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The Herald Scotland
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Martin Laird backs Robert MacIntyre for bigger things
There was a time, of course, when Martin Laird was that man of the moment as the Glasgow exile carried the saltire on the global stage with great gusto. 'It seems like a while ago,' smiled Laird with a sense of nostalgia that could've been accompanied by the wistful music of a colliery brass band. 'I am proud of what I have managed over the years, too. I was kind of flying the flag over in the States for a while and it is nice to see someone else come over and keep that flag on those leaderboards.' Laird has been making his first competitive outing in his homeland since 2018 and a third round one-over 73 at the Trump International Golf Links left him on the fringes of the top-30 on four-over heading into the final day. The 42-year-old, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, has been employing the services of MacIntyre's old caddie, Mike Thomson, this week and there have been plenty of conversations about the impact the Oban lefty has made. 'I've been talking about that with Mikey as he saw him when he first came out on tour,' said Laird, who reached a career high of 21st on the world rankings during his playing pomp. 'He was one of those guys you could always see had talent and he also had the right mindset. He admitted when I first started playing with him that the biggest thing he noticed was that his wedge game wasn't quite good enough. 'His wedge game is obviously way better. He hits it miles now, too. That's a pretty good combination.' Laird got to know his young compatriot when MacIntyre starting playing more regularly in the US. 'I'd heard of him but never knew him,' added Laird of a player who came close to a major breakthrough at June's US Open when he finished second. 'Then, when he first came over and we played a practice round together - it might even have been at The Masters or The PGA - I was like 'oh, yeah'. You can tell when someone hits a golf shot and it makes a nice noise. 'He's got a great attitude as well and I am not surprised at all to see him doing so well. I texted him after the US Open. He's someone who looks as though he is going to keep knocking on the door and, if he does, one of them is going to go his way. He's a hell of a player.' While Laird has been settled in the US since his college days at Colorado, MacIntyre took his time to adapt to life away from his Oban home. 'I think when he first came over, he thought 'I'll move to America and live there while I am playing' but then he realised that wasn't for him,' added Laird. 'He's now got that sorted out and I am not surprised to see him playing this well, especially in the big tournaments. 'There's not really a weakness in his game. He's still young and learning. He's only going to get better.' With Laird sitting in the middle of the pack in the Nexo Championship, another Scot, Ryan Lumsden, stayed on course for a bumper pay day as he moved into a share of ninth on one-under after a battling 70. Daniel Young is a shot back on level-par after a 73.
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottish golf round up: MacGarvie glory, big jump in juniors and in-form Forsyth
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... It's now reaching the peak of the golf season in Scotland and here is our latest round up of grass-roots stories around the country Goswick glory for Royal Troon's Hazel MacGarvie Royal Troon's Hazel MacGarvie showed why she was good enough to get on to the Ladies European Tour by producing a dominant display in the Women's PGA Assistants' Championship at Goswick. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The University of Stirling graduate carded back-to-back 69s in testing conditions at the Northumberland venue for a six-under total and an impressive eight-shot victory. Royal Troon's Hazel MacGarvie shows off the trophy after winning the Women's PGA Assistants' Championship by eight shots at Goswick | The PGA "It feels really good," said MacGarvie, who secured her LET card through the Qualifying School in December 2021 and played on the circuit for a spell before deciding to go down The PGA route. "This win definitely helps my confidence going into the rest of the season. It's nice to get a win in early. Hopefully kick on and keep playing well and get plenty of practice in before the next event." The quality of MacGarvie's performance was underlined by the winner of the Women's PGA Professional Championship, which was running concurrently, posting a two-over total. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Victory in it went to Sian Evans after the Rochester & Cobham-attached player beat fellow English hopeful Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley Golf & Country Club) at the fourth extra hole. Heather MacRae (The Gleneagles Hotel) finished joint-fourth on three over after rounds of 75-72. Two of the juniors who are part of a thriving section at Murrayshall in Perthshire | Contributed Junior membership on the up at Murrayshall Junior membership at a Scottish club has increased by 42 per cent since the start of the year following a drive to encourage more youngsters to try the game in a fun and engaging environment. As part of a dedicated approach to inspire the next generation of golfers aged between six and 18, Murrayshall in Perthshire estate has seen its junior section rise to 60 members off the back of a successful junior programme. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's incredibly encouraging to see such a positive uptake in junior golf at Murrayshall,' said Head PGA professional Robin Smith, who has coached in four different continents around the world. 'We're always looking to make golf easily accessible and appealing to local golfers so seeing more youngsters make use of the best-in-class facilities gives us great pride as they are integral to the future of golf and our long-term vision.' On 4 August, Murrayshall will host a Mixed Junior Open at an attractive entry fee of £15 in a bid to help encourage even more local golfers and those further afield. Gullane Golf Club captain Colin Steele presents his Charity Day cheque to representatives of Gullane Community Association | Contributed Gullane captain tees up charity boost Gullane Golf Club's annual Captain's Charity Day raised an impressive £18,437 for the Gullane Community Association. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad These vital funds will support the Gullane Village Hall's project to enhance its disabled facilities, a crucial initiative within the local community. Club captain Colin Steele, who presented the cheque to members of the Gullane Community Association committee, said: "I am incredibly proud of the club's efforts and the overwhelming generosity shown by our members, guests, and sponsors. Their fantastic support has enabled us to contribute significantly to a vital project within our local community. 'The Gullane Village Hall's work to improve disabled facilities will make a real difference to many lives, and it's heartwarming to see our club play a part in that." The Captain's Charity Day saw a fantastic turnout, with 156 players forming 39 teams. The winning team of Mark Lewis, Richard Disley, Ellie Lewis, and Rachel Disley secured victory with a score of 91. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Muthill members took part in a 9-hole Texas Scramble to mark the Pethshire club's 90th anniversary | Contributed Muthill members celebtrate club's 90th anniversary Muthill Golf Club in Perthshire celebrated its 90th anniversary with a 9-hole Texas Scramble. Twenty-seven members turned out on a gloriously sunny day, with Terry Douglas, winner of the club's Turleum Cup back in 1962, in attendance as a special guest, and showing his appreciation by making a generous donation to both a Tractor Fund and Junior Golf Academy. Long-time member and current Greens Convener John Souter was handed the honour of cutting a birthday cake that resembled the ninth green. 'Muthill remains proudly a 'Club for All',' said club president Alistair Gilchrist. 'We have no tee-time queues, offer warm welcome, flexible membership and visitor packages, and tailored catering and corporate options, particularly suitable for small groups. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The club continues to punch above its weight, especially in its vibrant ladies, gents and senior gents sections. Our annual trophy table speaks of a thriving competitive spirit. 'The course is kept in excellent condition all year round by our dedicated greenkeeper Iain Dugan and members and guests are well looked after in the clubhouse by our caterer, Jacq Scott.' Bookings at Muthill can be made through the club secretary, Roger Lee, on 01764 681523 or by email at muthillgolfclub@ Margaret Marshall presents her cheque to Alzheimer Scotland's Lindsay Beveridge from the proceeds raised from her golf marathon | Contributed Golf marathon raises more than £3000 for Alzheimer Scotland A Perthshire golfing marathon teed up more than £3000 for Alzheimer Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Maggie Marshall, ladies' captain at The Blairgowrie Golf Club, marked her late mother Ellen's birthday by playing 85 holes - the challenge got under way at 4.20am and took 17 hours to complete - for a charity close to her heart. 'I was always confident my general fitness would be alright, but I twanged my neck and shoulder recently and that was a real worry,' said Marshall. The effort raised £3657, with Gift Aid and earlier fundraising taking the tally for chosen charity Alzheimer Scotland to over £7600. Anthony O'Donnell won the latest event on this year's Get Back to Golf Tour at Strathmore | Contributed Anthony O'Donnell pips Alan Tait for Perthshire prize Anthony O'Donnell won the sixth event of the season on the Golfbreaks Get Back to Golf Tour at Strathmore in Perthshire. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In 30-40mph winds, the unattached O'Donnell carded a level-par 72, consisting of 12 pars, three bogeys and three birdies at the fifth, 11th and 12th. Recording his first win of the season, O'Donnell pipped tour organiser and founder Alan Tait (Golfbreaks) and Duddingston's John Gallagher by a shot. It was Tait's to lose as he had a one-stroke lead playing the par-5 18th, but a lost ball from the tee led to a double bogey. O'Donnell's win moves him into 26th spot in The Golf Finance Ltd Order of Merit. The leading 12 players from the end of season OOM will play in the Tour Championship Final at Dumbarnie Links in October. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Women's Open winner Nadene Gole, second left, is pictured with runner-up Kathy Hartwiger, third- placed Alison Davidson and best net winner Sarah Baker at Eyemouth Golf Club | Chris Young/Scottish Golf Sweet success at Eyemouth for Australian with Scottish mother Nadene Gole, an Australian with a Scottish mum, claimed a sweet victory in the Scottish Senior Women's Open at Eyemouth. In challenging conditions at the Berwickshire course, Gole carded rounds of 75-76-76 for an eight-under-par total, winning by a shot from American Kathy Hartwiger. The triumph completed a notable double for Gole after she had also landed the English Senior Women's Open at Gerrards Cross the previous week. 'This one's for mum,' she said of her mother hailing from Armadale in West Lothian. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stirling's Alison Davidson finished third, pipping fellow Scot Valerie Thomas (The R&A) on a countback after a tie on 12 under. Next year's event takes place at Duff House Royal in Banff. Alastair Forsyth, pictured playing in last year's Scottish PGA Championship at Dalmahoy, has been in winning for on the Arnold Clark PGA in Scotland Tartan Tour |In-form Alastair Forsyth lands two Tartan Tour triumphs Two-time DP World Tour winner Alastair Forsyth has been in sparkling form on the Arnold Clark PGA in Scotland Tartan Tour along with Gavin Hay. Forsyth, who is attached to Mearns Castle Golf Academy these days, claimed top spot in both the Hayston and Portpatrick Pro-Ams to earn just over £2000. The former Malaysian Open and Madeira Islands Open champion shot a six-under-par 64 at Hayston to pip host club player Chris Maclean and Scotcraig's Ethan Hurst by a shot, picking up £923. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A day later, Forsyth also came out on top at Portpatrick with another six-under 64, this time pipping Paul O'Hara (Hamilton) and Chris Currie (Wilson Golf) by a shot to pocket £1,100. Meanwhile, Hay, who is attached to East Renfrewshire, won the Golfkings Pollok Pro-Am outright with a six-under 65 after sharing top spot with Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills Golf Centre) following matching six-under 66s in the Gleddoch 50th Anniversary Pro-Am. Elsewhere, there was a three-way tie in the Drumpellier Pro-Am - one-under 71 did the trick in that - between Currie, Paul Shields (Kings Links Golf Centre) and Stephen Gray (Easter Moffat).
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.
USA Today
19-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mexico Open at VidantaWorld 2025: Best bets, odds, who misses the cut?
Mexico Open at VidantaWorld 2025: Best bets, odds, who misses the cut? The 2025 Mexico Open isn't star-less by any means, but it's not far off. There's no Scottie Scheffler, no Justin Thomas, no Ludvig Aberg. There's not even a Rickie Fowler in this field. You know what that means? There is no shortage of opportunities, either. As bettors prepare to wager on a field consisting of just four Top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings, it's time to embrace uncertainty. The Mexico Open has never been one of the most well-attended events by the game's biggest names. That's our advantage as we try to win some bets this week. Let's dig in. Who's winning the Mexico Open? Akshay Bhatia (+1400) 2 Units We've long been fans of Bhatia at For The Win, which is why it's pretty cool to see his name atop the board this week as the odds-on favorite. Still, 14-1 is pretty decent odds for a budding star who appears to be making the leap this year. The 23-year-old has made the cut in all four events he's started this season, finishing no worse than T32 (including a T9 at the Genesis last week). We'll throw a few units here out of respect (and an impressive +2.78 True Strokes Gained at VidantaWorld). Aaron Rai (+2800) 1 Unit Rai's recent history at the Mexico Open isn't spectacular, though it does feature two top 25s. Yet his current form heading into this one is hard to overlook. Per The PGA, Rai is the best course fit in the field, ranking top 10 in four of five key metrics at VidantaWorld. Who's finishing Top 10? Kurt Kitayama (+220) 3 Units These odds aren't the most exciting, but you can't argue with Kitayama's results at the Mexico Open. He finished T2 at VidantaWorld in 2022 with +2.66 True Strokes Gained, per DataGolf. Carson Young (+550) 2 Units Much like Kitayama, Young has a strong recent history here with a T15 in 2024, T8 in 2024 and +1.38 True Stokes Gained over eight rounds. He's also considered the fourth-best course fit in the field. We'll bite. One And Done: Patrick Rodgers I'm not in love with this pick — as it's already proving pretty popular — but I'm afraid I have no choice. After a massive whiff on Sungjae Im at the Genesis last week, we need to get some money back and Rodgers gives us as close to a guarantee as you can ask for here. finishing Top 10 in each of his three starts. It doesn't hurt Rodgers is coming off a T3 at the Genesis, either. Who is missing the cut? Alex Smalley (+210) 1 Unit After a T6 at the Mexico Open in 2022, Smalley has missed the cuts in back-to-back starts. That would be bad enough if he also just hadn't missed the cut in a weaker field at the Farmers Insurance in late January. We'll pass here. Michael Kim (+230) 1 Unit It's been a weird start to the year for Kim. He missed the cut at the Sony Open and Farmers Insurance, then finished T2 at the WM Phoenix Open and T13 at the Genesis. Way too much volatility for someone who missed the cut at last year's Mexico Open. Must be 18+ to participate. T&Cs apply. You must be at least nineteen (19) years of age at the time of account creation if you are a legal resident of Nebraska or Alabama or twenty-one (21) years of age if you are a legal resident of Iowa or Massachusetts. Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling. We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. 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