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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Grant Forrest opens up on 'surreal' Donald Trump phone call and his 'rock' during struggle
Scot says return to winning ways in Nexo Championship was reminder about how 'crazy golf is' Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Grant Forrest may have been personally congratulated by the 47th president of the United States after winning the Nexo Championship on Sunday, but it wasn't Donald Trump who was responsible for a narrative that could be termed as 'Make Grant Great Again'. Yes, it was at Trump International Golf Links at Balmedie in Aberdeenshire where the 32-year-old returned to winning ways, landing a second DP World Tour triumph four years and two days after securing his breakthrough victory in the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And, yes, he's now a life member at the venue, which was afforded him by Trump in addition to picking up a top prize worth $467,500, as well as a $10,000 bonus for setting a course-record with his six-under-par 66 in the second round. Grant Forrest shows off the Nexo Championship trophy as he celebrates his second DP World Tour win with wife Christy and son Spencer at Trump International Golf Links |As he was speaking to this correspondent and a fellow Scottish golf scribe, Forrest was suddenly whisked away as someone mentioned he had to go and 'take a call' and it was no surprise that it subsequently emerged on social media that it was from Trump. Out playing golf himself at Trump International in Washington DC, the US president said he'd 'watched' the event and described Forrest as 'some player'. He added that 'I look forward to playing with him…in fact I will play with him tomorrow if he can get on a plane'. Earlier in his life, Forrest might just have been tempted to do that, especially after having a spell at university in San Diego, but not now. Not with a wife and young child and, boy, was it appropriate that Christy and nine-month-old Spencer joined Forrest on the 18th green after he'd holed the winning put and celebrated with a joyous roar. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'She's amazing. She's my rock,' said Forrest of his wife, who is a trained nurse and has a demeanour that has clearly played a part in him pulling off a win that has transformed his current season and could be the launchpad for bigger and better things over the next few years. 'As golfers, we are probably a lot more up and down than most people and I am certainly more up and down than she is. She has such a great level head and she is the mum as well to Spencer. When things are tough, that's when you have to lean on your partner and she is absolutely the best at that. I am very lucky to have her.' $200,000 bonus teed up in DP World Tour's Closing Swing On the back of his four-shot success, Forrest has gone from a position where he was fighting to retain his DP World Tour card to sitting 28th - a climb of 85 spots - in the Race to Dubai. He's now on course to make the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and leads the Closing Swing, the winner of which secures entry into all events on the Back 9 and a $200,000 bonus, with one event to go. Yet, at the end of the BMW International Open in Munich at the beginning of July, the East Lothian-based player was in a real downbeat mood, declaring: 'My golf is just not there just now.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It was a timely confidence boost, therefore, when he finished just outside the top 20 in the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, where he is attached, and, over four challenging days in the North-East, Forrest certainly showed that, on his day, he's got an all-round game that would stand him good stead on the biggest stages in the sport. 'Yeah, I know,' he said, smiling, in reply to being asked if he could believe he'd have been in a position to pick up a trophy in such a short space of time. 'I'd not had the best of seasons and it is just a reminder how crazy this game is and how quickly things can turn around. When you are going through something like that, it feels a lot further away than it actually is. But sometimes you just need something to spark it or flip the switch. Those three weeks after the Scottish Open, I managed to get some good work done. Grant Forrest celebrates his second DP World Tour win with family and friends at Trump International Golf Links |'I also went down to Woburn and spent a day there with Titleist and we made a few tweaks to the equipment. You always think it is you when you are struggling, but there were some gains to be made with the equipment side and it has definitely made a big difference this week, especially in these conditions.' The weekend win, which came with a new caddie, Shane O'Connell, on the bag, catapulted him from 294th to 168th in the Official World Golf Ranking, having been a career-best 134th in the global standings early last year. He finished 36th in the Race to Dubai after his first Scottish success in 2021 before slipping to 96th the following season, but, on the back of a bigger second victory on home soil, it would be no surprise if he really kicked on. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Yeah, I mean it is tough to win out here,' he replied to being asked what he could learn from the period after the Hero Open. 'You forget that you do it once and you think you should do it again straight away or the next year. But it's not that easy. A lot of things have to fall into place to win. You have 150-odd guys every week that you need to beat and golf is such a fickle game. 'Biggest cheque I've picked up in my career' 'A bounce here and there and I had a couple go my way last week. That can be the difference. It's just trying to remind yourself that, while it is not easy to win, it is more about trying to put yourself in that position.' As he'll be aiming to do again in next week's Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at The Belfry but, for the time being, he deserves to savour this success. 'It is the biggest cheque I've picked up in my career and a week like this is what you do it for,' he declared. As for his phone call from Trump, Forrest admitted: 'It was a bit of a whirlwind to find out I was doing it. Obviously quite surreal. You are speaking to the president of the US and how many US presidents own a Scottish golf course?'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Donald Trump calls Grant Forrest 'amazing' in seven minute phone chat after Nexo Championship triumph
Forrest took the highest of congratulations after winning the tournament at Trump International Grant Forrest turned his second DP World Tour triumph into a five-hour victory parade at Trump International. The 32-year-old from Livingston cruised to the Nexo Championship title by four shots after beginning the final round with a three-stroke cushion. In the event, he finished as he had begun, on eight-under-par after signing for a 72. It's emerged that Forrest even took a FaceTime call from Donald Trump himself congratulating him and describing him as an amazing player who he wants to play with in the States. Trump also claimed he'd been watching the tournament all week. The call, arranged by the golf club, took place in the clubhouse and lasted several minutes, apparently. Clearly yet another Presidential stunt! Not even a double-bogey seven at the last could take the shine of Forrest's relentless pursuit of the near £350,000 top prize – more than double what he won for his maiden victory at the Hero Open at the Fairmont St Andrews four years ago. Forrest sent his tee shot left into the waste area at the last and was forced to take a penalty drop, eventually ending up just short of the green in four. Three putts later he was champion in front of his wife, Christy and eight-month-old son, Spencer. 'Both wins are special,' he said. 'But this one feels even more so, having the wee man here along with the whole family.' For all that he had the memory of also leading from the front in 2021, Forrest confessed: 'I was really nervous, as you would be, and my three good par putts at the start really settled the nerves, as well as a brilliant second shot into four. 'It was a day where I thought it was going to be tough for someone to chase and I knew that if I didn't drop any shots, there were going to be plenty of good chances and I managed to do that for the most part. 'Even the five on 12 after the tee shot is something I'd have taken and then I made good saves on 16 and 17 as well to give myself a good cushion coming down 18. 'I was struggling off the tee today, especially with the driver. The wind had been more in out of the right at the last and it was sort of half and half and out of the left and from that elevated tee, it is not a favourable shot for a right-hander. 'I kind of knew the red stakes were up the left so I was hugging the left side and I thought the worst I could make from there was a six or seven. 'So, while it was a wee bit ropey coming down 18, it was nice to have a six-shot lead at that point.' But Forrest claimed that it was only when his ball landed on the green at the last that he was able to enjoy his moment in the sun. He said: 'Even the third shot I had, it wasn't that nice as the wind really picked up on the back nine and I flushed a 2-iron 226 yards to the front and it didn't even reach. 'I was just glad to see the next one land on the green and know that I had a few putts from there to win it.' Forrest clearly has a liking for tournaments with four letters in the sponsor's name. 'And in Scotland, yeah. It seems like it,' he added. Englishman Joe Dean was runner-up after a closing 71 took him to four-under, a shot ahead of three players. Norway's Kristoffer Reitan (74), Dane Jacob Skov Olesen (72) and John Parry (70) of England shared third. Glasgow 's Marc Warren finished with a flourish when he carded 67 for a two-over total to earn the shared accolade of being second top Scot with Ryan Lumsden. who closed with a 75. Perth 's Danny Young was next on four-over after a 76 while America-based Martin Laird was two further back after shedding three shots over the closing two holes, including a double-bogey at 17, for a 74. Aberdonian David Law signed off on the same mark as Laird after a 72.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scotsman Grant Forrest wins Nexo Championship by four shots
A closing double-bogey seven on the last was not what you'd call a grandstand finish, but Forrest had done the hard work and could afford his little luxury of a few extra blows down the 18th. He was leading by six shots, after all. Scottie Scheffler won the Masters in 2022 with a four-putt double-bogey on the last and most folk have probably forgotten about that. Forrest won't be dwelling on his own double either as he savoured the second DP World Tour win of his career, four years after his first in the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews. He likes the home comforts. A level-par 72 gave Forrest an eight-under aggregate and a four-shot victory over England's Joe Dean. The 32-year-old also picked up a cheque for £298,600. He also picked up his seven-month-old son, Spencer, in jubilation before getting his hands on the trophy. Wee Spencer may already be thinking of what faither can buy him as a treat This was a terrific week for Forrest. A season of toil has suddenly been energised as he became the third Scottish winner on the circuit this year, after Calum Hill at the Joburg Open and Connor Syme in the KLM Open. Coming into the latest stop on the DP World Tour, the former Scottish Amateur champion was down in the danger zone in terms of tour status. His win has hoisted him up into 28th spot on the rankings and, all of sudden, he's looking upwards instead of peering over his shoulder. 'Both wins are special, but this feels even more so, having the wee man here along with the whole family,' smiled Forrest as he savoured his latest victory on Scottish turf. "I think it is the same week as I won four years ago on the calendar so just amazing. That must say something about this week and being at home. "It was a tough day out there today. I didn't play my best stuff at all but made a lot of good par saves on the front nine. "I just can't believe it. It's been such a tough year on the golf course. It's just a crazy game that you can go and come out and do this, with what feels like something out of nowhere. "It certainly has (turned my season around). I was way down the rankings a couple of months ago, tried to play a bit better but at this stage of the season, I was right on the bubble. "It's just that old chestnut that one week can turn things around and it has." Forrest had led by three shots overnight and that was swiftly reduced to two when he parred the first but Daan Huizing and Todd Clements both birdied. That would be as close as anyone got, though. On another tricky old day, there were always going to be some hairy moments, particularly with a title on the line, but Forrest dug in. A couple of birdies at the fourth and seventh certainly settled him down and by the time he reached the turn, he was six shots clear. He may have had the kind of large, comfortable cushion that you'd get in a Bedouin tent but, with menace and mischief lurking all over the links, there was no room to relax. The 12th hole could've been particularly costly when he plunged his ball well right into the thick stuff and had to take an unplayable. Forrest's recovery, though, was terrific and he managed to escape with just a bogey. There was no real damage done. A couple more good par saves at 16 and 17, couple by leaked shots from those making a forlorn effort to close the gap, ensured that Forrest held a six-shot lead standing on the 18th tee. No lead is big enough, though. With the nerves building up on that daunting, elevated tee, Forrest hoiked his drive into the hazards and had to take a drop. He still had plenty of shots to play with and there would be no Jean van de Velde-style farce. He inched his way up the 18th and polished off the victory. It was the best double-bogey seven of his career. 'It was a day where I thought it was going to be tough for someone to chase,' added the new champion. 'I knew that if I didn't drop any shots, there were going to be plenty of good chances for me and I managed to do that for the most part. 'Even the bogey on 12 after the tee shot is something I'd have taken and then I made good saves on 16 and 17 as well to give me a good cushion coming down 18.' The bubbly was richly deserved.
The National
5 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Scotland's Grant Forrest leads Nexo Championship by three
In this game, of course, it's a marathon not a sprint. 'There's still a long way to go,' said a cock-a-hoop yet cautious Forrest after the Scot opened up a three-stroke lead in his quest for the second DP World Tour title of his career. On a windswept, topsy-turvy day, which was as lively as Trump's own hair in the turbulence of his own helicopter's rotors, Forrest rallied on the run-in with a decisive thrust that could've featured a rapier. Three birdies on his last five holes, including two crackers on 17 and 18, gave the halfway leader a battling one-under 71 for an eight-under aggregate and a decent advantage over Todd Clements, Kristoffer Reitan and Daan Huizing. On this treacherous course, with menace and mischief lurking at every turn, anything can happen so it's understandable that Forrest was remaining wary. Look, for instance, what happened to one of his playing partners in the final group, Jordan Smith. At one point of the third round, the Englishman had inched into the lead but his assault unravelled on the closing eight holes. Smith leaked a shot on 11, dropped another on 15 then staggered home with double-bogeys at both the 17th and 18th in a ruinous 78 that saw him plummet down to a level-par total. While Smith imploded, Forrest was inspired. Well, eventually. The 32-year-old had to dig deep on a testing day as he slipped off the summit with bogeys at the eighth and 10th. 'I was lucky to escape with a six on 10 and then I settled down a little bit,' said Forrest of that important exercise in damage limitation. Forrest didn't just settle down, he saddled up and made a charge. A five-footer for birdie on the 14th was the prelude to his grandstand finish. He knocked in a 16-footer for another gain on the 17th before trundling home a delightfully judged 20-footer on the last to close with aplomb. The pump of the fist underlined the significance of the moment. The little encirclement of young autograph hunters around the green, meanwhile, gave him something else to sign before his card. It was a good day's work. There's plenty of work still to do but Forrest, who has endured a fairly frustrating season, is on course for a first title since he claimed the Hero Open in St Andrews back in 2021. More of the same will do nicely. 'I'm pretty happy with my gameplan so far and if it's similar conditions on the final day, then it will just be about getting the ball in play off the tee and hitting greens and remaining patient,' said the former Scottish Amateur champion of a strategy that has kept him, by and large, on the straight and narrow over the last three days. 'I've only led once before, and I ended up winning. But I'm just going to take it one shot at a time.' As gusts of 25mph – just a zephyr in these parts – whipped over the links, Forrest's other playing partner, Richard Sterne, was, like Smith, blown off course too. The day one leader suffered a desperate run around the turn as he spilled seven shots on his way to a 76 for a level-par aggregate. While Smith and Sterne toiled, there were plenty of others who prospered and kept themselves lurking in the chasing pack. Huizing, the 34-year-old Dutchman who had a terrific track record in links golf during his days as one of the world's best amateurs, posted a sturdy 70 to keep himself in it at five-under. A double-bogey on the seventh saw him lose ground on the frontrunners but a haul of four birdies on his remaining holes repaired the damage. His birdie on the 17th was quite something. Well left off the tee, and in tangly rough with the ball above his feet, Huizing swiped one out to within 10-feet and holed the putt. 'I hit an incredible shot on 17 and when I was standing over my approach I pictured the shot in my head and it came out exactly how I wanted,' he said of that recovery. 'To make the putt and walk away with birdie after my tee shot was a great feeling. 'Anything under par in these conditions is very good. If you make a mistake, it's important to accept it and move on and that has worked very well for me. I must keep reminding myself that I'm playing well and I can bounce back with birdies.' Clements, a former English Amateur champion who earned his first DP World Tour win at the Czech Masters two years ago, illuminated his 69 with an eagle-two on the driveable fifth after launching his tee-shot to tap-in distance. 'It was one of those days when golf showed its true teeth,' he said of the growling links. 'I holed some good putts and got lucky at times out there, but I'm delighted with my work. 'You must really stick in there as it tests you mentally. But I enjoy the challenge of links golf, and I feel like it really suits my game.' Reitan, the third member of the chasing pack, packed six birdies into his 68 as the Norwegian kept himself in contention for a second DP World Tour win. 'My golf has not necessarily been perfect, but I've just navigated my way around and today I hit some better approach shots, which helps a lot,' said the 27-year-old. 'I played the Scottish Open and The Open but this is a different type of wind. It's just so much stronger and takes some getting used to.' Reitan continues to get used to it, though. As for the frontrunning Forrest? Well, it's suiting him to a tee. So far, so good.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's Grant Forrest leads Nexo Championship by three
On a windswept, topsy-turvy day, which was as lively as Trump's own hair in the turbulence of his own helicopter's rotors, Forrest rallied on the run-in with a decisive thrust that could've featured a rapier. Three birdies on his last five holes, including two crackers on 17 and 18, gave the halfway leader a battling one-under 71 for an eight-under aggregate and a decent advantage over Todd Clements, Kristoffer Reitan and Daan Huizing. On this treacherous course, with menace and mischief lurking at every turn, anything can happen so it's understandable that Forrest was remaining wary. Look, for instance, what happened to one of his playing partners in the final group, Jordan Smith. At one point of the third round, the Englishman had inched into the lead but his assault unravelled on the closing eight holes. Smith leaked a shot on 11, dropped another on 15 then staggered home with double-bogeys at both the 17th and 18th in a ruinous 78 that saw him plummet down to a level-par total. While Smith imploded, Forrest was inspired. Well, eventually. The 32-year-old had to dig deep on a testing day as he slipped off the summit with bogeys at the eighth and 10th. 'I was lucky to escape with a six on 10 and then I settled down a little bit,' said Forrest of that important exercise in damage limitation. Forrest didn't just settle down, he saddled up and made a charge. A five-footer for birdie on the 14th was the prelude to his grandstand finish. He knocked in a 16-footer for another gain on the 17th before trundling home a delightfully judged 20-footer on the last to close with aplomb. The pump of the fist underlined the significance of the moment. The little encirclement of young autograph hunters around the green, meanwhile, gave him something else to sign before his card. It was a good day's work. There's plenty of work still to do but Forrest, who has endured a fairly frustrating season, is on course for a first title since he claimed the Hero Open in St Andrews back in 2021. More of the same will do nicely. 'I'm pretty happy with my gameplan so far and if it's similar conditions on the final day, then it will just be about getting the ball in play off the tee and hitting greens and remaining patient,' said the former Scottish Amateur champion of a strategy that has kept him, by and large, on the straight and narrow over the last three days. 'I've only led once before, and I ended up winning. But I'm just going to take it one shot at a time.' As gusts of 25mph – just a zephyr in these parts – whipped over the links, Forrest's other playing partner, Richard Sterne, was, like Smith, blown off course too. The day one leader suffered a desperate run around the turn as he spilled seven shots on his way to a 76 for a level-par aggregate. While Smith and Sterne toiled, there were plenty of others who prospered and kept themselves lurking in the chasing pack. Huizing, the 34-year-old Dutchman who had a terrific track record in links golf during his days as one of the world's best amateurs, posted a sturdy 70 to keep himself in it at five-under. A double-bogey on the seventh saw him lose ground on the frontrunners but a haul of four birdies on his remaining holes repaired the damage. His birdie on the 17th was quite something. Well left off the tee, and in tangly rough with the ball above his feet, Huizing swiped one out to within 10-feet and holed the putt. 'I hit an incredible shot on 17 and when I was standing over my approach I pictured the shot in my head and it came out exactly how I wanted,' he said of that recovery. 'To make the putt and walk away with birdie after my tee shot was a great feeling. 'Anything under par in these conditions is very good. If you make a mistake, it's important to accept it and move on and that has worked very well for me. I must keep reminding myself that I'm playing well and I can bounce back with birdies.' Clements, a former English Amateur champion who earned his first DP World Tour win at the Czech Masters two years ago, illuminated his 69 with an eagle-two on the driveable fifth after launching his tee-shot to tap-in distance. 'It was one of those days when golf showed its true teeth,' he said of the growling links. 'I holed some good putts and got lucky at times out there, but I'm delighted with my work. 'You must really stick in there as it tests you mentally. But I enjoy the challenge of links golf, and I feel like it really suits my game.' Reitan, the third member of the chasing pack, packed six birdies into his 68 as the Norwegian kept himself in contention for a second DP World Tour win. 'My golf has not necessarily been perfect, but I've just navigated my way around and today I hit some better approach shots, which helps a lot,' said the 27-year-old. 'I played the Scottish Open and The Open but this is a different type of wind. It's just so much stronger and takes some getting used to.' Reitan continues to get used to it, though. As for the frontrunning Forrest? Well, it's suiting him to a tee. So far, so good.
