Edinburgh golfer set for 'bold and brilliant' challenge in honour of late rugby star
An Edinburgh man is playing 25 rounds of golf over five days in honour of a late rugby star who died of motor neurone disease (MND).
George "Doddie" Weir, a Scottish rugby union player, died in 2022, aged 52. Inspired by the star's struggle, Graeme Smeaton aims to raise £25,000 for MND research through the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, a charity launched in the nickname of the player.
Mr Smeaton will walk a total of 125 miles, hit over 2,000 shots, and will have less than 25 hours of sleep over the five days. He will be joined by former Scotland rugby internationals John Barclay, Andy Irvine, and Roger Baird will join him across the week to keep pace and morale high. In memory of Doddie, he will wear Royal and Awesome's limited-edition Doddie tartan, 15 per cent of each sale goes to the charity.
READ MORE: Huge delays on Edinburgh Bypass as drivers urged to 'use caution'
READ MORE: 'Our Edinburgh scheme has a reputation for being tough - but it's misunderstood'
Graeme Smeaton, founder of Royal & Awesome golf, takes on the challenge from June 2-6. His JustGiving page had already amassed over £2,000 in donations by Monday morning.
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
The rounds will be played on East Lothian courses Gullane, Luffness, Kilspindie and Longniddry. Ahead of the feat, Mr Smeaton said: "These courses are where I fell in love with golf.
"So to take on this challenge here, for a cause as meaningful as My Name'5 Doddie Foundation's feels incredibly special. I'm aiming to raise £25,000 but the main goal is to raise awareness of the incredible work the Foundation does to raise vital funds for MND research.
"This is nothing compared to what people living with MND go through every day. I just want to do my bit - and hopefully inspire donations along the way."
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Also joining will be Doddie's son Hamish Weir and friends and family of MND campaigner Scott Stewart, who lost his battle with MND in December 2024. Paul Thompson, director of fundraising and communications at My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, said: "Graeme's challenge is bold, brilliant, and full of heart, exactly the kind of energy Doddie brought to life.
"We're incredibly grateful for his support and can't wait to see him take on all 25 rounds. He's doing something extraordinary to help fund vital research and raise awareness of MND."
Mr Smeaton will be posting about the challenge on his Instagram account. Find out more information on Graeme's JustGiving page here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Here's who has qualified for next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club
The field is nearly set for next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. The best golfers in the world will be teeing it up next week for the 125th playing of the U.S. Open and from a Pittsburgh native to a number of past champions trying to win the championship again, there are plenty of big storylines to follow. The U.S. Open will tee off on June 12 and here are some of those big storylines to follow. Matt Vogt, a former Oakmont caddy qualifies for the U.S. Open Matt Vogt was among those who qualified for the upcoming U.S. Open during final qualifying on Monday. Final qualifying consisted of a grueling 36-hole competition known as "Golf's Longest Day." Vogt, who caddied at Oakmont for six years and now a dentist based out of Indianapolis, shot 68-68 at the Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington to earn medalist honors and a spot in the U.S. Open next week in his hometown. After qualifying for the U.S. Open, Vogt said Oakmont and the tournament being held in Pittsburgh means so much to him, but he tried to block out those thoughts while attempting to qualify. "It took every ounce of energy in my body to not think about that all day," Vogt said. A caddie turned dentist turned U.S. Open competitor! 👏 👏 👏 If you watch one Golf's Longest Day interview, make sure it's this one from Matthew Vogt. — U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 3, 2025 Vogt said he hasn't been at Oakmont since 2021 and hasn't seen the recent renovations at the course that have been implemented since then. "It was very hard then," Vogt said. "You know, I'm a different player. I'm a better player, I know that. But I'm playing with the best players in the world, so I will soak up every single second of that week and stay insanely present. It's just a dream come true." High School Junior Mason Howell qualifies for U.S. Open Another big storyline that came out of final qualifying on Monday happened at the Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, Georgia as 17-year-old Mason Howell made big headlines. Howell, a high school junior who is committed to play college golf at the University of Georgia, qualified for the U.S. Open by shooting 63-63 and finishing 18-under par to earn his spot at Oakmont Country Club. "That was one of the greatest moments of my life," Howell said after qualifying. High school junior Mason Howell won the Atlanta U.S. Open qualifier with an incredible 18-under score over 36 holes. 😳🔥 📺 Golf Channel — Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 3, 2025 Howell, currently 8th in the American Junior Golf Association ranking list, earned his spot in the U.S. Open without making a single bogey across his 36 holes of final qualifying. Cameron Young qualifies for U.S. Open in playoff One of the higher profile final qualifying events was held at the Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Columbus, Ohio and featured some prominent PGA Tour names who were trying to earn a spot at next week's U.S. Open. Erik Van Rooyen earned medalist honors with a stunning 13-under par score, six shots better than the next player in the field, but the big storyline from the qualifier was the playoff for the final qualifying spot. Rickie Fowler and Max Homa, who was carrying his own bag, both shot 5-under par to earn their way into the playoff. This is what Golf's Longest Day is all about! 6x @PGATOUR winner Max Homa out here grinding 36 holes with his own bag on his back in an effort to play in his sixth-consecutive U.S. Open. — U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 2, 2025 Cameron Young also made the playoff, making a necessary birdie on the last of his 36 holes to move to 5-under as well. CAMERON YOUNG CLUTCH! A birdie on the first playoff hole and he's on to Oakmont! Homa, Fowler, Cole and Johnson are heading home. — U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 3, 2025 In the playoff, Young birdied the first hole, securing him a spot in the U.S. Open. Can Bryson DeChambeau go back-to-back? Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, last year's winner at Pinehurst, is aiming to become just the second back-to-back champion of the last 75 years, a feat achieved by Brooks Koepka in 2017 and 2018 and by Ben Hogan in 1950 and 1951. PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 16: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States plays his third shot out of a greenside bunker on the 18th hole during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 16, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. / Getty Images Should DeChambeau be able to repeat, he'll join a relatively exclusive club of players to win the U.S. Open three or more times that includes Tiger Woods, Hale Irwin, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, and Willie Anderson. Phil Mickelson still chasing the career grand slam Can Phil Mickelson find lightning in a bottle to contend at this year's U.S. Open and complete the career grand slam? Mickelson would love to become the seventh all-time player to achieve the grand slam, already having won the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the Open Championship. CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 15: Phil Mickelson of the United States hits out of a greenside bunker on the fourth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 15, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. / Getty Images Six times a runner up at the U.S. Open, Mickelson has struggled as of late at major championships. Since winning the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in 2021, Mickelson has missed the cut in 10 of his 14 appearances at majors. In the four times he made the cut, he had a 2nd place and 43rd place finish at the Masters, 58th place finish at the PGA Championship, and 60th place finish at the Open Championship. Is Scottie Scheffler the favorite to win at Oakmont? When the players tee off at Oakmont next week, Scottie Scheffler will likely be the favorite to win the tournament. Scheffler, the world's No. 1 ranked player, is on a hot streak currently, having won three of the last four competitions he has played in. With wins at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, the PGA Championship, and the Memorial, Scheffler has now been victorious 16 times on the PGA Tour since winning the 2022 WM Phoenix Open. DUBLIN, OHIO - JUNE 01: Scottie Scheffler of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday 2025 at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 01, 2025 in Dublin, Ohio. / Getty Images In seven U.S. Open appearances, Scheffler has posted three top 10 finishes, including a tied for second place result in 2022 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. Scheffler competed in the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont as an amateur, but missed the cut. Former champions in the field at Oakmont Along with defending champion Bryson DeChambeau (2024 and 2020), a number of past U.S. Open champions will be in the field at Oakmont last week. Past champions in the field include: Wyndham Clark, 2023 at Los Angeles Country Club Matt Fitzpatrick, 2022 at The Country Club Jon Rahm, 2021 at Torrey Pines Gary Woodland, 2019 at Pebble Beach Brooks Koepka, 2018 and 2017 at Shinnecock Hills and Erin Hills Dustin Johnson, 2016 at Oakmont Jordan Spieth, 2015 at Chambers Bay Justin Rose, 2013 at Merion Rory McIlroy, 2011 at Congressional Lucas Glover, 2009 at Bethpage Black A full list of players who will be competing in next week's U.S. Open can be found here.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Glenpark Harrier puts name in history books with powerful performance
Simon Okiti was flying the flag for Inverclyde yet again (Image: Supplied) A GREENOCK athlete wrote their name in the history books in a powerful performance last weekend. Glenpark Harriers' Simon Okiti bounced back to form at the weekend with a season's best and national standard performance. Advertisement The Glenpark Harrier has impressed on the big stage (Image: Supplied) Simon travelled to Eton back on the hunt for medals following a stunning hat-trick back in April. He made the trip to contest the UK Athletic League Premier Division for Glasgow Jaguars. Competing in the Premier Division means that Simon is taking on the fastest athletes from across the UK. Heading into the weekend, he was keen to test a new race plan in the 100 metres. After a steady start, he was soon into his running, working through the phases before crossing the line in a season-best finish. His performance did not go unnoticed and his learnings were put to good use as he was selected to anchor the 4x100 metre relay squad later in the day. Advertisement Joining Glasgow's fastest quartet, Simon exploded into action as the baton got to him with 100m to go. Okiti was soon at top speed, mixing it with some of the UK's top sprinters. Undeterred by the company he was rubbing shoulders with, he powered the team home, stopping the clock in a time that took them to the top of the Scottish rankings and the third fastest relay time in history. Simon's season now progresses toward Grangemouth, Cardiff and Derby in the coming weeks.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
PGA Tour Turns Heads With Cameron Young Announcement
PGA Tour Turns Heads With Cameron Young Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It was a big day on the PGA Tour, as six players punched their tickets to the upcoming U.S. Open. Five previously earned their spots through the first 36 holes, but the final place was up for grabs in a dramatic playoff. Advertisement Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Eric Cole and Chase Johnson - all competing for the final berth - finished at 5-under. On the first playoff hole, Young drained a birdie to secure the final qualifying spot. This marks the fifth straight season Young has qualified for the U.S. Open. On Monday evening, the PGA Tour posted a photo of Young holding his qualifying plaque, accompanied by the caption: "Cameron Young has punched his ticket to the U.S. Open!" That announcement sparked a flurry of fan reactions on social media, with many praising Young's clutch performance: "[expetive] of a rally: birdied 3 of the last 4 holes to get into the playoff & then won a 5 for 1 playoff. For a guy having a really poor year, it will be interesting to see if leads to a hot streak," exclaimed this fan. Advertisement "[This is really cool. We all like to [expletive] talk him for when we bet him, myself included. So let's give the man his props when he steps up and nabs a spot. Won't be betting his [expletive], but still," said someone here. Another fan was simple, but excited: "On to Oakmont!" "A great bounce-back: birdied three of the last four holes to get into a playoff, then won the five-shot playoff. For a player who hasn't been in great form this year, it will be interesting to see if he can keep the streak going," chimed in this fan. An excited observer said: "Lets go cameron!" More praise here: "Clutch under pressure! Cameron Young is headed to the U.S. Open!" Cameron Terada-Imagn Images Young, 28, was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2021-22 season. He played college golf at Wake Forest and has since tallied four PGA Tour wins. Although he hasn't yet claimed a major, he finished second at The Open Championship in 2022. Advertisement His best U.S. Open finish took place in 2023, when he came 32nd. Last season, he tied for 67th. Still, he's made the cut in 7 of his last 8 major appearances, proving he can consistently compete at the highest level. With the 2025 U.S. Open set to begin June 12 at Oakmont, Young will look to ride this momentum into one of golf's biggest stages. Related: Scottie Scheffler Earns New Nickname After 16th PGA Tour Win Related: Jordan Spieth Addresses Relationship With Scottie Scheffler Before PGA Championship This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
