St Andrews Golf Magazine September 2014
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Transcript of St Andrews Golf Magazine September 2014
Welcome to September
in St Andrews Golf
Magazine.
The spotlight will shine on Scotland brighter
than ever this year. We had the
Commonwealth Games in August and the
Independence Referendum on 18
September; and over a three-week period
at the end of the month and the start of
October, four golf events will transcend this
incredible country to a watching audience
of billions.
After 13 years of planning the 40th Ryder
Cup is just days away and the week begins
with the Junior Ryder Cup at Blairgowrie
Golf Club in Perthshire.
Following the 2014 Ryder Cup the best
golfers on the European Tour will head an
hour down the road to the home of golf, St
Andrews, for the Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship.
Then across the water from St Andrews the
magnificent links of Panmure hosts the 10th
World Hickory Open.
The four events will be played on four, very
different courses. The Junior Ryder Cup
and 40th Ryder Cup will be played on
beautiful inland courses and the Alfred
Dunhill Links and World Hickory Open will
be played on rugged, historic links.
The three weeks will show off the variety
there is in Scottish golf course architecture,
and will welcome many of the best
exponents of the game, with modern and
ancient equipment.
Visit Scotland has embarked on a massive
campaign over a number of years to
cement Scotland’s place as the home of
golf. The hosting of a first Ryder Cup since
1973 has boosted interest in the game and
forced the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish
Government to invest heavily in the game
at the grass roots.
The ClubGolf programme was launched in
2003 to fulfil the Scottish Government's
promise to provide every child in Scotland
with an opportunity to experience golf, part
of Scotland's commitment to the game
which formed part of the successful bid to
host the 2014 Ryder Cup.
The Junior Ryder Cup could be viewed as
being more important for the future of
Scottish golf than the playing of the main
match at Gleneagles. The opportunity for
the youth of Scotland to attend a world-
class golf tournament for free is invaluable
to the game.
The likes of Amateur Champion Bradley
Neil and Youth Olympic Gold Medallist
Renato Paratore will be action for the
European Junior Ryder Cup team on
Monday and Tuesday of Ryder Cup week.
St Andrews Golf Magazine will be at
Blairgowrie for the entire event, providing
the most comprehensive coverage of
Junior Golf’s premier biennial team
matches. In September’s edition we have
an interview with the star of the European
Team, Blairgowrie’s Amateur champion –
Bradley Neil.
Later that week the best 12 golfers of
Europe will take on the best 12 golfers of
America in the fortieth Ryder Cup.
Gleneagles has undergone massive
change under a programme of major
investment and now they are ready for their
biggest moment since the G8 Summit of
2005.
St Andrews Golf Magazine has provided
comprehensive build-up to the event since
May and now via our dedicated micro-site
you can keep up to date with all the news
from Gleneagles. In September’s edition
we bring you a full course guide to the PGA
Centenary Course and we look back at the
Miracle at Medinah.
Once the action is over at Gleneagles many
of the field and many of the best in the world
head over to the Kingdom of Fife and the
County of Angus for the Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship.
The Old Course, Carnoustie and
Kingsbarns welcome stars of golf, stage
and screen for the 14th consecutive year
and it is the 30th consecutive year of Dunhill
staging a tournament at the home of golf,
St Andrews.
Last year David Howell dramatically
defeated Peter Uihlein in extra holes to
claim a first tournament victory since the
2006 BMW PGA Championship.
St Andrews Golf Magazine will be at the
2014 Alfred Dunhill Links and will provide
comprehensive coverage of the
tournament. In September’s edition we
have an interview with the 2012 Champion
Branden Grace and we take you back 19
years to Scotland’s historic victory in the
Dunhill Cup.
The next week sees connoisseurs of the
game from across the world gather at
Panmure and in Carnoustie Country for the
10th World Hickory Open Championship.
St Andrews Golf Magazine is an official
media partner to the event and this month
we will bring you a feature on the pioneers
of Hickory in golf club manufacturing, Tom
Stewart and Robert Forgan. We will also
preview the 10th edition of the tournament
with the chairman of the event, Lionel
Freedman.
The R&A stage their autumn meeting this
month over the Old Course and they also
take on the members of the St Andrews
Golf Club and New Golf Club in the
traditional Town Match.
The St Andrews Senior Open and SSE
Scottish Senior Open took place last
month, and we have the results from those
events as well as all the competitions of the
New Golf Club.
Scotland is the home of golf and golf
returns home this autumn and St Andrews
Golf Magazine is your one-stop guide to
everything in the game.
Stay up to date with all the news in golf
across the world and in St Andrews at
www.standrewsgolfmagazine.com and
our Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus
pages.
Enjoy the seventh edition of St Andrews
Golf Magazine and subscribe for FREE at
www.standrewsgolfmagazine.com
9 R&A welcomes women and hold
Autumn Meeting
11 The Town Match and Bing Crosby
Tournament
12 New Golf Club results
16 2014 World Hickory Open
Championship preview
20 2014 Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship preview including
interview with Branden Grace
32 St Andrews Golf Magazine
Reviews… Ziggy’s Restaurant
37 Junior Ryder Cup preview and
team profiles
40 Matt Hooper speaks to Bradley
Neil
44 Blairgowrie Golf Club’s Rosemount
course guide with member Matt
Hood
53 The 40th Ryder Cup
55 PGA Centenary Course guide
74 Hotel Martinique in New York City
78 The teams
81 Golf’s Greatest Day
87 Sky Sports TV guide
Editors:
Matt Hooper
Colin Donaldson
Image Credits:
Page 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 © RECOUNTER
Page 26 Mercedes Benz Golf
Page 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64,
65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 Gleneagles
Hotel
Page 81 OMEGA
Page 82 Omar Rawlings
Page 84 Scottish Government
It was a misty and murky Thursday evening
but that didn’t deter the world’s media from
being present at one of the most significant
announcements in the history of golf. The
18th day of September 2014 will be forever
known as the day on which the Royal and
Ancient Golf Club became a mixed sex golf
club.
Peter Dawson, the secretary of the golf club
and the governing body of the game, made
the short walk from the clubhouse to the
adjacent putting green to formally
announce the result of the ballot of the
members.
“The membership of the Royal and Ancient
Golf Club has voted overwhelmingly to
admit women members with immediate
effect.”
85% of the membership voted for the
admittance of women members and
several will be fast-tracked into the club.
The announcement was welcomed around
the world by both male and female golfers
and its impact cannot be overstated.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St
Andrews is the most famous and prominent
club in the world. The club plays a pivotal
part in the governance of the game, and
although the R&A has separated the
governing body from the club it does have
a responsibility far beyond serving just its
members.
No announcement has been made as to
who the first female members will be, but it
is likely they will be of high social standing
given the demographics of the current
membership.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club is now
actually the ONLY mixed-sex golf club in St
Andrews, with the St Andrews Golf Club,
New Golf Club, 19th Hole Golf Club, Thistle
Golf Club (all male), St Regulus Golf Club,
St Rule Club and Ladies Putting Club (all
female) remaining single sex in golfing
membership.
The Town Match
Saturday 13th September saw the 101st
playing of the annual Town Match.
This match is between the Royal and
Ancient Golf Club against the St. Andrews
Golf Club and the New Golf Club of St.
Andrews (The Town).
On a misty yet mild day, the foursome
matches took place over the Old Course,
the New Course, the Jubilee Course and
the Strathtyrum Course. This year saw the
record number of entrants playing, with a
total of 700 golfers participating.
The result saw the Town triumph in a
closely fought match by a score of 88.5-
86.5 matches. The Town win the Bobby
Jones Casket for 2014. Quite incredible
when you think of it. 175 matches played in
total and only two points separating the
teams.
The overall result sees the Town increase
their lead in the series to 97-4.
The Town Match is one of the highlights in
the St. Andrews golfing calendar. With
seven-hundred golfers playing and many
more missing out, the match is played in the
true spirit of the game, where golf always
wins and camaraderie is ever growing. This
truly is a great spectacle and is the largest
golf match in the World.
By Colin Donaldson.
Bing Crosby Tournament
for Senior Golfers
The day before the Town Match was the
Bing Crosby Tournament hosted by the St
Andrews Golf Club. The tournament
honours the late entertainer who had a love
for the home of golf, St Andrews.
Collecting golf memorabilia can be great
fun it can be as expensive as you wish it to
be, from just a few pounds to many
hundreds of pounds.
Collecting golf balls is one category that
can be exiting, very lucrative and also a
possible future investment.
Due to the recession, memorabilia prices
have dropped over the last five or so years,
if there was ever a good time to collect I
suppose now is as good a time as any.
Early golf references tells us that prior to
1850 golf was played with a small leather
ball that was filled with goose feathers,
commonly called a Feathery.
The very early balls pre 1820 are extremely
rare, only a few still exist, totally out of reach
to most collectors.
Post 1820 saw the names of the ball
makers on their balls, most were hand
written in ink alongside its weight. Marshall,
Roberston, Morris, Gourlay, are just a few
names of the ball makers of the early to mid
19th century.
Good conditioned balls by these or other
similar makers of this era can achieve
several thousands of pounds each. These
would be classed as the top category of golf
ball.
In the 1850s golf started to see the decline
of feather filled balls, a rubber compound
called gutta-percha was tried, it was
malleable when hot, and it could have been
rolled into a sphere and used to play golf
with. Moulds were produced to
manufacture balls they also gave a basic
consistence size. This ball was known as a
“smooth gutty”
Genuine examples still exist and would cost
in excess of £1000 to buy in today’s market.
Players found that the more they used
these balls, the more bumps and bruised
the surface became the straighter and
further the ball travelled.
Golf ball makers had discovered aero
dynamics! Chiselled patterns were made
on the balls surface so they flew better;
these are known as “hand hammered
gutties” most had a similar style of patterns,
some makers had a small panel where they
stamped their name, a ball stamped Morris
has a value of over £4000.
The 1890s brought in significant changes
with better quality ball materials and
patterned ball mould which imprinted the
pattern when moulded.
Some balls had multi materials added so
they could float if used on boggy or wet
courses, and courses with ponds.
Possibly the greatest change in the golf ball
occurred at the turn of the century when a
wound rubber core ball with a separate
cover was invented and used.
American Coburn Haskell invented the ball
that changed golf forever, his ball was used
by Scotsman Alex Herd to win the 1902
Open Championship, it was said he used
the same ball to win this championship. A
nice conditioned Haskell is worth £150+
Ironically twenty years later in the 1920s
ball manufacturers were designing multi
patterned balls to encourage players to use
their products; most balls were totally
useless to play golf with.
Albert Penfold was the most successful,
when he designed and inverted a square
patterned ball, which was produced in their
millions by Dunlop and others all through
the 1920s.
Ironically the early 20th century has
produced the highest valued golf balls, ball
that had unusual pattern creations starting
with Willie Park Jr. and his 1896 “Park
Royal” This ball has a series of hexagon
shaped patterns (like a small 50 pence
coin) This wan never going to be a success,
only a few still exist, if a good condition did
come on the market it would command a
price of £20,000.00
Henley’s 1904 “Rifle Ball” A spiral pattern to
the surface of the ball, opposite to what’s in
a gun barrel. Needless to say it did not, the
ball was produced for a short period and is
rated a being rare. A good conditioned ball
would be worth in excess of £1000.00.
The most unusual and obviously the most
valuable is Cochrane’s 1908 ‘Terrestrial
Globe’ also known as the “map of the
world.” A series of lines and dimples
outlined the world and its seas, sadly
science physics did not take too kindly to
this, if the ball got airborne it would either
slice or hook dramatically.
Production was stopped as soon as it
begun. Finding one of these in granddads
shed would realise you in the region on
£30,000.00 and rising!
1920s brought in a new era for ball
manufacturers, the square mesh pattern
was in full swing, when purchased they
came normally in attractive coloured paper
packaging, A golf ball in the original
wrappers are desirable and good to collect.
This period also brought in cult following for
the golf spectator, the great Bobby Jones
was the epitome of this. Young and good
looking, an American with the silkiest of golf
swings, he went on to conquer the world of
golf from 1926 to 1930. Winning numerous
major championships under the banner of
being an amateur. A period 1930 signed
ball by Jones will command a value of
£10,000.00. Autographed balls have
become collectable over the last decade.
Woods, Mcllroy, Mickelson to name a few.
A good thing for ball collectors is that you
can have a display in a small area unlike
golf clubs.
Written by Graham Rowley, Old Golf
Auctions.
Graham is amongst the most well-known,
and most highly regarded, dealers in golfing
memorabilia in the UK, having been
actively involved in the business for over 20
years. Graham is a member of the St
Andrews Golf Club.
Panmure Golf Club is from the same
bygone age in which golfers used hickory
shafted clubs because there wasn’t really
an alternative. This October over 100
golfers from 12 countries around the world
will gather in Carnoustie Country to
celebrate how the game used to be played.
Whilst the week is a celebration of golf from
a different time it is also a very serious
competition. There are a large contingent of
very accomplished hickory golfers from
America and mainland Europe. All of which
will be aiming to claim the 10th World
Hickory Open Championship.
The World Hickory Open Championship
was first played in 2005 at Musselburgh Old
Links and won by Mike Stewart.
Musselburgh Old Links is a 9-hole course
in East Lothian which hosted The Open
Championship on 6 occasions, and was a
perfect place for the championship
celebrating hickory golf to begin.
Craigielaw Golf Club hosted the 2006, 2007
and 2008 editions before the championship
moved to Gullane for 2009 and 2010. The
final year of the World Hickory Open in East
Lothian was 2011, with the tournament
returning to Craigielaw.
In 2012 the region known as Carnoustie
Country took over hosting duties, beginning
with the Buddon and Burnside courses at
Carnoustie Golf Links. In 2013 Montrose
Golf Club staged the 9th World Hickory
Open.
And now this October Panmure Golf Club,
established in 1845, will host the 10th World
Hickory Open Championship. Located to
the west of Carnoustie, some 24 miles from
St Andrews, Panmure played a historic role
in Ben Hogan’s 1953 Open Championship
success.
When Ben Hogan came to Carnoustie in
the summer of 1953 he was already holder
of The Masters and The U.S. Open
Championship. For this, his only Open
Championship appearance, arrangements
were made for him to practice at Panmure
Golf Club, just two miles to the west, but
well away from the busy practice ground at
Carnoustie.
At Panmure, only his caddie Cecil Timms
accompanied him. After two weeks of
rigorous preparation for the Championship,
he was familiar with the then smaller British
ball and the unforgiving links grasses,
which prevented him taking his customary
long divot.
Methodical as ever, Hogan taught himself
to pick the 1.62 inch ball off the turf. The
long hours of practice paid off. He won the
Open by four strokes, setting a new
Carnoustie course record of 68 for his final
round.
Hogan's favourite hole at Panmure was the
sixth and he suggested the cleverly-placed
hidden pot bunker to the front right of the
green. Over fifty years on, the members still
refer to it as "Hogan's Bunker". It is a fitting
memorial to a champion.
Off the Championship tees the course plays
a testing 6551 yards, and with hickory
shafted clubs and gutta percha balls the
100+ competitors at the World Hickory
Open will face a stiff challenge.
But the art of hickory golf is having fun and
the number of strokes you play are
irrelevant. It is still the player with the least
strokes played who wins.
St Andrews Golf Magazine is a media
partner of the 10th World Hickory Open and
we will be at the Gala Dinner at the
Carnoustie Golf Hotel on Monday 6th
October. We will provide full coverage of
the championship on Tuesday and
Wednesday.
Our Google plus hangout, Tuesday Tee
Time, will provide a comprehensive
discussion on Hickory Golf, and our website
will bring you all the scores and interviews
from Panmure.
Check our October edition for a full review
and more on the World Hickory Open
Championship.
This autumn is a celebration of golf
coming home to Scotland and St
Andrews more than plays its part with
the staging of the 14th Alfred Dunhill
Links Championship over the Old
Course, Kingsbarns Golf Links and the
championship course at Carnoustie.
The week following the return of the Ryder
Cup to Scotland at Gleneagles, the stars of
the European Tour, stage and screen will
take to the magnificent links on the east
coast for the annual pro-am tournament.
This year’s edition of the championship is
the 30th year of Alfred Dunhill sponsorship
of a tournament in St Andrews. The hugely
popular Alfred Dunhill Cup was played on
the Old Course from 1985 to 2000. The
tournament featured team medal match
play between 16 nations invited to enter
teams of 3 players.
The tournament featured some classic
head-to-head battles between legends
such as Seve Ballesteros and Greg
Norman. It also saw many superstars of the
game humbled by unknown players
including Tiger Woods, who was defeated
by Spain’s Santiago Luna in 1997.
This year’s ‘Dunhill’ has attracted a stellar
field in the week following the Ryder Cup.
World Number One Rory McIlroy will
attempt to finally claim a title over the Old
Course. Despite his stunning record around
the world’s most famous course The Open
and PGA Champion has yet to taste
success at the home of golf.
It was in the 2007 Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship that McIlroy announced
himself as a professional on the European
Tour with a third place finish which helped
secure his European Tour card.
US Open Champion Martin Kaymer will
return to the scene of his 2010 victory which
followed his first major win in the PGA
Championship at Whistling Straits.
Victor Dubuisson, Thomas Bjorn and
Stephen Gallacher join McIlroy and
Kaymer as European Ryder Cup players to
enter the Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship.
Stephen Gallacher’s first European Tour
win came 10 years ago here in St Andrews,
when he defeated Graeme McDowell in a
playoff.
2-time Open Champion and 2-time Dunhill
Cup winner Ernie Els returns to the Alfred
Dunhill Links in search of an individual title
at the home of golf.
Fellow South Africans and past Major
winners Charl Schwartzel and Louis
Oosthuizen will join Els in the
championship. It is four years since
Oosthuizen destroyed the field at the 2010
Open Championship over the Old Course.
Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington
complete the line-up of Major champions;
Harrington is a two-time champion at the
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Colin Montgomerie, Matteo Manassero,
Paul Casey and Marc Warren are among
the other significant names to be teeing it
up in the championship this October.
The two main protagonists from 2013 also
return to the east coast of Scotland.
Champion David Howell and Runner-up
Peter Uihlein will hope to play well again in
what looks set to be a memorable week.
Each Dunhill provides
magical memories at the
home of golf, from Paul
Lawrie’s winning putt from
the valley of sin in 2001 to
Colin Montgomerie winning
in 2005.
But it will be very hard for the
2014 Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship to top what
happened on a dreamy,
sunny Sunday last
September.
David Howell ended his 7 year winless
streak by claiming his first win in a playoff
of his career and first title on Scottish soil,
as the 2013 Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship came to a thrilling climax as
the former Ryder Cup star and American
prodigy Peter Uihlein contended for the title
over two extra holes on the Old Course.
Uihlein opened the day with a two stroke
lead over Ernie Els, Joost Luiten and
Howell, but quickly his advantage was not
just cut, it was swallowed by a bogey from
Uihlein at the first hole and an extraordinary
start from France’s Thomas Levet. The
2004 Ryder Cup star birdied the first five
holes to reach 21 under par and pull 2 clear
of the American.
Levet would shoot 31 on the front nine and
back that up with birdies at the tenth and
eleventh, reaching 22 under par, but a
bogey at 12 and double at 14 ended his
impressive surge up the leaderboard.
Another challenge came in the form of
Portugal Masters champion Shane Lowry,
starting in a tie for second on 18 under the
Irishman birdied 3 holes on the front nine
before chipping in for a two on the par four
tenth. He followed that stunning moment up
with an equally sensational birdie on the par
three eleventh hole, but bogeys at 13 and
15 left him just a little short at the end.
The challenge of Els and Luiten never
materialized and the likes of Clarke,
Fleetwood and Schwartzel just had too
much work to do. So it came down to David
Howell, a winner of 5 tournaments and
Peter Uihlein, a winner of one – in Madeira.
Experience versus youth. Howell’s
approach to 15 ended up a couple of feet
away and he holed for a stunning birdie to
tie Uihlein on 23 under.
He gave himself a good birdie chance at 16
but narrowly missed and had to settle for
par before going on to hole a 10 foot putt for
par on the 17th after missing the green
short and right in the rough.
Howell then drove with a metal wood off the
18th tee and split the fairway, but the ball
struggled to cross Granny Clark’s Wynd
and rolled back onto the road, meaning he
had to play his second shot off the surface.
He didn’t hit the ball far enough and ended
up in the Valley of Sin and faced a pressure
two putt to lead in the clubhouse.
The man once renowned as the best putter
on tour managed to make par with ease
and this left Uihlein with a chance to win
with a birdie. He played a wedge from 109
yards over the flag leaving himself around
10 feet downhill to claim the biggest win of
his career. The ball narrowly missed right
and he tied Howell on 23 under par and the
championship would be settled in extra
holes.
The playoff would be played over 1 and 18
until a winner was determined. Howell drew
the honour and ripped a long iron down the
fairway and Uihlein followed suit.
With 121 yards remaining Uihlein played
his wedge to pin high to give himself a
chance of winning at the first time of asking;
Howell had 105 yards and played to around
20 feet beyond the pin and would have the
first attempt for birdie. He agonizingly
missed on the left edge and Uihlein would
have his chance for victory. The American’s
putt lacked pace and missed on the low
side, sending the playoff back up the 18th
hole.
Howell retained the honour and focusing on
making sure Granny Clark’s Wynd was out
of play he smashed a driver up the left side,
leaving himself 91 yards to the pin. Uihlein
used a metal wood and had 105 yards
remaining for his approach to the green.
The Madeira Island Open champion flew
the pin by 20-25 feet, Howell’s approach
ended up 68 feet behind the pin. The
Oklahoma State graduate narrowly missed
his birdie attempt and the watching gallery
around 1 and 18 focused their eyes on
David Howell. Nervelessly he rolled the ball
into the hole and turned and celebrated in a
fashion not too dissimilar to Seve from
1984.
Any win is special but as Howell said
himself “It has been 7 years so please don’t
worry if my speech takes a long time”, to
win for the first time in seven years and to
do it at the Home of Golf on such a
gloriously sunny evening is the thing of
dreams.
Howell’s dramatic win in the Dunhill was
preceded by an exhibition of golf, and the
most dominant performance the
championship has ever seen.
The 2012 Alfred Dunhill Links Champion,
Branden Grace, spoke to Matt Hooper over
the summer about his win and love for the
Old Course.
2012 was the year of Oscar Pistorious at
the London Olympic Games, starring in
both the Olympic Games and the
Paralympics. It was also the year of Ernie
Els winning his second Open
Championship, dramatically defeating
Adam Scott at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s.
But in 2012 arguably the most successful
South African sportsman was a newcomer
to the global scene. Branden Grace was
among a crop of promising young talents
plying his trade on the Sunshine Tour but
having played on the Challenge Tour in
2007 he had little success at the higher
level.
Then at the Joburg Open he broke through
to win for the first time, winning by a stroke
from Jamie Elson. The win opened many
doors for the 23-year-old from Pretoria,
including qualification for the Volvo Golf
Champions. This event, played at the
magnificent Fancourt Links, was to be the
Launchpad for an incredible season.
After an incredible final day the tournament
came down the Ernie Els, Retief Goosen
and Branden Grace. A play-off including
two legendary figures of South African golf
and the new upstart.
The playoff took place on the fantastic 549-
yard par five 18th and Grace hit the longest
drive, putting him in position to reach the
green in two. Els and Goosen missed the
fairway and the green, and Grace made a
fabulous two-putt birdie to secure his
second successive European Tour win.
3 months later Grace was back in the
winners’ circle for a third time, claiming the
Volvo China Open. The win saw him
become just the third South African, after
Els and Goosen, to win three European
Tour events in the same season. The win
gave him over €1million for the season and
moved him into the world’s top 70.
He began 2012 ranked outside the world’s
top 250.
He returned to his native Sunshine Tour to
clean up for another victory at the Vodacom
Origins of Golf Final in September and then
that October he came to St Andrews as one
of the form players in the world, but the
attention was on the victorious European
Ryder Cup players in the field.
Martin Kaymer, Peter Hanson and Paul
Lawrie were joined by American star Dustin
Johnson at the home of golf.
If anyone had forgotten about the talent
Grace possessed he soon reminded them
with a sensational opening round of 60 at
Kingsbarns.
It set him on course for a superb victory
which would crown his epic year of five
wins. In the second round at St Andrews he
shot 67 to reach 15-under-par for two
rounds and then shot 69 at Carnoustie to
give himself a four stroke lead going into
the final round at St Andrews.
On the Sunday, which began under
glorious blue skies, he played like a
seasoned veteran, and a 2-under-par round
of 70 was capped with a birdie at the 72nd
hole to give him a 2 stroke win and a four
round score of 22-under-par.
His fourth European Tour win of the season
helped him to finish 6th on the Race to
Dubai, earning over €2.5million.
In 2013 and 2014 Grace has failed to add
to his four-tournament haul, finishing in the
top ten 7 times in 41 starts.
I asked Branden if he could explain his
recent quiet spell after such a great
2012.
“I think it just happens I suppose, you get
into a position where you think everything is
going to go your way every week. That is
what it felt like in 2012 and when things
don’t go your way you start getting hard on
yourself and you start working harder and
thinking about stuff more.”
“I think that has been the situation, I had a
great start to the season and it is just a
matter of getting that one low round and
boosting yourself.”
How special was the win at the Alfred
Dunhill Links Championship to you?
“That was one of my best ones. With the
history of all three courses it was awesome
to win it. Being able to lead it from the get-
go to the end was something special.”
“It is something you can take forward with
you.”
There can be little doubt that Grace will win
again and I would venture to say he will win
big. Following in the footsteps of Els,
Goosen, Immelman, Oosthuizen and
Schwartzel as a major champion would not
surprise anyone.
Alfred Dunhill celebrates 30
years of Golf in St Andrews
with two unique exhibitions
Two world-class exhibitions are to open
later this month, celebrating 30 years of
Alfred Dunhill’s support of golf in St
Andrews.
The first is a collection of sketches of St
Andrews landmarks by noted artist Harold
Riley and the second is a series of
photographs from various archives
including the Lawrence Levy Photographic
Collection courtesy of the University of St
Andrews Library, Getty Images, The Golf
Picture Library and Alfred Dunhill’s own
archive.
Both exhibitions open on Tuesday,
September 23, ahead of the 2014 Alfred
Dunhill Links Championship, which is being
staged on the Old Course at St Andrews,
Carnoustie and Kingsbarns from October
2-5.
The exhibitions capture great moments and
scenes from 30 years of uninterrupted golf
staged at the ‘Home of Golf’, beginning with
the Alfred Dunhill Cup in 1985, then
continuing with the Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship from 2001. The drawings
and photographs also reflect the unique
flavour and atmosphere of the people and
places in St Andrews and Fife.
In conjunction with the St Andrews
Partnership, ‘St Andrews – An Artist’s View’
by Harold Riley for Alfred Dunhill is a
collection of 15 illustrations of local
buildings and scenes which will be staged
as an outdoor exhibition in different
locations around the town. The two meter
high panels will form a trail leading people
from the Old Course, passing iconic
buildings such as St Andrews Cathedral,
the Castle and the University’s magnificent
St Mary’s Quad, as well as Tom Morris’
grave.
From Salford in Greater Manchester, the
same town as L S Lowry with whom he
enjoyed a long friendship, Harold Riley
studied at the Slade in Florence and in
Spain before returning to Salford where he
has lived ever since.
Harold said: “I first visited St Andrews as a
young boy in 1946 and fell in love with the
town. My relationship with St Andrews and
Alfred Dunhill has been one of the joys of
my life. I always tell my friends that I do not
know anyone who visited St Andrews that
did not fall in love with the place. I certainly
have been in love with St Andrews since
the first time I went there. I hope this
exhibition captures that and will be enjoyed
by everyone who sees it. I hope that the
people of St Andrews will agree with us that
the selection we have chosen represents
what is so special about this town.”
‘Through the Lens - 30 Years of Golf in
St Andrews’ will be held in the Byre
Theatre, St Andrews, and features a
series of stunning photographs covering
both the Alfred Dunhill Cup and the Alfred
Dunhill Links Championship. The striking
images produce an historic cavalcade of
unforgettable moments and capture the
excitement and colour of the great names
of golf who have played over the last 30
years, including Seve Ballesteros, Greg
Norman, Bob Charles and Gary Player to
name a few.
‘Through the Lens’ is presented by Alfred
Dunhill together with the University of St
Andrews. Robert Fleming, Director of
Development at the University, said: “Golf
is so much a part of the town that it is
wonderful to see two exhibitions which
connect the history and the vistas of the
town itself with the game which has
become synonymous with the name St
Andrews. On behalf of the University and
the town, I would like to thank Alfred Dunhill
for these inspiring events.
This month St Andrews Golf Magazine
begins its series of reviews of the
restaurants of St Andrews. Each review will
help you, the visiting golfer to the home of
golf, decide where to eat out in this amazing
town.
We begin with Ziggy’s.
St Andrews itself is unique. It is a town
obsessed by golf with 11 golf courses within
a six mile stretch of coastline; it is a town
with one of the oldest universities in the
world which has moved with the times and
welcomes students from over 80 different
countries each year; it is a town in which the
rich and the famous rub shoulders with the
poor and the ordinary.
And in a little corner of this unique town,
situated amongst the many guest houses of
Murray Park and Murray Place, is a unique
restaurant. A restaurant with a flair all of its
own.
Ziggy’s Restaurant opened its doors in
1983, the same year yours truly was
brought into the world, and it has a long and
interesting history.
Initially located on South Street where the
Vine Leaf Restaurant now resides, Co-
owner Phil began with a baked potato shop
but upon visiting the New York Steam
Packet in Edinburgh he was inspired.
He had the inspiration to create a themed
steak house in St Andrews.
Phil and his wife Anne have owned Ziggy’s
since the beginning and it is now the
longest running restaurant ownership in the
town. Phil’s passion for music became in
the words of co-owner Anne “an obsession”
and soon his musical memorabilia was
being displayed on the walls of the
restaurant.
All of the memorabilia is original and they
own the copyright of many of the images
including owning the only, original picture of
the original BEATLES in the world.
Ziggy’s thrives on the memorabilia, with
Americans returning just to take photos of
the musical décor.
Whilst the music and the memorabilia are
part of the fabric of the place, the food is a
huge part of the reason people come to
Ziggy’s.
Upon arrival and throughout the evening
their welcome was polite, their service was
efficient and attentive but not overbearing. I
have to say it is a huge bugbear of mine
when eating and being disturbed constantly
by waiting staff asking “how is your meal” or
“is everything ok for you”.
I had been previously given the impression
that Ziggy’s was an American themed
restaurant; whilst it is in the style of an
American diner and they do serve steak,
my first impression was that it didn’t have
such an overwhelming American feel.
I was highly impressed by the welcome and
attention we received from the co-owner
Anne, and her explanation of the items my
companion for the evening, Paul Laesecke,
was able to eat to meet his dietary
requirements.
The lighting in the restaurant was cool and
bright enough to see each other, the menu
and the food. But not so bright reflections
were coming off the glass frames of the
memorabilia.
Whilst it was obvious music was playing it
was not too loud and overpowering, making
conversation easy between the guests.
The menu is wide and varied, and value for
money.
To start I had the Cajun Shroomies, and
Paul had the Loaded Potato skins. The
Cajun Shroomies were full of taste and the
taste of the mushrooms were not
smothered by their casing.
Along with our meals we each had a glass
of wine from the extensive drinks list. Paul
had a 175ml glass of South African Shiraz
(£3.95) and I had a 250ml glass of South
African Sauvignon (£5.35).
As a main I had ½ a rack of ribs and a
chicken fillet coated with a maple syrup,
along with a baked potato (£14.95). Paul
had a 6oz Rib eye steak (rare) with creamy
mash and a Peppercorn sauce (£14.95).
The food was served without delay and it
tasted just fantastic. Anne Marie spent a
considerable amount of time with us
speaking about the history of the restaurant
and convinced us (we didn’t take much
convincing!) to have her homemade
Cheesecake for dessert. It was epic!
I have lived in St Andrews for over 2 years
and have been coming to the town since I
was thirteen, and to my shame I had never
been to Ziggy’s in that time. Anne Marie
gave me a good telling off!
I will certainly be coming back to this
restaurant in the future and I certainly
advise any visiting golfer to spend an
evening, or lunchtime here too.
This review was arranged through
Crimson Edge PR and was conducted
by Matt Hooper and Paul Laesecke.
The week of the 40th Ryder Cup begins with
the 9th playing of the Junior Ryder Cup,
hosted by the Blairgowrie Golf Club and
played on its magnificent Rosemount
Course.
St Andrews Golf Magazine’s coverage of
the event begins in this month’s edition with
an interview with Blairgowrie prodigy and
Amateur Champion Bradley Neil. He talks
about the upcoming matches and his
Amateur Championship triumph.
We have an extensive course guide from
Blairgowrie Golf Club member Matt Hood,
who gives us his unique insight. Matt is a
caddie at St Andrews Links and a friend of
Bradley’s.
We also profile the European and United
States Junior Ryder Cup teams in our 2014
Junior Ryder Cup preview section.
Then on our dedicated Ryder Cup microsite
we bring you extensive coverage of the
Junior Ryder Cup from Sunday 21st
September.
The Junior Ryder Cup was first played as
an unofficial match in 1995 at the Cavalry
Club in New York, with the results
unpublished. Two more unofficial matches
took place at Alcadeisa Links in Spain
where the Americans won 9-7; and at the
Country Club of New Seabury in
Massachusetts in 1999, where Europe won
at a canter, 10 ½ to 1 ½.
Then in 2002 the K Club hosted the first
official Junior Ryder Cup. It was to be the
first of three successive European wins
(they won at Westfield Group Country Club
in 2004 and Celtic Manor in 2006).
The United States have won the last three
Junior Ryder Cups, firstly in 2008 at the
Club at Olde Stone by a resounding 22
points to 2; then in 2010 at Gleneagles by
13 ½ to 10 ½ and in 2012 at Olympia Fields
by 14 ½ to 9 ½.
So coming in to the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup
the series is tied at 3 wins apiece, and this
could be the most highly anticipated match
in the 12 year history of the tournament.
Unlike the main Ryder Cup this match is
composed of two teams featuring 6 male
and 6 female competitors. It shows the
potential of golf as an Olympic sport and the
great social benefits of taking part in the
greatest game ever played.
Both teams have stars in the making who
have achieved great things in their junior
careers.
The United States have 18-year-old Sam
Burns, who has had a stellar year, winning
the Junior PGA Championship and AJGA
Tournament of Champions among other
titles. He also reached the last 32 of the US
Amateur.
Austin Connolly, also 18, won the 2014
FootJoy Invitational and finished third at the
Junior PGA Championship.
Brad Dalke is 17 and he won the 2013
PING Invitational and has tied Tiger Woods’
record for four Wyndham Cup
appearances.
17-year-old Cameron Young reached the
quarter-finals of the US Amateur this
August at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Davis Riley reached the final of the 2013
and 2014 US Junior Amateur
Championships, and won the 2014 Terra
Cotta Invitational.
Gordon Neale lost to Sam Burns in the
final of the 2014 Junior PGA Championship
and finished 3rd at the 2014 Junior World
Golf Championship.
16-year-old Andrea Lee reached the semi-
finals of the 2014 US Women’s Amateur
Championship and won the AJGA
Tournament of Champions and Yani Tseng
Invitational.
Kristen Gillman won the 2014 US
Women’s Amateur Championship at the
tender age of 17. She also won the Junior
PGA Championship and is the star of the
United States Junior Ryder Cup team.
Gillman defeated Bethany Wu in the final
of the Junior PGA Championship. Wu won
the ANNIKA Invitational in 2013 and 2014.
Amy Lee is the 2013 Junior PGA
Champion and reached the last 32 of the
US Women’s Amateur Championship.
16-year-old Sierra Brooks won the 2013
AJGA Girls Championship and the final
member of the United States Junior Ryder
Cup team, Hannah Sullivan reached the
semi-finals of the 2014 US Women’s
Amateur.
The European team is also stacked with
talented youngsters. Italian Renato
Paratore became the first ever Youth
Olympic Golf Champion last month in
China. The runner-up was Marcus Kinhult
from Sweden, who is ranked 4th on the
world amateur golf ranking and has won the
2014 Nordea Masters.
Ivan Cantero Gutierrez of Spain is ranked
in the top 100 and has had several high
finishes in significant tournaments this year.
Maximillian Schmitt of Denmark won the
final qualifying event for the Junior Ryder
Cup. The European Young Masters was
played in Germany and the Dane won
convincingly with two rounds of 65 and one
of 71.
John Axelsen, also of Denmark, has won
three times in 2014 including the
prestigious Macgregor Trophy.
Mathilda Coppeliez of France won the
French women’s amateur this year and is
ranked 74th in the world.
Alexandra Forsterling won the European
Young Masters to secure qualification for
the team and the German finished in the top
10 of the German International Amateur
Championship.
World Number 30 Virginia Carta of Italy
won the German Girls Open and is
performing consistently in significant
European amateur competitions.
Annabel Dimmock from England is the
world number 22 and she has enjoyed a
terrific 2014, winning the Jones Doherty
Cup in the United States.
Emily Pedersen is one of the outstanding
achievers of the European Junior Ryder
Cup team at Blairgowrie. The Dane won the
2013 International European Women’s
Amateur Championship. Sweden’s Linnea
Strom won the inaugural ANNIKA
Invitational last year and has been tipped
as a future LPGA star.
But despite the wealth of talent on show at
Blairgowrie on both teams there is no doubt
about the star of the show.
A young man who has seemed destined for
greatness since he was a boy, a boy who
became a man this year and has achieved
the Holy Grail in Amateur golf. He and his
family are members of Blairgowrie Golf
Club and he has been a part of a new
generation of Scots which have tasted
European glory in 2014.
His name is Bradley Neil and he is The
Amateur Champion. Matt Hooper spoke to
the 18-year-old star of Scottish amateur
golf at this summer’s Fairstone Scottish
Amateur Championship at Downfield.
The year is 1996 and a 20-year-old Tiger
Woods is about to embark on his record-
breaking final year as an amateur. On the
16th January of that year Bradley Neil was
brought into the world by his loving parents
Rodney and Amanda.
That year Tiger won the NCAA Individual
title, NCAA West Regional, PAC10
Championship and a record third
consecutive US Amateur Championship.
It had been many years since golf had seen
his like, with Woods smashing the records
of the iconic Jack Nicklaus.
The interest in the game for Bradley started
at the age of 3 when he first picked up a golf
club.
Father Rodney first took Bradley’s older
brother Connor to the Carsie practice range
at Blairgowrie, at about the age of 3 and
Bradley soon followed when he was 3. He
would take both the boys down most
days/weekends. At the age of 8 Bradley
become a junior member of Rosemount
where he and his brother played most of
their golf.
Once they had official handicaps, he would
take them both to junior open competitions
throughout the summer months in order for
then then to progress and play other golf
courses. The young Bradley quickly
showed his talent for the game in club,
local, regional and national competitions.
In 2009, at the age of 13 Bradley became
the Scottish Boys’ under-14’s champion
and won the Boys’ club championship at
Blairgowrie.
In the following year he retained his under-
14’s Scottish title and was runner-up in the
under-16 tournament. South of the border
he won the English Boys’ under-14’s title
and then became the Men’s Club
Champion at Blairgowrie – the youngest in
the history of the club.
More success ahead of his age came in the
2011 Scottish Boys’ under-18’s champion
of champions tournament at the Duke’s
here in St Andrews.
In 2012 he first received full International
honours, representing Great Britain and
Ireland in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
He followed this in 2013 by being a member
of the Team GB Youth Olympic Gold Medal
winning team at Twin Creeks in Australia.
That year he also won the Scottish Boys
U18's Matchplay Championship at
Monifieth.
Then he stepped up to Men's Squad and
represented Scotland in the Home
Internationals and European Men's, where
he help Scotland reach the final with three
Matchplay wins. However Scotland were
beaten by England in the final.
He was also a member of the GB&I Jaques
Leglise Winning Team. He played in the
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St
Andrews. He finished 2nd in team event
with Peter Uihlein, who was runner-up to
David Howell in the main event.
So coming into 2014 Neil had shown
immense promise and was achieving great
things against players generally older than
himself. The year began well with a three-
week stint in South Africa and a third place
finish in Gauteng, followed by a 2nd place in
the South African Stroke play
championship.
Then in March Neil was selected to be part
of the Scottish team in the European
Nations Cup at Sotogrande in Spain. It was
the week that elevated the youngster into
the world’s top 100 amateurs.
He finished second in the individual event
and helped his team to an historic victory in
a play-off against Italy.
Neil began his golden summer with a third
place finish at the Lytham Trophy and then
in June he came to the home of golf.
The 2014 St Andrews Links Trophy is
arguably one of the best in the history of the
major international tournament hosted by
St Andrews Links. 1 stroke separated the
leading 6 players and the tournament was
decided in a playoff between Neil and the
highest ranked Scot, Grant Forrest.
Forrest prevailed but it had been a big week
for Bradley. Last autumn he competed as
an amateur in the team competition of the
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
alongside Peter Uihlein.
3 weeks later he headed for Royal Portrush
and the Amateur Championship. It would
be a week where promise and potential was
fulfilled.
In a hard fought 36-hole final over the
magnificent Irish links Bradley prevailed 2
and 1 over South Africa’s Zander Lombard.
The boy from Blairgowrie had become a
man and emulated the likes of Matteo
Manassero and Sergio Garcia in winning
the title as a teenager.
His first start after his Amateur success was
at the Fairstone Scottish Amateur
Championship, where he reached the
quarter-finals. I caught up with the 18-year-
old at Downfield to discuss this, match play
golf and the Junior Ryder Cup.
I started by asking him how his
experience in the Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship and St Andrews Links
Trophy helped him at The Amateur
Championship.
“Playing in front of TV cameras and
thousands of people (at the Dunhill) and
playing on links courses, which can only
help.”
“The Amateur Championship attracts big
crowds, especially during the match play
and that just prepares you. You are still
going to get over-awed by people watching.
But because it is not the first time, you know
how to deal with it a lot better.”
“Especially the Links Trophy (the playoff)
under that sort of pressure helped.”
Your home club (Blairgowrie) is an
inland course and very different to
Links. How much of an adjustment is it
to play well on Links and how much
early experience did you have of playing
Links golf?
“Between the ages of 10 and 12 my dad
took myself and my brother to a lot of Junior
Opens within an hour and a half of home. I
learned so many different things from
playing at many different courses. Learning
to play different shots and gaining an
experience of playing links golf, particularly
in the Scottish Boys’ championship.”
“I played in my first Scottish Boys’ when I
was 10, because you live in Scotland you
pick up how to play Links golf really
quickly.”
Major amateur championships like The
Amateur require two different mind-
sets, one to play well in stroke play and
one for match play. Is that hard?
“I have always been a pretty good match
player because I am pretty determined but
my strokeplay has improved. My scoring is
more solid, I generally pick up a lot of
birdies anyway.”
“With match play I feel I can play a lot more
aggressively off the tee, I am a really good
driver of the ball and quite long and straight.
I like the fact that in match play I can use
that to my advantage a lot more.”
“At Portrush it was a case of knowing that if
I got through the stroke play I knew I would
be one to watch in the match play.”
Had you played Portrush before The
Amateur Championship?
“Yes, I went over in March following our
Nations Cup win. I played Portstewart twice
and Portrush once and that helped me
because I didn’t turn up in May looking at
the course for the first time.”
“It probably made a massive difference to
the week.”
“I met a local caddie, Phil, who was
recommended to me and that helped as
well because we were able to develop a
quick bond.”
Despite his young age it is difficult to
appreciate when you meet Bradley that he
is indeed still a junior golfer. His junior
career comes to a proud conclusion this
month at his home club, Blairgowrie, as he
represents Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup.
It must be such an amazing thrill for you
to play the Junior Ryder Cup at your
home club?
“Yes, 2 years ago I just missed out and
when I heard that it was going to be at
Blairgowrie, in my last year as a junior, it
gave me a huge boost.”
“The event being at my home course was
driving me on even more to try and make
that team.”
“It was a big weight off my shoulders
making that team because there was a lot
of expectation from myself, family and
people in the club to make that team.”
“I am so proud to make the team because
it will be my last junior event and last junior
team I will play in.”
“Last year I had the pressure of playing in
the Scottish Amateur (at Blairgowrie) and I
didn’t do so well. But this year I am a year
older and a better player and I am hoping
to be able to take it all on board and use it
for the week.”
Bradley is clearly aware of the significance
of this Junior Ryder Cup, not just to himself
but to junior golf in general. The Rosemount
course will stage the matches and Bradley
believes that the course will provide much
entertainment for the expected large
crowds.
Does the Rosemount course lend itself
well to match play golf?
“There’s so many good birdie chances but
also a lot of tough holes, like the 1st and
16th, so it gives it a good mix. There will be
holes won with birdies a lot more than there
will be won with pars and bogeys.”
“I think the scoring could be very low in the
matches, which makes it even better for
spectators.”
I finished our discussion by asking him what
his goals were for the next 12 months. His
answers were telling by their simplicity. “To
keep getting better at everything” said the
18-year-old.
There is no doubt Bradley Neil is destined
for success as a professional, but only once
he has accepted his invitation to Augusta
and played at Chambers Bay in the US
Open. But arguably the proudest moment
will be hitting that first tee shot on Monday
morning in the 9th Junior Ryder Cup, on his
patch, in his manor.
Blairgowrie awaits a shining star.
The Blairgowrie Golf Club steps back into
the golfing limelight this September by
hosting the 10th Junior Ryder Cup. The club
has a prestigious history and is celebrating
its 125th anniversary this year.
The current Rosemount Course is
comprised of holes from the original
Lansdowne Course, which was designed
by Alister Mackenzie. The Rosemount
Course was designed by James Braid in
1930 and features some holes from that
original Mackenzie design.
The course having holes designed by
legendary figures such as Braid and
Mackenzie makes Blairgowrie one of
Scotland’s premier inland courses.
Gary Player was made an honorary
member of the club in 1989.
In 1977 the club staged the Martini
International, a tournament on the recently
established PGA European Tour. The
tournament was to become famous for
being the first European win for Australian
golfing icon Greg Norman.
Norman surged to victory with a final round
of 66, winning by three strokes from Simon
Hobday. The tournament featured the likes
of a young Howard Clark, Bernard
Gallacher, Sam Torrance, Mark James and
Ewen Murray.
The club has staged numerous other
national events but this September’s Junior
Ryder Cup is set to put the Rosemount
course back in the minds of golfers.
The course measures 6,630 yards from the
championship tees and demands the golfer
moves the ball both left to right and right to
left off the tee. The greens have subtle
breaks and the trees come into play on
many of the holes. There are opportunities
to score well on this course but only if you
play good golf.
This month I sat down with Blairgowrie Golf
Club member and St Andrews Links Caddie
Matt Hood to discuss the Rosemount
Course and he gave me his views on all 18
holes. Matt also speaks about being a
junior at the Perthshire club.
“Blairgowrie has a good junior section
which has been successful in many local
and national competitions. The clubhouse
has a junior room with sky, and juniors have
access to the bar and restaurant through a
hatch in their room.”
“Juniors are thought highly of and they have
a large junior prize giving event each year
and the opportunity to play in adult medals
when good enough.”
“The first hole is a 447-yard, par four which
doglegs from right to left and is tree lined
down the left. The bunker up the right side
is located 220-240 yards off tee. There is a
ridge in the middle of fairway and the best
drive is up right centre.”
“There are 2 large bunkers on left green
and a sharp fall off on right. The second
shot is played over heather on right side to
a slightly elevated green which has a
upslope at front. The green is fairly deep
but narrow in comparison to rest of course.”
“The second hole is a short par 4. The ideal
line for the drive is up left side of a tree lined
fairway. The approach shot is from less
than 100 yards, usually from a downslope
to a slightly elevated and undulating green
protected by five bunkers.”
“The par three third hole plays longer than
its yardage and has bunkers on either side
of the green. There is a narrow entrance to
the putting surface, when pin is located on
the right side you have to aim for middle of
green.”
“The par four fourth hole requires a draw off
the tee, with the longer hitters leaving
themselves a second shot from a slight
upslope. The green is protected by silver
birches on the right side and bunkers at the
front right and left.”
“The green is fairly flat but does have a
slight slope in the middle of the green,
which makes getting an approach close
difficult.”
“The fifth hole is a long and straight par five.
There are bunkers in play for the longer
hitters up the right side which have been
recently added.”
“The lay-up is difficult with a large bunker
and lone tree making the target extremely
hard to find.”
“The 190-yard par three hole has a deep
green with a bunker short left and right. The
green slopes from right to left and it is a hole
where clubbing accuracy is extremely
important.”
“The seventh hole measures just 376 yards
but accuracy off the tee is vital, avoiding 3
fairway bunkers with two on the left and one
on the right. The best line off the tee is up
the left side to open up the green for the
second shot.”
“The 371-yard par four eighth hole requires
a drive up the right side of the fairway,
leaving a short wedge approach to a green
protected by bunkers 20 yards short and
surrounding a green which angles from
right to left.”
“The ninth hole is also quite short by
modern standards at just 328 yards long.
The hole doglegs right to left and any tee
shot drifting right or which goes through the
dogleg will find a lone bunker. If the tee is
moved up slightly the green may be in
reach for big hitters.”
“The 508-yard par five tenth hole features
a severe dogleg right to left, with a bunker
on the left the ideal line for the tee shot is
up the right centre. For the longer hitter to
reach in two they have to go tight up the left.
The hole features a long green, guarded by
bunkers on both sides with a slope at the
back of green which can punish misjudged
approach.”
“The second of two back-to-back par fives,
this hole also features a severe dogleg but
in the opposite left to right direction. There
is a bunker through the fairway on the left
which must be avoided, anything left will go
towards heather and trees.”
“This green features a large ridge in the
middle.”
“This is the shortest par four on the course.
From the tee most players will use a mid to
long iron up right side. When the tee is up
many will go for the green which is
protected by bunkers short right and short
left.”
“The 403 yard par four 13th hole has a left
to right sloping fairway so tee shots should
be kept to the left. Deep bunkers left and
right, and a slope beyond the green mean
the approach has to be precise.”
“The 517 yard par five fourteenth hole is
fairly straight but to provide the best angle
for a second shot the drive needs to be up
the left side. Fairway bunkers need to be
avoided when laying up.”
“The shortest hole on the course is the 130
yard par three 15th. Guarded by bunkers on
both sides and a precise shot is needed.
The green divided into three parts.”
“The 16th is one of the hardest holes on the
course, measuring 473 yards off the back
tee. The entire left side of the hole is
bordered by out of bounds. The drive is
over water and to reach into two is good
hitting.”
“The signature hole on the Rosemount
course at Blairgowrie is the 163 yard par
three 17th. There is a ridge which splits the
green into two parts and the green is wide
and shallow. There is a large, deep bunker
protecting the front of the green.”
“The final hole on the Rosemount course is
a 402 yard par four which is a slight dogleg
left to right.”
41 years is a long time.
Scotland has held two referendums on
Independence in the last 41 years.
The country has changed significantly in 41
years.
But it still loves golf.
Golf is a burning passion, a pastime which
brings communities together.
Golf is an industry which drives the nation’s
economy and brings thousands of tourists
to the country each year.
Scotland is the home of golf.
This September the Ryder Cup returns
home to Scotland for the first time since
September 1973. Back then it was the
Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers
which played host the matches between the
United States and Great Britain and Ireland.
This year it is The Gleneagles Hotel and the
PGA Centenary Course in the heart of
Perthshire.
Since May St Andrews Golf Magazine has
brought you a countdown to the 2014 Ryder
Cup and now we have nearly arrived at that
special event. Gleneagles is ready and the
world is ready for another enchanting
episode of the Ryder Cup story.
Over the next 18 pages we guide you
through the PGA Centenary Course and
then we tell the story of that extraordinary
Sunday at Medinah.
The 40th Ryder Cup is set to be one of
sport’s greatest contests.
The two teams are very evenly matched
and the two captains are diligent and
passionate about their roles.
The spectators will be passionate and
knowledgeable, and the viewers around the
world will be transfixed by the awesome
golf in beautiful surroundings.
Keep up to date with Ryder Cup week on
our dedicated Ryder Cup microsite. Just go
to www.standrewsgolfmagazine.com and
follow the link.
Enjoy the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
In August’s edition of St Andrews Golf
Magazine we took a look at the Pioneers
from St Andrews who became club
professionals in the United States and
eventually helped form the PGA of
America.
This month St Andrews Golf Magazine
visited the Hotel Martinique in New York
City, and the Taplow Club, where the PGA
of America was founded in 1916.
Unfortunately we were not able to source
the details of the origins of those present in
the initial meeting. We know there were
some 15 Scots but not their precise origin
and if they were from St Andrews.
The PGA of America continued to use the
Hotel Martinique as the place it announced
its Ryder Cup team for many years until
recently.
Captain: Paul McGinley
Rory McIlroy
Graeme McDowell
Victor Dubuisson
Thomas Bjorn
Sergio Garcia
Jamie Donaldson
Henrik Stenson
Martin Kaymer
Justin Rose
Wildcard: Lee Westwood
Wildcard: Stephen Gallacher
Wildcard: Ian Poulter
Captain: Tom Watson
Wildcard: Hunter Mahan
Wildcard: Keegan Bradley
Wildcard: Webb Simpson
Phil Mickelson
Jimmy Walker
Jordan Spieth
Patrick Reed
Matt Kuchar
Jim Furyk
Zach Johnson
Rickie Fowler
Bubba Watson
The Ryder Cup was the event that inspired
me to take up the game at the age of 10 in
1993, with the hole in one by Nick Faldo at
the Belfry on the Sunday providing the
spark that began my 19-year addiction to
this marvellous game.
And I have absolutely no doubt that the
incredible happenings at the 2012 Ryder
Cup will provide a similar spark to
thousands of 10-year-old boys and girls
across Europe.
Europe drew on the inspiration of Seve
Ballesteros to generate momentum for an
historic and amazing comeback from 10-4
down late on Saturday evening, winning 10
and a half of the final 14 points available at
Medinah.
Over the first two days we saw a wave of
American birdies, with shot after stunning
shot from a team being lauded as the best
for 30 years, since the "dream team" which
dismantled Europe at Walton Heath in
1981.
Seemingly every putt they hit found the
bottom of the hole, and Europe were
clinging on to anything they could to keep
the match alive going into the Sunday
Singles.
Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald held on to
edge out Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker,
giving Europe just their fifth point out of the
first 15. Then the attention switched to the
16th match between Ian Poulter & Rory
McIlroy and Jason Dufner & Zach Johnson.
The Americans took a 2-up lead into the
last six holes, and seemed set to extend the
overall score to 11-5, before an inspired
finish which gave Europe the platform for
their greatest ever comeback.
The World Number One (McIlroy) holed a
downhill putt at the 13th to win the hole with
a birdie, and then the European talisman
Ian Poulter took over. He holed putt after
astonishing putt on each of the last five
holes to complete a remarkable six birdie
finish for Europe to close the score to 10-6
and give them hope of a "Brookline 99"
style comeback.
And Europe achieved the Impossible by
winning the first five matches on Sunday,
quietening the raucous Chicago crowds
and sending a ripple of nervousness
around the Medinah Country Club.
Suddenly the seemingly rampant
Americans were missing and the pressure
was too much for them to bare. The
matches and destiny of the Ryder Cup
came down to the final three matches.
Ryder Cup legend Lee Westwood extended
his points tally in the competition to 21,
moving to within 4 points of matching the
all-time record held by Sir Nick Faldo, a
record he can potentially break at
Gleneagles in 2014.
So it came down to the final two matches,
with the score at 13-13, Europe needing 1
point to retain and the United States
needing 1 and a half points to win.
Martin Kaymer, out of form for much of the
season and dropped for the entire second
day's play, made a par 3 to take the lead on
the 17th in his match against Jim Furyk,
meaning a half at the final hole would
incredibly give Europe the Ryder Cup.
And the German delivered.
Coolly rolling in the putt which had realized
the dream Europe had dared to dream on
Saturday night.
Sky Sports’ Ewen Murray found the right
commentary for the moment: “The history
books re-written by 12 heroes in Chicago,
unbelievably, it’s Europe’s Ryder Cup!”
Francesco Molinari and Tiger Woods
halved their match, remarkably giving
Europe an outright win, from a seemingly
impossible deficit.
It was pure ecstasy for Europe and the
fans.
Sky Sports' Butch Harmon, coach to Phil
Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, said that it
"was the greatest golf event he had ever
been to" and television ratings show the
immense popularity of what is now without
question the greatest golf event in the
world.
NBC's overnight ratings were the highest
they have been for the Ryder Cup ever,
eclipsing those of the 1999 matches when
the United States team came back from the
same deficit at The Country Club.
Sky Sports’ golf presenter David
Livingstone recalls the experience: “It was
the best (atmosphere at the Ryder Cup)
ever; we had a big, full studio with a big
curved window and it is the biggest and
best studio at the whole Ryder Cup and
even the host broadcaster is looking at it
and they can’t believe what is going on.”
“Of course we had Jack Nicklaus in there
on the final day. It is like a goldfish bowl so
people are walking by and they see
Nicklaus, Monty and Butch. For some
reason Jack really enjoys coming into our
studio, maybe because we do things
differently from the Americans.”
“We’re not quite as intense or serious. I
remember he couldn’t believe it; it was the
final word before going into live golf for the
day and Monty made this big case as to
why he thought Europe was going to win.
He was very passionate about it. The last
word from Butch was “Monty you’re full of
it” and Jack Nicklaus laughed so loud, he
couldn’t believe anyone would say so
irreverent on TV.”
“It was a great atmosphere, because I don’t
think any of us thought Europe were going
to win but it was like a shot to nothing at
snooker. You have a go at it but you don’t
expect to do it. The atmosphere inside and
outside was great.”
“It evolved into a special day, not just for
golf but for viewing golf. At one point in the
evening Sky Sports 1 was the most viewed
channel in Great Britain of ALL channels
including terrestrial.
“For the first time, people who had never
watched sport, never mind golf got
interested in it.”
And for me the Ryder Cup does transcend
golf to an audience which otherwise would
not watch the game, this was proved in my
own house. My parents have never really
sat down with me to watch golf, but they did
for this Ryder Cup; on Thursday night for
the Opening Ceremony, on Friday for the
Opening shots, on Saturday evening for the
incredible finish to the Fourballs, and on
Sunday for the finale.
And what further proved this was that my
Dad actually said that he was looking
forward to watching it.
We were all sat there cheering every holed
putt and we all celebrated when Martin
Kaymer holed the clinching putt. The sense
of exultation when Europe won was
absolutely fantastic, it was without question
the best golf tournament I have ever
watched.
Golf has always had a rather unfair
reputation as a sport for old men and a
stuffy, slow game. The week of the 2012
Ryder Cup completely shattered that
reputation, with the crowd interaction on the
first tee and throughout the course, and at
the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. And
the makeup of the two teams, the bright and
brash Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Nicolas
Colsaerts, Ian Poulter, Bubba Watson,
Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley.
Golf came out of the 2012 Ryder Cup with
its reputation and popularity enhanced, and
its stars shining brighter than ever before.
Sunday 30 September 2012 was Golf's
Greatest Day.
How the 1995 Ryder Cup was won
Thursday 18 September 6am, 6pm
Saturday 20 September 11pm
Sunday 21 September 3am, 7.30am
Monday 22 September 7pm
How the 1997 Ryder Cup was won
Thursday 18 September 9.30pm
Sunday 21 September 9.30am
Monday 22 September 11pm
Tuesday 23 September 6.30am
How the 1999 Ryder Cup was won
Friday 19 September 12.30am
Tuesday 23 September 3am, 10.30am
How the 2002 Ryder Cup was won
Friday 19 September 3am, 7.30am
Tuesday 23 September 1pm
2010 Official Film
Friday 19 September 1.30pm
Saturday 20 September 10.30am
Monday 22 September 9am
How the 2004 Ryder Cup was won
Friday 19 September 6pm
Tuesday 23 September 7pm
How the 2006 Ryder Cup was won
Friday 19 September 9.30pm
Saturday 20 September 6am
Miracle at Medinah
Thursday 18 September 8.30am
2008 Official Film
Thursday 18 September 1.30pm
Saturday 20 September 2am, 9am
2012 Official Film
Saturday 20 September 12pm, 7.30pm
Monday 22 September 12.30pm
Tom Watson – Lessons of a Lifetime
Saturday 20 September 7pm
Sunday 21 September 1am, 5am, 7pm,
9.30pm
Monday 22 September 1.30am, 4.30am,
8am, 8.30am, 2pm, 2.30pm
Ryder Cup Countdown LIVE
Sunday 21 September 5 days to go
7.30pm (shown again at 11.30pm, Monday
22 September 2.30am, 6am, 10.30am,
3pm)
Monday 22 September 4 days to go
5pm (shown again at 9pm, Tuesday 23
September 2am)
Tuesday 23 September 3 days to go
5pm (shown again at 9pm)
Wednesday 24 September 2 days to go
5pm
Ian Poulter: Europe’s Postman
Monday 22 September 6pm, 10pm
Tuesday 23 September 9.30am, 4pm
McGinley: The making of a captain
Tuesday 23 September 6pm
History of the Ryder Cup
Tuesday 23 September 10pm
Celebrity Challenge
Thursday 25 September 11am
Opening Ceremony
Thursday 25 September 2.30pm
Day One
Friday 26 September 7am
Day Two
Saturday 27 September 7am
Day Three
Sunday 28 September 10.30am
Coverage sponsored by
ROLEX and Standard Life Investments