Welcome to August in St Andrews Golf Magazine. We are now just than a month away from the 40th Ryder Cup matches and in this edition of St Andrews Golf Magazine we visit the place where all the action will happen this September, The Gleneagles Hotel.
We take a look inside the Dormy Clubhouse and find out why Gleneagles is just the perfect place for the Ryder Cup. We also talk with the head greenkeeper as the big week gets closer.
In St Andrews we have had a busy month with the New Golf Club Monthly Medals Final and Autumn Meeting, along with the International European Men’s Amateur Championship supported by All Square Golf.
This month’s big feature is on the emigrating St Andrews professional golfers who made the journey to the United States over 100 years ago. Their roles as club professionals at various clubs across the north east of the country and how they helped establish the PGA of America.
We review the 96th PGA Championship from Valhalla and we bring you an insight into life on tour with Michael Buttacavoli and Stefanie Kenoyer.
The best amateur golfers in Scotland gathered last month at the Downfield Golf Club in Dundee for the 2014 Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship. We were there to check out the action and meet The Amateur Champion Bradley Neil, who features in our next edition.
Stay up to date with all the news in golf across the world and in St Andrews at www.standrewsgolfmagazine.com and our Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus pages.
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Editors: Matt Hooper Colin Donaldson
Image credits: Front cover – Matt Coats Page 20 – Hotdogger13 Page 25 – TourProGolfClubs Page 33 – © RECOUNTER Page 34– © RECOUNTER Page 36 – Gleneagles Hotel Page 37 – Gleneagles Hotel Page 38 – Gleneagles Hotel Page 40 – Gleneagles Hotel Page 43 – Gleneagles Hotel Page 46 – NBC Universal Page 50 – Bethany Weeks
New Golf Club Monthly Medals Final Saturday 2 August 2014 Old Course Throughout the course of the golf season the members of most golf clubs compete in Medal competitions. Off the back tees and with a pencil and scorecard, the hardest form of the game for most club golfers. So winning a Medal is a great achievement for the average club golfer. Each August the New Golf Club invites the winners of all Medal competitions between the previous June and the May of the current year to participate in the Monthly Medals Final. It is a chance for the club
golfer to, essentially, become the champion of champions. The winner of the Monthly Medals Final is awarded the James Pirie Gold Medal. James Pirie is one of the founder members or promoters of the New Golf Club along with Arthur C Aikman, Charles Donaldson, George C Fisher, James L Smart, Edward King, Robert C Stenhouse, and Herbert Montague Singer. Pirie (pictured below) started his working life in his father’s bakehouse at the top of Abbey Street. He would go on to take over a China business on South Street before moving it to Greyfriars Gardens.
The business left the premises in 2013 and is now solely online at www.jamespirie.com and sells a wide range of fine gifts. The premises are now owned by Toppings Independent Books and the new shop will open in the autumn of 2014. The Thomas Stewart Silver Medal was donated to the club in 1921 by the great golf cleek and club maker, and until 1947 was presented to the winner of the Monthly Medals Final. The player finishing in third place is awarded a bronze medal. The Monthly Medals Final is played over 18 holes on the Old Course, with full handicap allowance and in one class; 33 players competed this year with handicaps ranging from 24 to scratch.
After many days of glorious sunshine St Andrews awoke to pouring rain and gusting winds, hardly ideal weather for a round with a pencil and scorecard. David Woodford said “These are similar conditions to when I won my medal, I shot nett 76 and thought I had no chance of winning but many of the field had walked off!” “When I lived in the town I didn’t see the sun for six months, and that was in summer!” The scenes were more Winter Meeting than Monthly Medals Final with most of the competitors wrapped up in their waterproofs, mittens and woolly hats. Alisdair Wood got play under way at 1pm off the first tee, playing with Angus Graham, Graham Clelland and Alan Newton.
Despite the tough conditions some decent scores were returned with Gordon Banks and Hamish Ireland sharing the best gross award with rounds of 75. Some low handicap players shot high scores and only one player managed to shoot a score level to their handicap. A round of 83 off 11 was enough for Graham Clelland to take the
win and he will be presented with the Pirie Medal at this year’s Presentation Evening. The atmosphere of the day summed up the atmosphere of the New Golf Club, friendly and competitive. Paul McCabe took the Thomas Stewart Medal for runner-up with a score of 79, nett 74 and Jamie Robertson finished third with a round of 89, nett 74.
Hamish Ireland warming up prior to his 75.
Michael De Vries won the 2014 Victory Cup with two rounds of nett 68 playing off a handicap of 1; in second place J Kerr shot a best nett score of the competition – 67 in the second round to snatch the runners-up
spot from John Kiernan and Paul McCabe who shot 140 for two rounds.
The 2014 Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship was played at Downfield Golf Club in the heart of Dundee last month and a galaxy of Scottish golfing talent combined to produce a week to remember in Angus. The Amateur Champion, Bradley Neil and St Andrews Links Trophy winner, Grant Forrest started the week as favourites at the former European Tour venue and both coasted through their early matches. In the last 16 Neil came up against his Blairgowrie colleague Glenn Campbell. Campbell is a past Scottish Amateur Champion and proved a tough task for the 18-year-old to defeat, but he did so 2&1 to progress to the quarter-finals. In the last 8 he came up against St Andrews’ Josh Jamieson. A member of the New Golf Club and sophomore at Northwestern University in Chicago, Jamieson had enjoyed a superb week. He began the championship winning 5&4 over Robbie Kemsley and followed that up with a crushing win over Justin Duff by a 7&5 margin. In the last 64 he narrowly advanced on the final hole in his match with Murray
Naysmith. Then in the last 32 he returned to his dominant ways by defeating Kenneth Macaskill 5&4 to reach the last 16. It was at the last 32 that the other great St Andrews hope, Ben Kinsley, saw his title dreams ended by Chris Robb, who ran out a comfortable 5&4 winner. This ended the chance of an all-St Andrews’ semi-final and left Jamieson as the only contender from the home of golf in Scotland’s national amateur championship. In the last 16 Jamieson narrowly progressed to the quarter-finals with a 2&1 win over Kyle McClung, thus setting up a match with The Amateur Champion Bradley Neil. Neil went into the match having steamrollered most of his opponents throughout the week and was the overwhelming favourite. Records are there to be broken, history to be made and reputations to be upset. Jamieson belied his world amateur ranking and defeated The Amateur Champion Bradley Neil 3&2 in what was arguably the match of the week in Dundee
The pair halved the first three holes with pars before Jamieson made his move with a stunning eagle three at the par five fourth hole. Despite making a birdie of his own, Bradley Neil was one down to the former Scottish Boys Champion. Jamieson then extended his lead with a birdie at the fifth and this electric match exploded at the sixth with both making birdies on the par three. The next three holes were halved and Jamieson remained 2 up with 9 holes to play. On the tenth hole Josh made a bogey to narrow his lead to 1 hole, and despite birdieing the par five 11th he could not match the eagle of Bradley Neil and the match was level. Then Jamieson went into overdrive, at exactly the right time. He parred the 12th to take a 1 up lead after Neil made bogey and then reeled off three successive birdies to extend his lead to 3 with 3 holes to play. The match came to a conclusion on the 16th after both made bogey, handing the game 3&2 to the underdog. It has been 84 years since a member of the New Golf Club won The Scottish Amateur Championship, Ken Greig in 1930, but it
seemed that Jamieson, on the crest of a wave, was set to end the long wait.
the 2014 NCAA Championship in a highly successful four years in the United States.
Jamieson had a superb junior career, winning the 2011 Scottish Boys Championship and was the Junior Champion of the New Golf Club in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
His opponent was Graeme Robertson, 26 from Stirling, who was a part of the successful Scottish European Nations Cup team in March.
The Scottish Amateur is a long week though with 256 players starting on Monday and the tournament finishing on Saturday, this meant on a few days players had two matches to play. And clearly the exertions of beating the top player in the field had taken a lot out of the young St Andrean. In his semi-final with Chris Robb he just couldn’t produce the same sort of golf he had all week and with Robb playing well and avoiding the major favourites he eventually broke St Andrews’ hearts, winning 4&3 to progress to the final, where he met Graeme Robertson. The 36-hole final took place on Saturday 2 August under angry skies. Robb, 23, from Aberdeen, recently graduated from the University of Tennessee. He won twice on the US collegiate circuit and finished tied for 14th at
Robertson took an early 2 up lead, birdieing the fourth to go 1-under for the morning round, but immediately gave 1 hole back at the fifth with a bogey five. Then a birdie 2 at the par 3 sixth from Robb levelled the match, and from that hole onward Robb was never behind again. He took the lead at the 10th with a birdie 3 and by the 14th tee he was 3up. Robertson fought back valiantly to level the match at the 20th but Robb was on fire, birdieing 24th, 25th and 26th holes to take a 3 hole lead with 10 holes to play. Robertson won the 27th and 28th to reduce the deficit to 1 hole but there was just no denying the prodigy from Aberdeenshire, who went on to win the 29th, 30th and 31st to take a 4 hole lead with 5 holes to play. Following pars at the 32nd and 33rd the title was Robb’s.
“I played good finishing in the US and from then on I’ve just kept it going. Once you can get a couple of good results, you just learn, build on it and get a bit of confidence going – confidence is everything really” said the champion. “This win hasn’t really sunk in yet; it always sinks in the day after I think.” The Scottish Amateur demonstrated the wealth of Scottish amateur talent, but can any of them take it on to the professional tour and make a genuine impact. Chris Robb will turn professional following the European Amateur Championship in St Andrews. Time will tell if he can go a step further than the likes of Stephen Gallacher and become a major force in the game. Written by Matt Hooper.
European Amateur Championship
Following the Scottish Amateur in Dundee many of Europe’s best gathered at the home of golf for the International European Men’s Amateur Championship sponsored by All Square Golf. The headquarters of the Scottish Golf Union, the Duke’s Course, played host to the four-day, 72-hole strokeplay championship which offered an exemption to the 2015 Open Championship on the Old Course for the winner. For the second consecutive year England’s Ashley Chesters came out on top, earning a dream start at the home of golf for golf’s oldest major. In wet and windy conditions Chesters finished the week as the only player under par, posting a 2-under-par score to win by 3 shots from Max Roehrig of Germany. A full report and results, along with images and audio from All Square Golf can be found on the Scottish Golf Union website. The presenting sponsors were All Square Golf, it was the first event they had worked together with the Scottish Golf Union in a partnership announced at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July.
Our coverage includes:
December – Emirates Australian Open February – Joburg Open
Road to St Andrews 2015
March – Open Qualifying Series Thailand
5 locals attempt to make their dreams come true by qualifying for the 2015 Open Championship at the home of golf, St Andrews.
June – Mizuno Open, Irish Open, Quicken Loans National
We bring you their golfing story and cover their qualifying rounds on the road to St Andrews.
July – Greenbrier Classic, Open de France Alstom, Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and John Deere Classic
Interviews with the taxi driver, shopkeeper, bartender, postman, bricklayer, roofer, handyman and the school teacher and beyond.
Big interviews with the big names of the game We will attempt to bring you interviews with some of the biggest names in golf, including past Open Champions, on the road to next July.
Inside St Andrews 2015 Open Qualifying Series Full coverage of every event in the Open Qualifying Series
Local golfers’ reflections on the Open Championships’ of 1970, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010
All of this and more in St Andrews Golf Magazine and on www.standrewsgolfmagazine.com
St Andrews was once a place of pilgrimage for thousands of religious pilgrims to the town for many years until the reformation. Nowadays thousands of golfing pilgrims make the journey to East Fife to play the Old Course. It is actually difficult to find a reason, bar the weather, to leave this beautiful and historic town. But St Andrews does have many famous emigrants to other parts of the world. Old Tom Morris made his name as the keeper of the green and course designer at Prestwick in the 1860’s; Pop star K.T. Tunstall was born here in 1975 and has been nominated for the Mercury Prize in her nearly 30 year career;
Arguably the greatest collection of St Andrews emigrants are the golf professionals which made their own pilgrimage to the United States and North America in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. They played a pivotal role in establishing the game in the United States and educating Americans on how to swing their golf clubs. Perhaps the most important of these individuals were John Reid and Robert
Lockhart, who were from Dunfermline, a town 35 miles South West of St Andrews. Reid was born in 1840 and emigrated from Scotland to the United States as a teenager and when returning to Scotland he was inspired by talks given by Old Tom Morris outside his shop by the 18th green of the Old Course. Reid’s friend, Robert Lockhart, who was also from Dunfermline, bought six clubs and 12 gutta percha balls and took them to the US. Reid borrowed the clubs and tried to show friends how the game was played, over time this evolved into something more formal and eventually in 1888 a club was formed. Reid and Lockhart were joined by Henry O Tallmadge, Harry Holbrook, Kingman H Putnam and Alexander PW Kinman in playing the game at an Apple Orchard in Yonkers, New York. At the end of their competitions the six used to share a ‘Wee dram’ of Scotch Whisky by one of the Apple Trees, and they quickly became known as the ‘Apple Tree Gang’. The club was formally established as the Saint Andrews Golf Club in Yonkers, New York. The club has been on its current site since 1897 and in 1983 the course was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus.
The Saint Andrews Golf Club was one of the clubs which founded the United States Golf Association in 1895 along with Newport Golf Club, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, The Country Club and Chicago Golf Club. One of the very first St Andreans to find their way to the other side of the Atlantic was James Beveridge. Born in 1872 he became the professional at the former Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club in 1888 and departed the role in 1894 and immigrated to Southampton, New York. There he became the professional at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
Beveridge passed away in 1899, cutting his time as professional on Long Island short.
Beveridge was followed by a flock of professionals from one family, namely the Herds. Fred Herd was born in St Andrews in 1874 and in 1898 he emigrated from the east coast of Scotland to the north east of the United States, specifically to the industrial city of Chicago. He served his apprenticeship with Forgan and Son, along with William Yeoman. The two would later go on to set up a club making and golf retail business, as I discuss later in this piece. Herd became the club professional at South Shore Country Club on the shores of Lake Michigan in that same year.
Fred was one of five golfing brothers from the home of golf and his older brother David joined him at South Shore in 1919. Another golfing family from St Andrews was the Foulis’s and in 1895 James Foulis became the head professional at Chicago Golf Club after an offer from CB Macdonald. 12 months later Foulis won the US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. After ten years at the helm James was succeeded by his brother David. He stayed at the Wheaton, Illinois club until 1916.
well as making his way down to Bellevue Country Club in Florida in 1908 and to Ravisloe Country Club near Chicago in 1913. He won the 1902 US Open at Garden City in New York, he is listed as representing Chicago Golf Club although there seems to be no record of him holding the professional’s position at the club. David Cuthbert was born in St Andrews in 1885 and was a caddie on the links, he became the professional at Huntingdon Valley Country Club in Pennsylvania in 1915. There were many other Scots who made the journey to the United States, along with the men from the home of golf, St Andrews. Travel to America 100 years ago was an arduous process by boat, usually from Southampton on the south coast of England.
He went on to win the 1898 US Open representing South Shore. His tenure at the club lasted until 1920.
Another golfing family from St Andrews is of course the Auchterlonies and in 1899 Laurence Auchterlonie came to America as the professional at the St Andrews Golf Club in Yonkers, New York. Laurence had three spells at the club as professional as
The journey would take anywhere between 7 and 12 days across the Atlantic Ocean and ships did not have the luxurious accommodation and facilities of the later 20th and early 21st century.
Within a dozen years of the game being introduced to the United States there were over 1,000 golf courses across the country. The game was booming, and with the role of the club professional becoming even more important and the demand for equipment spiralling, many sporting goods stores began selling golf equipment to the masses. Fred Herd and William Yeoman set up on of, if not the first, golf club manufacturing and retail store in the United States in 1910 in Chicago. There were many others in the industrial North and North East United States too, with the likes of Allied Golf Corp. Chicago and ATCO in New York selling golf equipment in their sporting goods stores.
In the 1920’s and 1930’s two of America’s most prominent department and clothing stores Abercrombie & Fitch and R.H. Macy and Co. sold golf equipment. It was in department stores across America and Canada that Harry Vardon performed exhibitions in 1900, helping to popularize the game to the masses.
Jack Jolly, from St Andrews, was a pioneer of golf equipment manufacture in the United States. Jolly was a sailor who had stayed in New York after catching Malaria. He was put in charge of the New Jersey affiliate to the St Mungo Company and after meeting James Smart, also from St Andrews, in a Manhattan store, took up the role as professional at Forest Hill Golf Club in New Jersey.
With club makers and club professional’s role growing in importance and evolving it was clear that an association or union for these many thousands of professionals was needed by the mid 1910’s.
And it was another department store which played the pivotal role in making this association into a reality. John Wanamaker opened his store, Wanamaker’s, in 1876 and the store was the first department store in Philadelphia.
With his father ageing Rodman took on a more prominent role. He had a passion for golf and on January 17, 1916 he invited a group of 35 golf club professionals and industry representatives to a luncheon in New York at the Taplow Club in the now Radisson Hotel Martinique on Broadway. In 1863 John Wanamaker and his wife Mary Erringer Brown had a child called Lewis Rodman Wanamaker. Rodman joined his father’s business at the age of 23 after studying at Princeton University. In 1889 he went to Paris to manage the Wanamaker Store in the French capital. When his father purchased the former Alexander Turney Stewart business in New York Rodman returned and made it a success.
to win the claret jug and remains the last man from St Andrews to win The Open. Despite that inaugural win by an Englishman, it was only apt that a man from St Andrews, would take his place in the first final of the PGA Championship. Jock Hutchison was born in St. Andrews, in 1884. He immigrated to the US in the early 1900s, settling in Pittsburgh at the Allegheny Country Club. By 1918, he was at Glen View Club in the Village of Golf, Illinois. In 1919, he became a PGA professional.
After further meetings the Professional Golfers’ Association of America was formally established on April 10, 1916 and the inaugural PGA Championship was contested at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York from 10 to 14 October. 32 professionals contested 36hole matches over five days with England’s Jim Barnes and St Andrews’ Jock Hutchison reaching the final. Barnes prevailed 3&1 but Hutchison would go on to win the 1920 Championship and on his return to his native St Andrews, as a naturalized American, won the 1921 Open Championship – he was the first US citizen
The PGA and the PGA Championship was off and running. Just as St Andrews played a crucial role in the development of the game and spread of it, they did so in the establishment of what is now the largest operating sports organization in the world. By Matt Hooper.
"At the moment, no aspects of my game are strong and I'm just feeling a bit lost at the moment." "It feels good on the range and I can hit all the shots, but when I get out on the course it really does not seem to be there. "Off the tee, I am missing one right and then missing one left and it's just not going where I want it. It gets you in two minds every time you are playing a tee shot," he explained. "The game is just not coming easy to me at the moment and while I was struggling at this point last year, I was able to turn the corner in the middle of the summer and have a great end to my season. I don't know whether it's a matter of trying to play my way out of it or just keep grinding away on the range or whatever." This was Rory McIlroy speaking after his first round of 74 in the 2013 Irish Open. He was in the midst of a year which saw him fall from the lofty perch of world number one at the end of 2012. But at the 2013 PGA Championship he finished in a tie for 8th and ever since he has been on an upward curve.
He outplayed Adam Scott in the final round of the Emirates Australian Open to overturn a 4 shot deficit and claim his first win since Dubai 2012.Then this May he came from 6 behind Thomas Bjorn to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Last month he dominated the field at Hoylake to win a first Open Championship, and then in the week before this year’s PGA Championship he came from 3 behind Sergio Garcia to win his first WGC at Firestone. Coming into the PGA Championship at Valhalla Rory was the overwhelming favourite. With four wins and 13 top ten finishes in his last 27 starts he was back as world number one and looking like the force in golf again. If the first three major wins of the Ulsterman were processions of excellence then this dramatic, pulsating PGA Championship win was one of guts, grit and determination. The first three days seemed to have an inevitability about them with the world number one finding his way to the top of the leaderboard with rounds of 66, 67 and 67 to hold a one stroke lead over Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.
Wiesberger and McIlroy got off to a struggling start and, playing in the group in front, Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson took full advantage. The 2005 PGA Champion Mickelson rolled in a 30-footer at the first to reduce the deficit to McIlroy to 2 shots and then at the par three third he made a second birdie to reach -12. Fowler bogeyed the 2nd hole to fall back but then three consecutive birdies took him into pole position. With McIlroy bogeying the 3rd and 6th he was, for a short period, 3 shots behind the 25-year-old American. McIlroy birdied the par five 7th to reduce the deficit to 2 shots but an outward 36 to Fowler’s 32, Mickelson’s 31 and Henrik Stenson’s 30 left The Open champion struggling to maintain his major momentum. The Swede Stenson was -13 and Fowler and Mickelson were tied for the lead at -14, with McIlroy two shots back at -12. But certain moments are reserved for certain players. The 10th hole at Valhalla is a par five of 590 yards and was a critical hole in the championship for McIlroy. If he was going to make a comeback it had to start here.
After yet another drive of over 300 yards down the middle of the fairway, he hit over 70 drives in 3 weeks over 300 yards, he pulled out his 3 wood. This club had been a worry for Rory all week, hooking one out of bounds at the very same hole on Thursday. He produced a shot and a moment usually reserved for his Nike stable mate, Tiger Woods. He hit a running shot up the left side of the green which rolled round and finished around 8 feet from the hole. The crowd reaction was raucous and this was the moment for McIlroy to get back into the picture. He holed the putt and tied Mickelson at -14, one stroke behind Fowler, who had birdied the 10th to move to -15. Mickelson birdied the 11th to tie Fowler at 15-under-par and when Henrik Stenson birdied the short par four 13th the four players were separated by one shot. Another critical moment for McIlroy came at the same hole when he rolled in a putt to reach -15 and tie Fowler and Mickelson. He reacted with emotion, with a fist pump which would probably have knocked you out. Stenson and Fowler bogeyed the 14th and when Mickelson bogeyed the 16th there was an opportunity for McIlroy to shut the
door. Having pushed his drive into a bunker he played a superb shot to 10 feet and rolled in the putt dead centre to open up a 2 shot lead over his rivals. It was a ‘Tiger’ moment. With torrential rain having delayed play earlier in the day the light was fading, Fowler and Mickelson offered McIlroy and Wiesberger the opportunity to play the 18th hole together with the second from last pairing to save time. McIlroy lost his drive slightly right and the ball hung just yards from the hazard. Up at the green Mickelson knew he needed an eagle and with his trademark flamboyant short game he all but holed his third shot to finish on -15. McIlroy’s lay-up found the greenside bunker but it was to prove no problem for the champion to be as he two-putted for par to hold on to a one stroke win over Mickelson. The Sunday was a thrilling and compelling battle which had echoes of the great 1975 Masters tussle between Johnny Miller, Tom Wieskopf and Jack Nicklaus.
It was also an exhibition of golf of all different styles and an example of why golf is a game for life. With Phil Mickelson (44) and Henrik Stenson (38) battling Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler (both 25) for one of the game’s flagship titles. It is also a potential preview of the drama we can expect at Gleneagles next month in the 40th Ryder Cup. We also saw a different Rory McIlroy but one which can now dominate this game. He hit every sort of shot imaginable over the four days at Valhalla, he came back from the brink and he showed resilience with three of the best players in the world fighting him all the way. The PGA Championship underlined that he is beyond any doubt the world’s greatest player today, and with Tiger’s troubles the second Sunday in August 2014 could well be the day the baton was passed from Woods to McIlroy as golf’s number one draw. 14 months ago he was a Lost Boy, but this August he was Lost Boy Found.
By Matt Hooper.
I left off the last article getting ready for 3 events in a row in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Thunder Bay. After grinding to make the cut in the first two, I was happy with myself for getting to play the weekend. I was not playing my best golf for those two weeks and I made the most of it. I was able to turn things around in Thunder Bay. Unfortunately it wasn't the ending I had planned. With a -5 start through 9 holes on Sunday, I was charging up the leaderboard. I was in 4th place and 5 back from the lead. I tried too hard to make birdies and my score suffered on the back nine because of it. Several mental mistakes coming in led to a T28 finish. After a week off, I played two more events in Calgary and Ottawa. With two missed cuts in a row, I had a week to rest and get my game back in shape. I knew I wasn't putting my best but besides that I couldn't really put my finger on what was causing the higher scores. After a lot of practice putting and a bigger focus on course management, I arrived to Kingston this week for the first of four tournaments in a row to end the Canada season. I will probably need to win one of the last few events to move up to the
Web.com Tour. Fortunately, I still am in excellent shape on PGA Tour LatinoamĂŠrica. I have secured my status for PGA Tour Canada for next year. I also learned a lot from the season that will help me prepare for the second half in Latin America. Whether I move up through Latin America or Canada, it should be an exciting finish to my year. Thank you again for following my progress. You can follow my journey on www.pgatourcanada.com and through my Twitter/Instagram accounts @mbutta326.
Well it’s hard to believe but the 2014 season is slowly winding down. With only three more tournaments on the schedule for the Symetra Tour, I am actually spending a few days at home recharging my batteries (and actually unpacking my suitcase for once!) in order to refocus for the last and final push. The best thing about the tour is that one or two good finishes can really boost you up on the money list and I am feeling really great about the direction my game is going. However, before thinking about this last month of tournament play coming up, I have had a chance to reflect on some of the experiences I have gained and beautiful places I have seen so far. Just in the last month I have driven through fifteen different states. I have played countless rounds of golf with new people, some of those rounds better than others, but nonetheless still getting to do what I love every day. I have stayed in the homes of families all over the country as they "adopt" me for the week. Arranging private housing is one of the best things the tour does for us. It allows us the chance to establish some sort of normalcy
and develop relationships with these families as we travel the country as nomads, living practically out of our cars. Some of these families have become a real part of my life, sending Christmas cards and encouraging emails throughout the year, often with updates about their children whom I have watched grow over the last few years of being with them. One of my favorite stops on the tour every year has been in Richmond, Virginia and this year was my fourth year playing in that event. My first year there I stayed with a family with three sons, and since I grew up as one of three girls it was fun getting a chance to see what having brothers would be like.
From Richmond I was able to work my way down the east coast and visit with my TaylorMade family at their facility in Greensboro, Georgia. I always love spending time there since usually I am able to come home with some new toys! I spent a few days playing the courses there at Reynolds Plantation and getting a little tune up for clubs to really make sure I am ready for the last set of tournaments. However, while I was there I was able to announce that I will be adding a tournament to my schedule, as I have been invited to play in Golf Channel's first annual Big Break Invitational this fall!
Their youngest son was just finishing second grade when I met them and their oldest was not even in high school yet. I have continued to go back and visit with my little Richmond family, although now they are all taller than I am and their oldest is looking at colleges! It is such a wonderful experience to get to know these families all over the country and I truly believe I have an extended family all over the world!
past twenty one seasons of the show's history. As this will be my third stint with the show, I thought I would have a pretty good handle on what was to be expected, but in true Big Break fashion they always know how to throw in a twist! This time we will be competing in a LIVE four day tournament, just as if it were a PGA or LPGA event. Speaking of the PGA tour, another Big Breaker and two time winner out there, Tommy "Two-Gloves" Gainey will also be playing, so I know the competition will be tough! I couldn't be more excited to see how my skills will stack up. As for now, I better get back out to practice, lots of work to do before I head back out on the road! By Stefanie Kenoyer.
I was so excited and honoured to be asked to play, especially since they only chose twenty girls and twenty guys from all of the
12 months ago Tommy Fleetwood claimed his first win on the European Tour after a play-off with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez. It was a day of high drama on the PGA Centenary Course and recently Matt Hooper caught up with Tommy to discuss this and much more.
1. What are your reflections on that amazing day last August at Gleneagles? “It seems a long time ago now, I think it opened up a lot of doors towards the end of the year. As well as showing myself I could win, it gave me a lot of chances to play in big tournaments at the end of the year and be in high profile groups.”
2. Obviously after winning for the first time it is not easy to win straight away again, did you find this? “You get the winning bug and then you want to win again as soon as you can. I have had a few chances since and it’s enjoyable when you have the chance to contend.”
3. Winning at the place where Sir Nick Faldo won his first title must be a special thing to you? “I didn’t actually know that, hopefully I can follow some of his other achievements. It is always nice to be associated with Nick Faldo.”
4. Looking ahead to next July, The Open returns to St Andrews, how special would it be to win any tournament at the home of golf? “I always wanted to win the St Andrews Links Trophy but never quite got there, but to win an Open at St Andrews – it doesn’t get any better than that. I think that is every golfers dream.” Interview conducted and written by Matt Hooper
Gleneagles Hotel is of course hosting the 40th Ryder Cup Matches next month, but the resort is also celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. 90 years of going the extra mile for their guests and 90 years of world class golf in the heart of Scotland. Many people have criticized the decision to take the Ryder Cup to Gleneagles and not to take it to traditional links courses like Turnberry, Carnoustie or Muirfield. In reality nowhere in Scotland could be better suited to hosting golf’s greatest showpiece event. Its central location is accessible from airports in Edinburgh and Glasgow; it is just an hour away from St Andrews by road and over half of Scotland’s population lives within 90 minutes of the venue. Above all though it is the resort, the golf courses, the resort’s experience of staging major events and providing five star service every day which makes it the best venue in all of Scotland for the 40th Ryder Cup. Last month I visited Gleneagles to get a look at the golf course, the new Dormy clubhouse and speak to Heather Edment, Golf Business Manager and Steve Chappell, Head greenkeeper on the PGA Centenary Course.
As part of a major investment into the resort to ready it for the 2014 Ryder Cup the Dormy Clubhouse underwent a major extension and refurbishment which was completed in 2011. I started by asking Heather if the changes had been well received by guests? “Yes very much so. We tripled the size of our specific dining area and created a much bigger private dining area so it has become an all-day offering. So not only is it popular with our golfing visitors but our hotel guests and seasonal ownership too.” “Everybody who comes to Gleneagles will, I imagine, have at least a cup of coffee in here. Because the views are so nice and they can come and purchase items from the golf shop etc.” The shop has changed dramatically too in recent years? “The shop was extended at the same time as the refurbishment of the restaurant and bar areas of the building. Part of the focus of the retail plan has been Ryder Cup merchandise as well.”
When viewers around the world are tuning in to watch the 2014 Ryder Cup it will be a shame that the hotel and clubhouse aren’t visible from the course. Was any thought given to relocating the clubhouse? “No, this clubhouse serves all three courses so it is ideally placed for the King’s and Queen’s courses. And it has been here for 90 years so there has never been any serious consideration for moving the clubhouse.” Is this a really exceptionally busy time at Gleneagles? “In the last five years, like everyone else, coming out of recession business has remained strong in certain parts and less strong in other parts. It is certainly the busiest the PGA Centenary Course has ever been.” How important is it for future business for Gleneagles that you get the Ryder Cup right off course, as well as on the course? “It is crucial, but it is no more crucial than today’s business or next January’s business. We aim to get our business right
365 days of the year, so in many ways, although the Ryder Cup is a very special week, it is another piece of business no more or less important than if you were coming tomorrow for a family celebration.”
Does Gleneagles welcome local residents to use the clubhouse on a regular basis and will any part of the clubhouse be open to the public during the Ryder Cup?
“Our aim during Ryder Cup in the team areas is to try and make the players feel at home and that they have an environment that they can try and focus on the job in hand.”
“The clubhouse, as well as the hotel, is open to the general public. People who live in the general vicinity of Gleneagles use the facilities on a regular basis.”
“We will embrace our American guests as much as our European guests.” How much will the clubhouse get used during the Ryder Cup? “The teams will use the clubhouse as a day base, with the team rooms and the locker room. They will also have a base in the hotel.” “Part of this building will be used for families and officials, and other guests who are not actually staying at Gleneagles.” Are you taking on additional staff during Ryder Cup week? “There will be additional staff but not employed by Gleneagles, our staff stays around 900.”
“During Ryder Cup week only ticket holders and accredited staff can use the facilities, but is only that week from Monday to Sunday.” Following Medinah is a tough act to follow, do you think Gleneagles are really well-placed to follow one of the great events of all-time? “Each Ryder Cup is special and we will have our own memories and moments of history.” The hotel certainly has history, 90 years of it and in 2014 it will shine brighter than ever before. 2014 is the 21st year of the PGA Centenary Course, the course has never been under a greater microscope than it will be under this September.
Construction of The Monarch’s Course began in the spring of 1989, the course used land previously occupied by the Prince’s and Glendevon Courses. When you visit Gleneagles today you can still see two of the old holes which began the Princes course, they lay next to the lakes which sit in the shadow of the magnificent hotel. The course opened on 15th May 1993 and was to be the modern tournament course for the hotel as the King’s Course was becoming too short to host the world’s professionals. Upon opening the course was the longest inland course in Europe and it wasn’t cheap, costing £5.6million to build. Covering 104 hectares the course fitted beautifully into the natural surroundings. It was to be six years before the first tournament was staged on the course, the 1999 Scottish PGA Championship, which was won by Englishman Warren Bennett with a score of 6-under-par. Sweden’s Pierre Fulke and England’s Paul Casey were victorious in 2000 and 2001 and then came a performance which reverberated throughout the Glen.
In 2001, to celebrate the centenary of the Professional Golfers’ Association, the course was renamed the PGA Centenary Course. Australia’s Adam Scott, aged 22, in his second season on the European Tour, shot rounds of 67, 65, 67 and 63 to win by 10 shots from Raymond Russell. His total of 262 was 26-under-par. It was clear changes needed to be made to keep the course challenging for the professionals on the European Tour. These changes were undertaken by Scottish golf course architect David MacLay Kidd over a three year period between 2004 and 2007. The changes took a while to mature and were not universally popular with the players in the Johnnie Walker Championship. In 2011 Jack Nicklaus returned to remodel the 9th and 18th holes and oversee a complete remodelling of the bunkers. And now 13 years after being awarded the right to host the 2014 Ryder Cup, the PGA Centenary Course is ready for the greatest show in golf. Steve Chappell is the head greenkeeper of the course and I had the opportunity to speak to him at the Dormy
Clubhouse this summer. I started by asking him if this was the busiest he has ever been in the job?
of golf that we have seen over the last 18 months here on the PGA Centenary Course.”
“I would say so, we are now reaching the final leg of a very long journey and all of the team are putting in the hours and effort required to make sure we get the golf course across the finish line.”
The course has not staged an event this late in the year before, how big a challenge is it to prepare the course to be in peak condition for the Ryder Cup?
So what goes into planning an event of this scale from a golf course point of view? “We have had 2 main things to focus in preparing the golf course for the event, firstly to ensure that the golf course remains dry and firm for the event and secondly to drive consistency within all of the playing surfaces around the golf course.” “This has been achieved by in depth planning of aeration and top dressing works and correct timings of nutrianal and biological inputs onto the turf.” What are the challenges of preparing a course for the Ryder Cup? “I would say managing the impact of the infrastructure build around the course more so than managing the playing surfaces. We have also had to manage the high volumes
“In many ways the timing of the event suits this type of golf course as I feel that inland courses are generally at their best during the late Summer/early autumn period so I don’t see this as a great challenge.” What is your biggest fear? “The weather as it is the one thing we have no control over. The golf course will be able to cope with a sensible amount of rain fall due to the amount of drainage and aeration work undertaken over the last few years, however extreme rain is always very difficult to deal with.” How many extra staff will you have during Ryder Cup week? “During the week of the event we our staff of 23 greenkeepers will be joined by the 32 greenkeepers that maintain the Kings & Queens course along with a further 40
volunteer greenkeepers from all around the world.” What is the typical number of rounds played on the course and has this increased the closer we get to the Ryder Cup? “We have been averaging 200 rounds per day on the Centenary course (April to October) for the 2013 & 2014 season. Historically the PGA was always the least played course on the resort, however this has changed significantly with over 45% of all golf at Gleneagles now being played on the Centenary Course.” When does the course close/re-open? “The golf course closes for play on the 1st of September and reopens on the 1st of October.” Do the King’s and Queen’s courses close in this period too? “They both close of the 20th September and reopen on 30th September.”
Where the tented village, opening ceremony and practice facilities be located? “The tented village will be located on the Academy range field. The first of the King’s course will be used as the range for the event with the 18th as putting and chipping greens. The opening ceremony will take place on the pitch and putt course in front of the hotel.” Would it be fair to say that the PGA Centenary Course is better suited to match play and the Ryder Cup will show the course in its best light? “Having hosted 13 consecutive European Tour events prior to 2014 the golf course is well suited to Stroke play events. The layout of the course and the Ryder Cup format will be a good match for match play golf also.” The course has been very publicly criticized in the media and by the players, how difficult is that to take and does it act as a motivation for all of you? “It’s never nice to have your work publicly criticized however everyone has an opinion
and unfortunate you’re not always going to like them.” “It does help motivate the team into raise the standards even higher. We all know that the Centenary course is a very good golf course and we are all looking forward to the eyes of the world seeing her in her best light come September.” Next month the eyes of the world will certainly be on Gleneagles and the PGA Centenary Course as the best 12 golfers from Europe welcome the best 12 golfers from the United States. It is the fortieth Ryder Cup, Gleneagles is ready and the anticipation has reached fever pitch for an event unlike any other.
Written by Matt Hooper, with thanks to Kate Newton, Heather Edment and Steve Chappell
Dustin Johnson takes leave from the game of golf to “face up to challenges�. Dustin Johnson, a lock for the 2014 US Ryder Cup team, has decided to take an indefinite period of time away from the game to confront challenges in his life. The rumour mill has been in overdrive with no firm confirmation as yet to the reasons behind this decision. The 2010 and 2012 US Ryder Cup team member will surely be missed by Tom Watson, especially with the likes of Jason Dufner, Matt Kuchar struggling with injury and Tiger Woods struggling with injury and form. We hope to see Johnson back in the game once he is ready to return to golf.
Tiger Woods withdraws from consideration for Ryder Cup wildcard. Following his withdrawal from the WGCBridgestone Invitational and missed cut at the 96th PGA Championship Tiger Woods has told US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson that he wishes to be withdrawn from consideration for a wildcard. Woods has only missed one Ryder Cup since he turned professional in 1996. The United States won the 2008 Ryder Cup without him at Valhalla and Woods was selected as a controversial wildcard by Corey Pavin in 2010, when he missed out on qualification for the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs. This is a great move for Tiger first and foremost. He will finally, properly rehabilitate his back with nearly four months off and he will be able to prepare for a full season in 2015. It is also a great move for the United States. Tiger has had the worst season of his career and it is highly doubtful if he could contribute anything to
the cause at Gleneagles anyway. And finally it is a great move for Tom Watson. Had Woods not said anything the hype and pressure on Watson to select him or otherwise would have been enormous. Now there will be no questions to him in New York about why he did or didn't pick Tiger. Now the United States can solely focus on getting together the strongest possible team and heading to Scotland in September will the sole aim of ending 21 years of defeats in Europe.
Captain Tom Watson to announce 40th United States Ryder Cup team at Live TV event in New York on September 2. Tom Watson will announce the final three players for the 40th United States Ryder Cup team in the most high profile announcement of a team ever. NBC's Studio 8H, the home of Saturday Night Live, will host the announcement live and
fans can vote for who they would pick, with the person who matches Watson's picks potentially winning a trip to Gleneagles for the 2014 Ryder Cup and meet the US Ryder Cup captain. St Andrews Golf Magazine will be on air at 10pm BST / 5pm ET with #TuesdayTeeTime reacting to the European Ryder Cup team announcement earlier in the day and giving final thoughts on the US Ryder Cup team; Golf Channel will have a 1-hour preview show from 11pm BST / 6pm ET and the PGA of America show will be on air from 12am BST / 7pm ET. #TuesdayTeeTime 10pm BST / 5pm ET Golf Channel 11pm BST / 6pm ET 40th United States Ryder Cup Team Announcement 12pm BST / 7pm ET “I'm delighted with the nine players who have made the team," said Watson. "I believe that each player has the ability to play great golf and compete at the highest level in the Ryder Cup. The selection of the three Captain's picks for the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland is my focus the next few weeks. MyCaptainsPicks is a
fun opportunity for fans to engage with the Ryder Cup in a style that’s unprecedented. I hope the winners have a great trip to the Ryder Cup!" PGA President Ted Bishop added: "With each of the nine automatic qualifiers ranked among the Top 30 in the World Golf Rankings, the U.S. Ryder Cup Team is building a formidable squad to compete against Europe's best. Through social media and extraordinary digital access, a new generation of golf fans will discover the passion of the Ryder Cup. MyCaptainsPicks is an exciting and innovative way for fans to engage and compete to win a trip to Scotland and cheer on Team USA." Fans may vote multiple times through Sept. 2 at 12 a.m. ET, but only their last entry will count towards the sweepstakes. The winner will be selected in a random drawing on Sept. 3. NBC and Golf Channel will broadcast an entire European-based Ryder Cup for the first time this year and St Andrews Golf Magazine will provide a full television guide for both the UK and US in our September edition.
Tony Jacklin CBE, the greatest Ryder Cup Captain of all time, launched a commemorative Ryder Cup art collection, on Sunday 17 August 2014, at Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, St Andrews. Tony Jacklin’s personal selection of the golfers who have made the greatest contribution to The Ryder Cup throughout its history will form the ‘Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection’. The Collection will consist of oil painted portraits by world renowned golf artist Joe Austen and will be permanently exhibited in the Austen Gallery of Champions in Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, a few feet from the 18th fairway of The Old Course, St Andrews. More than 30 golfing greats are anticipated to make it into the ‘Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection’. The portraits of the first 14 have been announced and are now on display in the Austen Gallery of Champions, these include: Tony Jacklin, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Paul McGinley, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Poulter, Arnold Palmer, Samuel Ryder, Abe Mitchell, Walter Hagen, Phil Mickelson,
Paul Azinger, Sam Torrance CBE and Ian Woosnam CBE Further champions will be added to the growing Collection throughout 2014 and announced at a later date. Tony Jacklin, said: “It goes without saying that the Ryder Cup is very close to my heart and I strongly believe that the competition would not have become the worldwide phenomenon that it is today without the sporting greats of the past like Samuel Ryder, Abe Mitchell, Walter Hagen and so many others. “The rich history of the Ryder Cup interests me greatly and the idea of capturing this legacy for generations to come inspired me to work with Joe Austen. It is with this collection that I hope to honour both the historical champions and the present players who have made, and continue to make, the greatest contribution to the Ryder Cup.” Joe Austen, Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection artist, said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with Tony to bring the Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection to fruition. As the person who has done the most to transform the Ryder
Cup into the spectacle it has become, Tony Jacklin is best placed to select the golfing greats who will be included in his Collection. “The Austen Gallery of Champions is also an ideal location to showcase this Collection at Macdonald Rusacks Hotel due to its position by the 18th fairway of The Old Course in the Home of Golf.” Exclusive Limited Edition Prints of the Collection, co-signed by Tony Jacklin and Joe Austen, are being produced in order to pay tribute to the golfers selected and to celebrate the return of The Ryder Cup to Scotland. The prints will be available to purchase from www.rydercupcollection.com. Chris Feeney, General Manager, Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, commented: “Macdonald Rusacks Hotel is very proud to be chosen to display Joe Austen’s paintings of Tony Jacklin’s collection of European and US Ryder Cup greats within what is one of the world’s most iconic golfing hotels. “With the acclaimed Rocca Bar & Grill restaurant and many of our bedrooms
overlooking the 18th fairway of the Old Course, Macdonald Rusacks Hotel attracts golfers from around the world. The decision by such a world renowned artist to place the Ryder Cup Collection permanently within our hotel is a tremendous honour and I am sure will prove highly popular with our guests and visitors alike.”
The Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection is part of The Austen Gallery of Champions
and is located in the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews.
The gallery is free to visit, just ask at the reception of the hotel.
Macdonald Rusacks Hotel is arguably the world’s most iconic golfing hotels. Established in 1887, the 4-star 70 bedroom hotel is part of Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, 2013-2014 AA Hotel Group of the Year. Attracting golfers from all over the world, within the acclaimed 3 AA rosette Rocca Bar & Grill, visitors dine on the finest freshest produce while enjoying views over the 18 fairway of the Old Course. In May 2013, Macdonald Rusacks Hotel completed a £700,000 refurbishment of 39 bedrooms. All are named after golfing greats and / or links to the famous Old Course. This includes the stunning Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris bedroom suites.