slam, a feat no European has ever achieved.

So of course, when he started dating Caroline Wozniacki he believed it was great because they could both cope with the attention, but when it broke up after he reassessed whether he wanted to be married, it all became very public, much more so than the split with Holly. His private life was being played out in public, this was something that Rory was not comfortable with.

Rory began dating Erica Stoll, a former PGA employee who helped get him to the course just in time for his singles match in the 2012 Ryder Cup after he had mistaken the time, in 2015, and this time his relationship was very private. 2 years on, in April of this year they got married in Ireland. The ceremony was extremely private, with no media coverage.

Whilst McIlroy is open and honest about most things, particularly related to golf, he has learned that some things must remain private, especially in the glare of the 24hour news media.

McIlroy has matured as a man in these last ten years, but then who doesn’t?

Over the last three years Rory has used his place in the global spotlight to launch the Rory Foundation and has taken on hosting duties at the Irish Open. The event has helped to raise millions of pounds for the Rory Foundation, which helps charities across the world and particularly in his homeland of Northern Ireland.

His involvement with the Irish Open has seen the event recruit a long-term title sponsor in Dubai Duty Free and has seen the prestigious national open become part of the European Tour’s new Rolex Series, with a $7million purse. This has encouraged many of the world’s best golfers to play in the championship, and the event has visited Royal County Down, The K Club and Portstewart over the last three years.

In Seve Ballesteros’ first decade on tour he won four major titles, and many tournaments around the world, but injury and the depth of competition around the world denied him the record many believe he should have had. The Spaniard won only one more major and all his fifty European Tour titles came in an 18-year span, very short for the average top-class golfer, especially one who started so young.

Although he officially retired in 2006, Ballesteros had ‘left the stage’ in 1997 with his captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team at Valderrama. McIlroy is taking a selfimposed break from golf to ensure that he doesn’t fall victim to the same problems which Seve was confronted with, and can continue to compete and win well into his forties.

September’s British Masters supported by Sky Sports marked 10 years of McIlroy on the European Tour, and undoubtedly one of McIlroy’s goals will surely be to win more titles on his home turf. Since turning professional in 2007, McIlroy’s only wins on European soil have come in the 2014 BMW PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship and 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, an incredible fact, but one which reflected the lack of big-money, prestige events in Europe at that time. The creation of the Rolex Series will make it more likely that the Ulsterman will tee-it-up more regularly in Europe over the coming years, especially with the changes to the schedule allowing for a less-hectic spring-summer itinerary. McIlroy usually begins his season in the Middle East, with the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship and OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic in January and February. Then he tends to play the Honda Classic, the WGC Mexico Championship, PLAYERS Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational to round out his preparation for The Masters Tournament.

With the BMW PGA Championship moving from May to September and the PGA Championship moving from August to May, it is likely he will extend his stay in America until June, playing the WGC-Match Play, Wells Fargo Championship, PGA Championship, Memorial Tournament and The US Open.

After the third Major of the year he will return to Europe to potentially play all three Rolex Series events heading into The Open. Starting with the HNA Open de France, continuing with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and concluding with the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. The major season will, from 2019 conclude at The Open, which will be followed by the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, creating a perfect window for McIlroy to rest before the end of the PGA Tour season and his return to Europe for autumn. The PGA Tour is likely to reduce its FedEx Cup playoffs from four to three tournaments, including The Northern Trust, BMW Championship and TOUR Championship, all finished by the first weekend of September. This will again create a window of rest for McIlroy before a huge finale to the European Tour season.

Let’s not kid ourselves, McIlroy won’t play in every event, but he may possibly play in the BMW PGA Championship, British Masters and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. After missing the Italian Open it is likely he will play in the WGCHSBC Champions and Turkish Airlines Open before concluding his season in Dubai. This schedule equates to 26 tournaments including 4 Majors and 4 WGC events, which count for both tours, and additional 8 regular PGA Tour events and additional 9 European Tour events. It is likely that in Ryder Cup and Olympic years he will drop one or two events, but a well-managed schedule is vital if McIlroy is to remain healthy and contend on all fronts going into his thirties. His fans would love to see more of him in Europe, and whilst other events in Asia and Australia will undoubtedly recruit him at some stage, it is important for McIlroy that he continues to be a world golfer. Whilst Seve’s haul of 50 European Tour wins may be out of sight, the record of Vardon is surely not too far in the distance for the Northern Irishman.

His fans would love to see more of him in Europe, and whilst other events in Asia and Australia will undoubtedly recruit him at some stage, it is important for McIlroy that he continues to be a world golfer.

Whilst Seve’s haul of 50 European Tour wins may be out of sight, the record of Vardon is surely not too far in the distance for the Northern Irishman. Harry Vardon may well be a mythical figure and less inspiring or iconic that Seve Ballesteros, but the image of the world’s first touring professional as the European Tour logo, should resonate with any top-class European golfer, and is in many ways who McIlroy should be aspiring, over the next ten years, to pass in terms of major wins.

The comparisons with Tiger have always been ludicrous. No overseas golfer has ever won a huge number of tournaments on the PGA Tour, and still, no European has won the career grand slam or more than seven Major titles. The expectation that McIlroy should somehow match or beat the records set by Woods and Nicklaus are stupid, and just heap more pressure onto our best player.

The assertion too that because he hasn’t won this year or hasn’t won a major for three years, that he is somehow finished as a force, or overrated, is also ridiculous. EVERY top golfer has peaks and troughs in their career, some peaks last longer as do some troughs. I mean, heavens, even Tiger at his best went from 2002-2005 without winning a Major title, please let us not forget that fact. The break Rory has taken shows the man’s intelligence. He is considering the future and looking after himself, and I certainly think that he will come back a stronger, fitter golfer in January, and it would not surprise me at all if he went on to win at least one major in 2018.

THE ONE he would love to win is of course, The Masters. He has played so well in patches at Augusta including his first three rounds in 2011, that you cannot help but think if he puts it all together there he will completely overrun the field and win by 10.

The Masters is the next Major for Rory, and seven years after that final round debacle, he is a more mature golfer and one who will surely take the chance, if it is presented to him, to complete the career grand slam.

At this moment, it would appear completely unlikely, but with much of the spotlight on others right now, perhaps he can slip into a green jacket almost unnoticed next April.

The first three rounds in 2011 were golf from another planet, and holding a four-stroke lead through 54 holes he seemed set to blow the field away.

But alas, it was not to be. His bounce back at the US Open that year though showed the incredible talent of the boy, now they boy has become a man, I fully expect the next ten years to be even more remarkable, and his exceptional talent, allied to an experienced head, will yield results none of us could consider possible a decade ago.

It is all about perspective. To expect a replica of Tiger is foolhardy. We are looking at the heir apparent to Vardon, Ballesteros and Faldo, and that should be good enough.

Rory McIlroy is a superstar in our times, and ten years after Tiger last won a major championship, we should be counting ourselves lucky to witness a golfer from this part of the world doing extraordinary things around the world.

Golf is not an easy game. Maybe a few of us need to remember that. Do you shoot your handicap every time you play? Of course not. Will Rory win every week? Never.

So, this Christmas we should, as I have no doubt for a wee while, he will, look back and celebrate a wonderful decade of golf from a young man from a small town in Northern Ireland, who has shown it is possible for a working-class lad to grow up and beat the world.

Here’s to the next ten years of Rory McIlroy on tour.

MCKECHIN HIGHLIGHTS THE STRUGGLES OF A YOUNG, SCOTTISH PROFESSIONAL 2013 Scottish Champion needs support to turn her talent into titles on the Professional Tour

Being a Scottish Golfer is not easy. The job comes with a heavy burden. Firstly, the burden of expectation, you are from the country which lives and breathes the game, and everyone expects you to play to a certain standard.

Secondly the burden of history, you are from a country which gave birth to The Open, and has produced many major champions, but not for a long time.

Then there is the weather.

Scotland can be an unforgiving place to play golf, the wind, the rain, the cold and the snow can make it very difficult to play and practice. However, if you overcome all of this then you have a special talent and mentality to reach the professional tours.

Alyson McKechin turned professional in March 2015 after a successful amateur career which included representing Scotland at various age levels in several international amateur championships across Europe and the rest of the world. She reduced her handicap from 35 to scratch in just four years and set her sights on making a successful career at professional level.

Unfortunately, as is the case with many promising Scottish amateurs, once she turned the professional the guidance and financial support which was so readily available to her as amateur ceased to exist. It does seem to be a case of once you turn professional it is sink or swim.

“More can be done to help the transition from amateur to professional golf. I represented Scotland at every level, won the Scottish amateur, but when I decided to

turn professional every type of support I had was just dropped from me” said the 24-year-old from Paisley.

Alyson was fulsome in her praise of the support provided by Scottish Golf during her amateur years, “The Scottish Golf support was excellent, anything you needed was provided for you, but once I turned professional it became hard just to play in tournaments due to the cost.”

Alyson does have a few sponsors, but none of them are contributing the sums which are required for her to plan a season and get a run of events. “The problem has been getting a large sum of money to go and play freely, I can’t commit to the next 20 tournaments because of the lack of financial support. I did have my card for the LET last year, I have only been able to play in three access series events the last two years” she says.

Alyson even resorted to setting up a Crowdfunding page in an attempt to raise the necessary funds, however it did not yield the results she was hoping for. “It didn’t work, it was an idea to try and raise some funds through events and corporate days, but it didn’t work so I just left it at that really.”

For any emerging professional golfer it is difficult to get starts on the tour, but the ability to enter tournaments and travel to and stay at the events is vital. These are things which are paid for by governing bodies at amateur level, but upon turning professional these things are the responsibility of the golfer, which is why sponsorship is crucial.

Big sponsorship usually comes when a professional plays well and show they have the potential to transcend a product to a wide audience because of their popularity.

However, if a player is only getting rare starts it can be extremely difficult to build momentum.

So far Alyson has 7 LET Access Series events since 2014, missing the cut in 6 of them with a career-high finish of a tie for 37th place at the 2015 Larvik Ladies Open. When you consider most players play 20-25 events per season, just 7 starts in four years is no base to build on, potentially Alyson could have played in over 40 tournaments on the LET Access Series since she turned professional in 2015.

This year she has had to find alternative events to play in, including one run by the Paul Lawrie Foundation, which she finished as runner-up.

The cost of being a professional golfer who isn’t earning a lot of money from the few tournaments she plays in is something which could dissuade a weaker character from pursuing a professional pathway, but Alyson radiates passion and drive when you speak to her.

“It has been difficult to fund every day life, and live a normal life, so I have hosted golf days to raise money and my profile in a bid to encourage sponsors to support me. My mum and dad’s support has been invaluable, but of course it puts a strain on them too” McKechin says.

Not having a schedule to plan has also impacted upon Alyson’s team, making having a full-time team around her very difficult. “Right now my Dad is my caddie, I have

just changed coaches to join Gary Taggart, and I have an attachment with the Fairmont (St Andrews) to use their facilities.”

Alyson has recently been taken under the wing of Alan Watt, of Watt Sports Management. Alan is a member of the New Golf Club in St Andrews, and has been instrumental in assisting Alyson in gaining access to the fantastic facilities in the area. His stable is growing, with the addition of a Challenge Tour player which will no doubt help Alyson grow as a professional too.

Despite the incredible challenges Alsyon faces as she embarks on her professional career, she remains determined and focused. “I am playing in LET qualifying school in December, with 25 cards available for next season and the goal is to get my card and have a couple of seasons playing full-time before going to America.”

It takes a special sort of character to continue to see the light at the end of the tunnel when the chips are down, and despite her results in her fleeting professional performances so far not showing it, there is little question that the Renfrewshire girl has talent. She just needs opportunity and support to see the talent and potential blossom into results. Catriona Matthew is the only female Scottish major champion in history, for a nation like Scotland that is unacceptable.

Golfers can be wonderful ambassadors and with so many promising young Scottish golfers falling by the wayside once they turn professional it is time to buck that trend.

St Andrews Magazine Awards

WORLD GOLFER OF THE YEAR

THOMAS TURNS POTENTIAL INTO SUCCESS WITH MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH 24-YEAR-OLD FROM KENTUCKY WINS FIVE TIMES AND CLAIMS THE FEDEX CUP IN STUNNING SEASON

February and March was all about Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia finally broke his major duck in April, Brooks Koepka burst onto the major scene with his dominant and record-breaking US Open win and Jordan Spieth collected the third leg of the Grand Slam at The Open, but the start and the end of the 2017 PGA Tour season belonged to the deservedly crowned St Andrews Magazine World Golfer of the Year, Justin Thomas.

After having won back-to-back CIMB Classic titles in 2015 and 2016 Thomas was certainly part of the conversation when it came to speculation over the next great American golfer, however, nobody could have predicted just how successful 2017 would be for the young man from the land of Ali. He began in spectacular fashion with dominant wins in Hawaii, by 3 strokes at the SBS Tournament of Champions and by a staggering 7 shots at the Sony Open, he was a combined 49-under-par for the two tournaments.

At the US Open played at Erin Hills he tied Johnny Miller’s record low round of 63 on the first day, ending up in a tie for ninth place. His summer was largely disappointing including a missed cut at Royal Birkdale in The Open Championship, but seeing his mate Jordan Spieth win The Open in such stunning fashion inspired him on to greater things. Sure enough Spieth was the side of the 18th green at Quail Hollow when Thomas holed the winning putt, completing a 2-stroke victory in the 99th PGA Championship in August. Just three weeks later Thomas and Spieth went head-to-head for the second FedEx Cup playoff event, with Justin defeating Jordan by 3 strokes to take the lead in the standings, a lead he would not relinquish, A second-place finish at the TOUR Championship secured Thomas the FedEx Cup and the $10million bonus, and a win at the inaugural CJ Cup at Nine Bridges, in Korea, saw him ascend to the world number three position.

Thomas was also part of the rampant American team which dominated the Presidents Cup at Liberty National.

JUSTIN THOMAS’S SEASON WINS SBS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS SONY OPEN IN HAWAII PGA CHAMPIONSHIP DELL TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPIONSHIP CJ CUP AT NINE BRIDGES RUNNER-UP

1

TOP TEN (TOTAL)

10

PLAYED

23

MISSED CUT

6

WORLD RANKING

3 (22 AT END OF 20116)

St Andrews Magazine Awards

WORLD GOLFER OF THE YEAR

KOREAN FINALLY ADDS A SECOND MAJOR TITLE TO HER RESUME SO YEON RYU REACHES NUMBER ONE AND IS CROWNED BEST PLAYER IN THE MAJORS IN BEST YEAR OF HER CAREER

ROLEX ANNIKA MAJOR AWARD

So Yeon Ryu became the 11th player to hold the World Number One spot in the women’s game, won the ANA Inspiration and Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in a season to remember for the 27-year-old. The 2011 US Women’s Open Champion had endured a 6-year wait for a second major victory, but ended the drought with a thrilling playoff win over Lexi Thompson at Mission Hills in California. The tournament came down to a sensational finish with five players in contention for the title over the final few holes. With two holes to play the lead was held by four players including Ryu, Thompson, Minji Lee and Suzann Pettersen at 13-under-par.

Ryu and Thompson both birdied the 72nd hole to tie at 14-under and set up a shootout on the par-five eighteenth hole for the title.

The Evian Championship concluded with So Yeon Ryu, from South Korea, becoming the fourth winner of the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which was established in 2014 to recognize the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, has the most outstanding Major championship record. Ryu joins the elite company of past winners, including Rolex Testimonee Lydia Ko, who picked up the prize in 2016.

Ryu made birdie at the first extra hole and claimed a dramatic victory.

Then in June Ryu ascended to the world number one position with a 2-shot win over Amy Yang and Moriya Jutanugarn at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

The Korean recorded 12 top ten finishes in 2017 and tied with SUNG HYUN PARK for LPGA Player of the Year, finished second on the money list and fifth on the Race to the CME Globe.

So Yeon Ryu won the ANA Inspiration in April 2017, and topped the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award points list with an additional top 10 finish in the 2017 U.S. Women's Open.

ANA INSPIRATION

CHAMPION

KPMG WOMEN’S PGA

T14

US WOMEN’S OPEN

T3

RICOH WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN

T43

EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

T40

St Andrews Magazine Awards

GOLF EVENT OF THE YEAR

THE MASTERS GAVE US A FAIRYTALE ENDING AND A GRIPPING STORY; EUROPE REKINDLES MEMORIES OF THE 80’S WITH BACK-T0-BACK VICTORIES SENSATIONAL SERGIO FINALLY CLAIMS FIRST MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP In a time when the beard, shoulder pads, denim jackets and white heels are making a comeback, Europe’s golfers are also getting in on the act. The 1980’s are back! In 2016 England’s Danny Willett became the first European winner of The Masters since 1999, triumphing by 3 shots from countryman Lee Westwood (and Jordan Spieth). FIVE other Europeans secured a top ten finish. In 2017 we saw an epic head-to-head between two of Europe’s finest golfers of the last twenty years, culminating in a dramatic playoff and one of the most popular victories in recent years.

Sergio Garcia, winner of 9 PGA Tour titles, 12 on the European Tour and 9 other tournaments around the world, was the fans favourite heading into the final round. But the critics and history dictated that Justin Rose was the favourite, the 2016 Olympic champion having broken his major duck at the 2013 US Open. The European Ryder Cup heroes were tied through 54 holes and Garcia made the early move with a birdie at the first hole, and a second birdie at the third hole, coupled with a bogey from Rose at the fifth gave Garcia a commanding three-shot lead. Was this to be the day that Sergio finally won his first Major title? The Englishman had other thoughts. Rose bounced back brilliantly with birdies at the sixth, seventh and eighth holes to tie the lead through nine holes at 8-under-par. Then the see-saw battle took another twist, as Garcia bogeyed the tenth and eleventh holes to give Rose a two-stroke lead, this amazing final round had seen a fivestroke swing over the course of six holes.

Sergio Garcia has won The Masters and claimed his first ever Major Championship. The Spaniard played sublimely throughout the four-day tournament at Augusta and, with a dramatic finish, finally achieved his golfing dream. After sinking his winning putt in the play-off against Justin Rose, Garcia made his way to the clubhouse to claim the famous “Green Jacket” which has been worn by some of golf’s most iconic names. On his wrist at that moment, Sergio wore an OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean “Deep Black” – a superb watch in black and blue that matches his style and precision on the course.

The former World Number Two then bounced back with a spectacular birdie at the par-four fourteenth hole, before the pair took the drama to the next level at the par-five fifteenth. Rose made birdie, while Garcia’s second shot thrilled the galleries as it glanced the flag, setting up a stunning eagle to tie the lead at 9-underpar. Rose then rekindled memories of Faldo and Willett with a crucial birdie at the 16th to edge ahead once more. But a bogey at the 17th saw the Englishman fall back to 9-under-par and the pair headed to the 72nd hole tied for the lead, setting up a grandstand finish. Rose missed a seven-footer for birdie, while García missed a five-foot putt to win the championship, forcing a sudden-death playoff. Beginning the sudden-death playoff at the par-4 18th, Rose's drive found the trees and he was forced to chip out. García's drive found the fairway and he hit his approach to 12 feet, while Rose was 14 feet away for par. Rose missed the putt, giving García two putts to win the championship, but he converted the birdie to win his first career major championship. Garcia had won a compelling final round duel between two of Europe’s greatest and most popular golfers. The 1980’s and early 1990’s saw Europeans win 10 Green Jackets in 17 years, 2 out of 2 is a good start to a new era.

“Sergio has proven that great things come with time. We always believed in him. He is a player that shows his emotions and that win was a perfect display of who he is as a person. The final round was incredibly close and was such a great advertisement for the sport of golf. The fact that Sergio won and clinched his first Major title was the perfect way for it to end.” The victory follows Sergio’s win earlier in the season at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

To bring him luck, Garcia received the watch on Wednesday, just one day before the tournament began. He proudly shared a close-up picture on his Instagram account and still had the timepiece with him as he hoisted the Masters Trophy. Sergio Garcia has been closely associated with OMEGA since 2003. Raynald Aeschlimann, the President and CEO of OMEGA, sent his congratulations after The Masters win.

Image and Story: OMEGA

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

LEGENDS OF THE GAME RETURN TO THE HOME OF GOLF FOR THE FIRST EVER SENIOR OPEN PLAYED ON THE OLD COURSE SENIOR OPEN FOLLOWS THE OPEN AND WOMEN’S OPEN TO GOLF’S GRANDEST STAGE Bernhard Langer will look to successfully defend his SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP presented

by ROLEX when THE SENIOR OPEN is played on the Old Course in St Andrews for the first time next July.

Langer has already won THE SENIOR OPEN three times, including his historic victory at Royal Porthcawl in 2014 when he won by an incredible 13 shots, he also won at Carnoustie in 2010 and last year at Porthcawl. The German has won an amazing 10 Senior Major Championships, more than any other golfer, and 38 Senior titles, part of a career which has seen him win two Masters Tournaments, 110 titles worldwide and hold the distinction of being the first ever Official World Number One golfer.

Played the week following The Open at Carnoustie, THE SENIOR OPEN is sure to attract its strongest ever field and biggest ever crowds, with legends of the game sure to attract spectators, with much more fan-friendly ticket prices on offer.

A victory on the Old Course could be the perfect conclusion to the 60-year-old’s legendary career, which has seen him play in and captain Europe’s greatest Ryder Cup teams, and be an integral part of growing the European Tour in the 1980’s. His career began in 1972, and unbelievably the German has won in 34 of the 45 years he has been a professional, including at least one tournament in every year since 2005.

Tom Watson and Sir Nick Faldo have already confirmed their participation in the Senior Major, and Colin Montgomerie will be desperate to add to his collection of senior majors on a course he has tasted team and individual success on before.

Fred Couples, winner in 2012 at Turnberry, will be one of a large contingent of legendary names set to thrill the galleries and challenge the all-conquering German at the Home of Golf next summer.

Only three players have won THE SENIOR OPEN on three occasions, Gary Player, the aforementioned Langer and Tom Watson. The Open Championship icon bowed out from Major golf at The 2015 edition in St Andrews, but was a major influence in the decision to play THE SENIOR OPEN at The Old Course. Watson won the title in 2003, 2005 and 2007, and will be desperate to add a record fourth title before officially retiring from competitive golf.

Watson won The Open on five occasions, but never triumphed at St Andrews in the 7 times he played the tournament here. The closest he came was in 1984, when he agonizingly lost out to the inspirational Seve Ballesteros and ‘that’ famous celebration. He tied for second that year with?

Bernhard Langer.

The pair could both bow out of the game at the Old Course next summer, and both will be aiming for a record-breaking victory, And St Andrews Magazine will be there to bring you the best of the week from what should be an entertaining, competitive and inspirational championship. Over the course of the next three editions we will bring you an unrivalled countdown to the championship, interviews with the legends and more.

COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE FROM

Major calendar

MARCH

APRIL

ANA INSPIRATION

THE MASTERS

MAY

JUNE

SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

118TH US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

KPMG WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

SENIOR US OPEN

THE TRADITION

SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

JULY

AUGUST

147TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

THE 100TH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

US WOMEN’S OPEN RICOH WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN THE SENIOR OPEN PRESENTED BY ROLEX

SEPTEMBER EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

World Golf

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Championships

WGC-MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP

WGC-DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY

AUGUST

OCTOBER

WGC-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL

WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS

JANUARY

APRIL

SENTRY TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

HOUSTON OPEN

FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN

RBC HERITAGE ZURICH GOLF CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

FEBRUARY

MAY

WM PHOENIX OPEN

WELLS FARGO CHAMPIONSHIP

AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM

THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

GENESIS OPEN

AT&T BYRON NELSON

THE HONDA CLASSIC

DEAN & DELUCA INVITATIONAL

MARCH

JUNE

VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

THE NATIONAL

JULY

GREENBRIER CLASSIC RBC CANADIAN OPEN

AUGUST WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

THE NORTHERN TRUST

SEPTEMBER DELL TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPIONSHIP BMW CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

JANUARY

APRIL

BMW SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN

TROPHEE HASSAN II

ABU DHABI HSBC CHAMPIONSHIP

VOLVO CHINA OPEN

OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC FEBRUARY

MAY

MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP

BELGIAN KNOCKOUT

ISPS HANDA WORLD SUPER 6 PERTH

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

NBO OMAN GOLF CLASSIC

ITALIAN OPEN

COMMERCIAL BANK QATAR MASTERS MARCH

JUNE

INDIAN OPEN

SHOT CLOCK MASTERS

PHILIPPINES GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN HNA OPEN DE FRANCE

JULY

OCTOBER

DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN

ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

ABERDEEN STANDARD INVESTMENTS SCOTTISH OPEN

BRITISH MASTERS SUPPORTED BY SKY SPORTS

PORSCHE EUROPEAN OPEN

ANDALUCIA VALDERRAMA MASTERS

AUGUST

NOVEMBER

EUROPEAN GOLF TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN

NORDEA MASTERS

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE

MADE IN DENMARK

DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

SEPTEMBER OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS KLM OPEN PORTUGAL MASTERS