Ross Laird relishing team tussle against in Palmer Cup
Laird, the Stirling University student, is a member at Glenbervie, the Larbert club where the celebrated, decorated Panton served as club professional for 40 years.
In that time, a few of his eponymous libations made up of ginger beer, lime and Angostura bitters were served up too.
Whatever drinks are doing the rounds this week, Laird will be hoping he's raising a glass to an International team success.
The 21-year-old played in last weekend's Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship at North Berwick before hopping on a transatlantic flight on Monday to join up with his team-mates in the US.
It's been quite the whirlwind but should be worth it.
'It's the opportunity of a lifetime,' said Laird of an event which has featured college standouts like Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Luke Donald and Francesco Molinari down the seasons.
Interestingly, Laird is the only member of the International team not studying in the US. He did have a brief stint at Cal Poly in California as a teenager but a return to the home comforts of Stirling University has suited him down to a tee.
'I went to California for a semester, but it wasn't for me at the time,' he reflected. 'It wasn't run the way I thought it would be. I had a few friends who were at Stirling at the time.
'One of them, George Cannon, was playing the best golf of his life and he said how good it was. If it was working for him, I thought it could work for me. And it has.'
Stirling University, of course, has become the place to be for those wanting to pursue a golf scholarship on this side of the pond.
Catriona Matthew and Richie Ramsay both graduated from there, as did The Herald's former golf correspondent, John Huggan. Quite a triumvirate, eh?
These days, the golf programme is run by Dean Robertson, the current captain of the GB&I Walker Cup team.
Since starting in his role as head of golf back in 2010, the popular Paisley man has been such a success, he'll probably get immortalised in a monument on the Abbey Craig.
The experience, expertise and sage counsel that Robertson offers continues to stand Laird in good stead.
'Dean has played a big part in my development,' said finance student Laird, who won the British Universities and College Sport order of merit last season.
'He's very understanding, very knowledgeable and just a great guy to go to about anything.
'My game as a whole has improved. Dean has helped me review the stats, what's working, what's not and focus on the areas that I need to improve in.
"Golf is always a work in progress. That's what I love about it. The constant search for improvement.'
While Robertson's nurturing continues to bear fruit, the emergence of Robert MacIntyre on the global stage has given Laird plenty of inspiration too.
'One day, I want that to be me,' added Laird as he aims for the stars. 'He's someone we all want to be; a young man from small town Scotland playing with the best.
"It's amazing what he's achieved, and it shows what can be done with talent and hard work.'
Laird's own golfing career began at the age of eight when he was bitten by the bug. 'Nobody played golf in my family,' he said. 'I only started as my best friend at school played.
'We both joined Falkirk which had an amazing junior section. We'd start on the nine-hole academy course then work our way up. I'd tried a lot of different sports, but nothing really jumped out at me until I got on the golf course. That was me hooked.
"I was out every day. In the summer, we'd be dropped off at the course at 9am and stay there until 8pm at night. We loved it.'
Back in 1961, the aforementioned Panton, one of Scotland's greatest golfers of yore, lost to Palmer in the foursomes of the Ryder Cup at Lytham.
Perhaps another Glenbervie golfer will have better luck in the Palmer Cup? And raise a 'John Panton' to celebrate?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool face Florian Wirtz dispute with Bayer Leverkusen as 7 exits confirmed
Liverpool are prominent in the transfer market this summer after conducting minimal business 12 months ago and the Reds are keen to land Florian Wirtz in the coming weeks Liverpool have wasted little time getting busy in the transfer market this summer. The Reds have already brought Jeremie Frimpong to the club from Bayer Leverkusen but have more on the agenda for Arne Slot. Florian Wirtz is top of the list as the Anfield side attempt to come to an agreement with Leverkusen once again. A British record deal awaits if Liverpool can iron out any discrepencies with a deal expected to go through. The club are also looking to land Milos Kerkez as Slot looks to reinforce at full-back. After conducting minimal business for his first season, the Dutch boss is set to leave his imprint on the squad. There are sure to be players follow Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the club too. Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliot and Darwin Nunez, among others, all face uncertain futures. Mirror Football takes a look at the latest Liverpool transfer news and rumours below. Robertson speaks out Andy Robertson is not worried about the prospect of competition from Milos Kerkez at left-back next season. The Bournemouth star looks set to arrive at Anfield this summer, while Robertson has just a year remaining on his contract. The Scotland international has confidence in himself to continue to challenge for a place and believes he still has a lot to give. "We're not daft, it looks as if a deal could potentially be done," Robertson told BBC Scotland. "But, until that is done, I've not even given that a second thought. I back myself, I've got confidence in my own ability and that drives me forward. "I've had eight fantastic years at Liverpool in terms of winning trophies, being a mainstay in the team, which I'm incredibly proud of. I'm not getting any younger, I can't change my age, but I still believe I've got a lot to give and that's what I focus on. "I focus on myself - you can't focus on other people or who you're competing with. I still believe I have a hell of a lot to give for however many years I can keep going. My body feels good at the minute. "I can't tell you how I'll feel at 33 or 34, but I can tell you, at 31, I feel excellent. I've been fit for every game, I've not missed a training session and that's not a sign of someone who is slowing down. "I've got a year left at Liverpool, I'm looking forward to a switch off, I'm looking forward to a holiday and then I'll look forward to pre-season. What the future holds after that? I've not given it too much thought." Wirtz drama Florian Wirtz is set to be at the centre of a 'million-dollar dispute' when he completes his transfer to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen. According to a report from BILD, the German side are set to receive plenty of attention from Koln as they attempt to ensure they receive all the money they are entitled to. "Of course, we are looking into it," Wolf said on Radio Cologne. "We know what we are entitled to and will fight for it. We're looking at this with both eyes. We'll benefit from it. The higher the sum Liverpool is willing to pay, the better for us." Per FIFA's rules, any club that has played a role in a player's development between the age of 12 and 23 will receive five per cent of any transfer fee in compensation. Wirtz trained with Koln for nine-and-a-half years from the age of seven. Koln are said to be planning to argue that Wirtz's 'training' period concluded long before he turned 23 as a result of him earning his Leverkusen at 17 and becoming a Germany international when he was 18. This is in hope of proving they are entitled to the maximum amount of compensation from any transfer. The side could be due around £6.3m if Liverpool end up paying Leverkusen's £126m asking price. Koln are set to engage with the FIFA Clearing House to ensure the highest payout possible. Liverpool confirm exits Liverpool have announced that seven players have left the club following the expiration of their contracts. Academy products Dominic Corness, Louis Enahoro-Marcus, Harry Evers, Lee Jonas, Jakub Ojrzynski, Jacob Poytress and Reece Trueman will all be released by the new Premier League champions and search for new clubs. The Reds meanwhile, have offered new deals to eight young players. Kareem Ahmed, Emmanuel Airoboma, Keyrol Figueroa, Kyle Kelly, Michael Laffey, Wellity Lucky, Terence Miles and Ranel Young, all have the opportunity to extend their stays.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Ferguson and Souttar react to Iceland defeat
Scotland's Lewis Ferguson tells BBC Scotland: "It's been a long season for a lot of the lads but we're here to do a job."We set out to win the game but we're nowhere near the standard we, or anybody expects."We set our standards pretty high and we were nowhere near that. We conceded sloppy goals from set pieces and that's just not good enough, it gives us too much to do."Scotland defender John Souttar tells BBC Scotland: "It was a tough night, didn't go at all how we wanted it to go."We wanted to dominate and take the ball to them and we didn't do that tonight. We conceded a poor goal before half-time and they went 3-1 up after the break and we never got going at all. It's one we'll need to look back on tomorrow, we're aware it's not good enough."We need to go and win the game [against Lichtenstein], put on a performance and get a bit of momentum back going into the September internationals."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Scotland 1 Iceland 3: It's a Hampden horror show for Steve Clarke as end-of-season friendly falls flat
The scenes of celebration which so many of Steve Clarke's players have been central to across the past three weeks have been nothing short of staggering. Across England, Italy and Austria, silverware has been raised, ticker tape has exploded from cannons and glasses have been charged. Scott McTominay even tripped the light fantastic following Napoli's stunning Serie A triumph. Frankly, had any of those concerned seen a couple of end of season international friendlies far enough, it would have been hard to wave a finger of condemnation. Kudos to them all then, for not taking the easy option. The lingering fear, of course, was that those who'd recently scaled such dizzying heights would experience some sort of adrenaline crash. And so, it proved. While we can't lay the entire blame for this dismal show on the boogie, it was hard to escape the feeling that a little overindulgence may have had something to do with it. To say that some of the star men in Clarke's side looked a little jaded would be putting it mildly. It was not, truthfully, a night that many in Dark Blue will recall with much fondness. For Cieran Slicker, a third-choice keeper with Ipswich Town, it was an international debut to forget. Thrown on early as a replacement for the stricken Angus Gunn, he was at fault for each of Iceland's three goals. You would need a heart of stone not to have felt some sympathy with him. He was not the only man for whom sleep would not have come easy. So many of the stellar names just didn't perform. Having turned up to the camp, there was no question of Clarke not starting those who'd enjoyed such outstanding ends to their club campaigns. Fresh from Liverpool's title win, Andy Robertson played at left wing-back as Clarke reverted to a back-five for the first time since facing Hungary at the Euros. Max Johnston, a title winner with Sturm Graz, played on the right. Scudetto winning Billy Gilmour sat at the base of the diamond with Napoli team-mate McTominay playing more advanced beside Lewis Ferguson, the man who skippered Bologna to the Coppa Italia. Johnson, who provided an assist, and Robertson, may have scraped pass marks. But Gilmour and Ferguson just couldn't get going. As for McTominay? He looked like his mind was still on an open top bus in Naples. The upshot was a disjointed and ragged display. Scotland lacked cohesion and rhythm. They looked vulnerable at the back and punchless in the final third. It said much that their only response came via a set-piece as John Souttar headed an equaliser. They could offer no complaints. Clarke spoke on Thursday about how he and Gordon Strachan had recently tried to get to the bottom of Scotland's wretched record in friendlies. Neither the current or former national team manager could come up with an answer. It's a pretty staggering sequence of failure. Prior to this affair, Scotland had won just three of the past 21 friendlies they'd participated in. Those victories all came on the road - in Hungary, Luxembourg and against Gibraltar in the Algarve. You had to go back to March 29, 2016, for the last such victory at Hampden. Matt Ritchie scored against Denmark that night in front of 18,385. Within eight minutes, you feared this was going to be another one of those bleak nights. Gunn really can't buy a break now. Having spent much of this season injured, he was freed by Norwich and turned up at the Scotland camp as an unattached player. If he thought he was due a change of fortune, he was badly mistaken. With Iceland's first surge up the field, he took a dull one from Andri Gudjohnsen and fell to the turf. Seemingly hurt by his awkward fall, he signalled that he couldn't continue. Slicker couldn't have envisaged his international career starting like this. Although you had to cut the Ipswich man some slack for being suddenly thrust into the action after just nine minutes of club football at Portman Road this term, his first involvement was the stuff of nightmares. A weak kick up the park only went as far as Stefan Thordarson who nodded the ball forward. Gudjohnsen gathered it on his right foot and worked it onto his left. An outstanding finish from 20 yards was one his famous father Eidur would have approved of. Slicker looked shaken. His next clearance also found a white shirt. The one that followed went straight out of play. The keeper was also unconvincing in preventing Jon Thorsteinsson claiming Iceland's second. But it wasn't as if anyone else in the side was faring much better. Scotland were all over the place. The one moment of hope came when John McGinn chipped the ball to the far post. George Hirst had the goal gaping yet somehow headed over. The Ipswich forward did much better moments later, though, with a strike that would have found the top corner had Elias Olafsson not stretched out his arm. It would be wrong to suggest the equaliser had been coming. With the Scots struggling to create anything from open play, a set-piece was their best hope. The delivery from Johnston's corner was terrific. Souttar was going away from goal yet managed to get enough purchase on his header to take it past the keeper. Any small positives Clarke may have taken from a marginally better display in the next 20 minutes were washed away by another moment of calamity on the cusp of half-time. Albert Gudmundsson's corner could have been claimed by any one of five Scotland players, yet no one took command of the situation. The ball bounced off Grant Hanley then ricocheted off Ferguson and started moving towards the target. Slicker ought to have saved it but jumped over the ball. It was a ghastly goal to concede. There was just no end to the keeper's misery. Seven minutes after the re-start, Victor Palsson got his head on Gudmundsson's free-kick. It was a tame effort. Slicker threw up his arms. Somehow the ball evaded him. As this point, Clarke must have been tempted to take him off for his own good. It was painful to watch. It was a night of precious few positives. Lennon Miller earned his first cap from the bench.
