Latest news with #TartanTour
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Lee Westwood tops Open final qualifying at Dundonald Links
'It's a strange route and not the ideal preparation,' gasped Lee Westwood of the fraught transatlantic trip he had to make from a LIV event in Texas to Open final qualifying in Ayrshire. It was all worth it, of course, as the 52-year-old former world No 1 sealed a tee-time for Royal Portrush after rounds of 70 and 67 gave him a seven-under aggerate and left him perched at the top of the standings. It was a good day too for the Scots, as Perth's Danny Young eased through in second place on six-under while Blairgowrie teenager Connor Graham thwarted the ambitions of Tartan Tour mainstay, Paul O'Hara, in a late night sudden-death play-off for the fifth and final qualifying place. As for Westwood? Well, the short hop over to Portrush in a couple of weeks will be the decorated Englishman's 28th Open appearance, a first since 2022 and his 93rd major championship outing overall. It's been a long haul. Just like his 4,700-mile journey across the pond to get here. 'I didn't get in until seven o'clock the night before,' he yawned. 'I hadn't played the golf course before, so walked it when I got here. I only slept for an hour-and-a-half as well. If I collapse, then you'll know why.' Sometimes, the golf writers have that effect on people. He may have been unfamiliar with the various nooks, crannies, perils and pitfalls of the Dundonald links but Westwood drew on all his experience and put on a masterclass in course management. 'It's been a while since I've played 36-holes in a day,' he added with a wry smile. LIV Golf, of course, is a genteel 54-hole stroll in comparison. Westwood has never managed a major win, despite having more close shaves than Sweeney Todd. As he clambers the brae on the age front, the former Ryder Cup linchpin is not going to Portrush with any grand expectations, although he did finish tied fourth the last time The Open visited Northern Ireland in 2019. If the golden oldies are going to prosper anywhere, though, it's on a links course. 'Tom Watson proved that around Turnberry in 2009 and then Greg Norman a couple of years later at Birkdale,' noted Westwood, who made his Open debut at St Andrews in 1995 after coming through the 36-hole qualifying scramble at Leven. 'I think if any form of golf gives seniors a chance, it's links golf because you get a bit of run and you have to use a bit of cunning and guile with the wind.' While Westwood went for a lie down, Young was off to toast the prospect of a major debut with a beer. It was well deserved. The 33-year-old, fresh from a second and a third on the HotelPlanner Tour in recent weeks, continued that fine form at Dundonald with a 71 and a 67 for six-under. A tidy birdie putt from eight feet on the last ensured he finished with a flourish. 'That felt great as I hadn't made a thing on the greens all afternoon,' he said with a sigh of relief. 'But you just have to be patient. I came close in this last year so it's a course I feel comfortable on.' Promotion to the main DP World Tour remains Young's big goal this season but a trip to The Open will be a nice detour on his golfing journey. 'Everybody's grinding on the tour,' he added of the fierce cut-and-thrust of the second-tier circuit. 'You can see the relief and the disappointment on the faces of players at every event, every week. "This is a big, big step in my career. I've got a big second half of the year coming up and hopefully I'll start with a good week at Portrush.' Young's fellow Perthshire man, Graham, had to book his Portrush ticket the hard way in a play-off with O'Hara after they had finished tied on the four-under mark. The former Walker Cup player, who won the Junior Open in 2022, trundled in a decisive birdie putt on the first extra-hole to set up a major debut. 'It was pretty nervy in the play-off but, thankfully, I got the job done,' said Graham, who was grouped with Westwood and Ryder Cup winner Jamie Donaldson for the 36-holes. 'There were big crowds following our group and I managed to deal with the pressure and that definitely helped me in the play-off.' There will be bigger crowds to come at Portrush. Roll on The Open.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Lee Westwood tops Open final qualifying at Dundonald Links
It was all worth it, of course, as the 52-year-old former world No 1 sealed a tee-time for Royal Portrush after rounds of 70 and 67 gave him a seven-under aggerate and left him perched at the top of the standings. It was a good day too for the Scots, as Perth's Danny Young eased through in second place on six-under while Blairgowrie teenager Connor Graham thwarted the ambitions of Tartan Tour mainstay, Paul O'Hara, in a late night sudden-death play-off for the fifth and final qualifying place. As for Westwood? Well, the short hop over to Portrush in a couple of weeks will be the decorated Englishman's 28th Open appearance, a first since 2022 and his 93rd major championship outing overall. It's been a long haul. Just like his 4,700-mile journey across the pond to get here. 'I didn't get in until seven o'clock the night before,' he yawned. 'I hadn't played the golf course before, so walked it when I got here. I only slept for an hour-and-a-half as well. If I collapse, then you'll know why.' Sometimes, the golf writers have that effect on people. He may have been unfamiliar with the various nooks, crannies, perils and pitfalls of the Dundonald links but Westwood drew on all his experience and put on a masterclass in course management. 'It's been a while since I've played 36-holes in a day,' he added with a wry smile. LIV Golf, of course, is a genteel 54-hole stroll in comparison. Westwood has never managed a major win, despite having more close shaves than Sweeney Todd. As he clambers the brae on the age front, the former Ryder Cup linchpin is not going to Portrush with any grand expectations, although he did finish tied fourth the last time The Open visited Northern Ireland in 2019. If the golden oldies are going to prosper anywhere, though, it's on a links course. 'Tom Watson proved that around Turnberry in 2009 and then Greg Norman a couple of years later at Birkdale,' noted Westwood, who made his Open debut at St Andrews in 1995 after coming through the 36-hole qualifying scramble at Leven. 'I think if any form of golf gives seniors a chance, it's links golf because you get a bit of run and you have to use a bit of cunning and guile with the wind.' While Westwood went for a lie down, Young was off to toast the prospect of a major debut with a beer. It was well deserved. The 33-year-old, fresh from a second and a third on the HotelPlanner Tour in recent weeks, continued that fine form at Dundonald with a 71 and a 67 for six-under. A tidy birdie putt from eight feet on the last ensured he finished with a flourish. 'That felt great as I hadn't made a thing on the greens all afternoon,' he said with a sigh of relief. 'But you just have to be patient. I came close in this last year so it's a course I feel comfortable on.' Promotion to the main DP World Tour remains Young's big goal this season but a trip to The Open will be a nice detour on his golfing journey. 'Everybody's grinding on the tour,' he added of the fierce cut-and-thrust of the second-tier circuit. 'You can see the relief and the disappointment on the faces of players at every event, every week. "This is a big, big step in my career. I've got a big second half of the year coming up and hopefully I'll start with a good week at Portrush.' Young's fellow Perthshire man, Graham, had to book his Portrush ticket the hard way in a play-off with O'Hara after they had finished tied on the four-under mark. The former Walker Cup player, who won the Junior Open in 2022, trundled in a decisive birdie putt on the first extra-hole to set up a major debut. 'It was pretty nervy in the play-off but, thankfully, I got the job done,' said Graham, who was grouped with Westwood and Ryder Cup winner Jamie Donaldson for the 36-holes. 'There were big crowds following our group and I managed to deal with the pressure and that definitely helped me in the play-off.' There will be bigger crowds to come at Portrush. Roll on The Open.
Scotsman
05-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Scot 'enjoying golf again' and out in front in Northern Open at windy Royal Dornoch
Bradley Neil hands himself 'big lift' as he looks to rebuild his golfing career 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... Bradley Neil rediscovered some of the form that made him one of Scottish golf's brightest prospects as he set the pace in round one of the Tartan Tour's Northern Open at Royal Dornoch. On a wind-ravaged day over the revered Sutherland links, the 29-year-old harnessed the exacting conditions to fine effect and emerged with a neatly assembled three-under 67 to lead by a stroke from his fellow Scot, John Henry, England's James Freeman and the Irish veteran Simon Thornton. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Neil underlined his huge potential as a teenager back in 2014 when he won the Amateur Championship before turning professional and earning a spot on the DP World Tour for the 2018 campaign Bradley Neil, who is now attached to Turnhouse Golf Club, pictured in action on the Challenge Tour in 2022 |His stay at the top table was brief, however, and Neil spiralled down the order. As the stresses and strains of touring life began to take a toll, Neil opted for a fresh start with The PGA last year as he looked to rebuild his golfing career. 'For too long, there was so much stress and anxiety involved in playing golf and I needed to get back to playing with enjoyment,' said the Blairgowrie man, who is attached to the Turnhouse club in Edinburgh. 'I have a bit of stability in life now. When I'm not playing golf, I'm working in the pro shop, not stewing at home or on the range trying to figure something out in my game. This round has to be up there with one of my best and it's given me a big lift.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Amid the boisterous buffeting, Neil put in a performance of poise and purpose as he eased to the front in the latest event on The PGA's Open Series. He dropped just one shot and conjured a fine act of salvage for his par on the 18th after his approach ended up in an awkward spot off the closing green. 'If I'd dropped one there, I would've been very annoyed so that par was important,' added Neil, who took advantage of the wind at his back on the front-nine and birdied three of his opening five holes. 'You had to take advantage going out and then hang on coming home. I didn't have a bogey on that back-nine which was very pleasing.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Past DP World Tour winner is lurking at Sutherland venue Thornton, a past champion on the DP World Tour, underlined his links golf prowess with a nicely crafted two-under 68 to lurk a shot behind Neil with one round to play. 'My game is hitting it under the wind so the back nine suited me down to a tee,' said Thornton, who hit a cracker of a 3-wood into the 11th and holed the birdie putt from 20-feet. 'The first time I'd played Dornoch was in practice the other day. I'd heard about it for years and it was love at first sight.' From his base in County Down, Thornton has made quite the trek to be here this week. 'But it's been worth it,' he added. 'We drove for an hour to the ferry, then a couple of hours on the ferry and five-and-a-half hours up here. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It'll be the same again going back and as soon as I get there, there's an Irish PGA event at Bellmullet which is a five-hour drive away. It's all for the love of the game.' Freeman, who last played Dornoch almost 20 years ago in the Scottish Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship, reacquainted himself with a solid 68 while Henry's two-under effort was illuminated by a birdie putt of nearly 30-feet on the fifth.
