Caddie Golf Tours

A great announcement from the sponsors of the Women's British Open, Ricoh, that they are to continue supporting the event until 2013. There was further good news for Scotland when the venues of Carnoustie in 2011 and then a return to the Old Course St. Andrews in 2013 were confirmed, by the Ladies Golf Union, for the championship. The Women's Open was held at the Old Course in 2007 and was a huge success. The world's number 1 Lorena Ochoa won the first professional womens championship to be held over the legendary links and I am sure she and many other players will be relishing the opportunity to play the Old Lady again. The golf links of Carnoustie, in 2011, will prove a real stern test for the ladies and this has generated a good deal of conversation about what tees they will use and how they will cope with this most treacherous of golf links in Scotland. I think the golf course may win! Wonderful news for Scotland and for the ladies championship in securing the sponsorsh...

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 former British Amateur Champion, 2005, Heather McRae who is now working as an assisitant professional at the wonderful Gullane Golf Course, based forty minutes south of Edinburgh, has played herself into a starting spot in the Scottish PGA Championship to be played at Gleneagles in June. Heather lined up at the qualifier, played over Downfield Golf Club in Dundee, and was one of 47 to get through the 18 hole shoot out, which will make her the first women golfer to contest the Scottish PGA since 1933. I caddied for Heather during the 2007 season at St. Andrews in the St. Rule Trophy, one of top level amateur tournaments held during the golf season, finishing a respectable 10th. We then went on to play at the final qualifying over the New Course at St. Andrews for the Ladies British Open eventually won by Lorena Ochoa and in the resurrected Scottish Ladies Open played at the Carrick on Loch Lomond. The Scottish PGA will be a great event and all the better for having Heather McRae to ...

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...

For the first time in a long, long time Scotland will have six representatives in the Deutshe Bank Swiss Ladies Open which begins on Thursday. Tour regulars Lynn Kenny and Claire Queen are to be joined with fellow Scots and tour rookies Michele Thomson, Krystle Caithness, Vikki Laing and Pamela Feggans. Go fly the flag girls!