Caddie Golf Tours

LPGA player Catriona Matthew, a born and bred Scot from North Berwick, today completed a steady march to her first Major title at the Ladies British Open, contested over the treacherous links course of Lytham St. Annes. Catriona lead by three shots at the start of the fourth day and though she had a couple of slips birdies at the 13th,14th and 15th gave her a four stroke advantage over the closing strectch. A dropped shot at the 17th did not do any real harm. A final four round total of 285, three under par, secures the prize and close to £200,000 pounds. A superb effort, 68, from Karrie Webb, a three time former British Open champion, gave her second place on even par. Four players shared third place on +1, Paula Creamer, Christina Kim, Ai Miyazato (Japan) and Hee-Won Han (Korea). A wee footnote to Catriona Matthew's win and possibly one of the reasons she likes the golf course at Lytham St. Annes: she won the British Amateur title at this venue sixteen years ago!

This week has the only ladies 'Major' on the European Tour, the British Open, being played over the wonderful links course at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. A true links golf course in located on the north west of England it has held 10 Open Championships that have been contested by the men since 1926 and will be host to it's eleventh Open in 2012. David Duval won the last mens Open played over Lytham in 2002. The course is playing pretty tough over these first couple of days and this has been reflected in the cut being set at +9. Now far be it from me to criticise the professionalism and atheleticism of the ladies game, but it does seem that the essential art of chipping from 80 yards, and in, on the links seems to be beyond these 'modern' women professionals. Extraodinary that the highly paid golf coaches have not been advising this part of the game prior to a Major tournament being played on a legendary links golf course. I'm certainly looking forward to the ...

The Swiss Open , the first proper Ladies European Tour event, was completed today and I am really pleased to report that three of the Scottish Rookies performed admirably, making the cut as well as earning a few thousand Euros for their efforts. The top placed of the Scottish girls was, the very focused, St. Andrews protege Krystle Caithness who finished tied for 18th on -6. The wonderful Michele Thomson, former Scottish Amateur Champion,  followed with a tied position of 35th at -1 and Pamela Feggans finished with a score of +1 and a tie for 44th. This will give these girls a massive confidence boost, completing four rounds in their first professional tournament and finishing so well. They all now know that they can compete at this level so I would hope that this experience will stand them in good stead for the forthcoming events. Well done all.  

In what must be the first time for many years Scotland will have six representatives taking part in Deutsche Bank Swiss Ladies Open, in what is effectively the opening tournament of the Ladies European Tour (LET). The super six are LET stalwarts, over the last 3 years, Lynn Kenny and Clare Queen who will be joined by no less than four LET rookie who include Michele Thomson, Krystle Caithness, Vikki Laing and Pamela Feggans. All of the girls have been working real hard over the winter with Michele winning her first professional tournament during April, in Florida. We wish them all well and for a really good start to the golf season.

The first win of a golfer's professional career is momentous and the confidence boost is truly huge so on reading the news that Scottish Rookie Michele Thomson has won her first tournament, in Florida at a Suncoast Ladies Tour Event, I was really excited for her. Michele was so excited herself she forgot to pack her golf clubs and had to travel the 30 miles back to the course to pick them up! I caddied for Michele during last years Curtis Cup match against the USA, played over the Old Course in St. Andrews, when she was the Scottish Amateur Champion. A big hitting golfer with great determination and a big happy smile I hope that this first professional win will give her the hunger to continue winning many more tournaments. Her first event on the Ladies European Tour (LET) is expected to be the Swiss Ladies Open in May. She intends to play some more SunCoast Tour events in a bid to get some competitive golf prior to the European season beginning in earnest. Michele was pleased to se...