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Scotsman
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
'I've not mumped or moaned' - David Law on having DP World Tour return in sights
2018 winner heading into Farmfoods Scottish Challenge with spring in his step after recent victory 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... David Law has never given the impression that he's the type to 'mump and moan', so there was never any danger that he'd feel sorry for himself after losing his DP World Tour card at the end of last season. The Aberdonian took being back on the HotelPlanner Tour on the chin, rolled up his sleeves and faced the challenge of trying to regain a seat back at the top table in European golf head on. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad David Law acknowledges the fans after clinching his win in the D+D REAL Czech Challenge earlier this month | Getty Images Helped by recent title triumph in the D+D REAL Czech Challenge, Law is on course to achieve that goal at the first attempt, hence why the 2018 winner is heading into this week's Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A with a spring in his step. The 34-year-old sits fifth in the Road to Mallorca Rankings and is determined to cement his position in the battle for 20 DP World Tour cards by producing a strong performance on Scottish soil as the £250,000 event is held at Schloss Roxbughe near Kelso for the first time. 'I've not mumped and moaned about being back out here,' Law, who spearheads a 21-strong Caledonian contingent teeing up at the Borders venue, told The Scotsman before heading out for a practice round on Tuesday. 'I had a mindset at the start of the season that this was about getting back in contention in tournaments a bit more and trying to shoot low scores again. On the main tour, that opportunity obviously isn't there that often, whether it is being in contention or shooting low scores. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I've managed to do that on both fronts this year, which has been great. It's been really good to get in the hunt to win golf tournaments again because that's something you need to practice. My aim was to be in contention and uncomfortable a bit more.' Asked what he meant by that, the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open winner on the main tour added: 'It's uncomfortable when you are in contention to win a golf tournament. You are putting yourself out there to essentially fail. David Law shows trophy after winning the D+D REAL Czech Challenge at Royal Beroun Golf Club |'Only one person can win every week and I think it is quite easy to get sucked into a mindset on the main tour whereby 12th or 15th is okay, even 20th is okay. They are better than okay. They are great weeks in tough fields and great tournaments. 'Whereas out here that doesn't cut it. I don't want to be out here for any more than this year, so the only way that was going to happen was if I had big weeks, so it's nice to have been able to do that.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Law's title triumph in this event came at Macdonald Spey Valley in Aviemore, a couple of hours from his beloved home city of Aberdeen. 'Yeah, it's probably the fondest win I've had,' he admitted. 'To do that with all my family there was amazing and at a tournament that was always my favourite one to play in. I'd never played on the main tour at that point. That was always our big tournament, wasn't it?' Helped by that win, Law stepped up to the DP World Tour in 2019 along with Grant Forrest, Liam Johnston and Bob MacIntyre. Seven years on, he's hoping it can be a similar Scottish success story, with in-form Daniel Young also currently in a card-winning position and Euan Walker, Calum Fyfe and Ryan Lumsden there or thereabouts as well. David Law celebrates winning the 2018 SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge at Macdonald Spey Valley in Aviemore |'The standard is obviously very high and there are a lot of good players out here,' noted Law. 'Not only guys who have played on the tour in the past but a lot of guys who are going to play on the tour in the future. It has been quite a good experience, to be honest with you. 'I think there's a good opportunity for us to have a good few of us (Scottish players) coming off at the end of the season. The last year I played was 2018 and four of us out of the 15 graduated, which was amazing. I don't think there has ever been that many from Scotland and there is no reason why that can't happen again as a lot of the guys are playing good golf.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While finishing as high as he possibly can on the Road to Mallorca points list is his No 1 priority, Law is allowing himself a DP World Tour outing next week. Understandably so given that the Nexo Championship, which is being held at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, will be a proper home gig. 'I said at the start of the year if I had 800 points (on the HotelPlanner Tour) come the Trump event. I'd try and play it. I think I am something like two-and-a-half points shy, so I can let myself off with that,' he said, smiling.
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Four-time PGA Tour winner tees up first Scottish appearance since 2018
Martin Laird set to be part of strong home contingent in Nexo Championship at Donald Trump's Aberdeen course 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... Four-time PGA Tour winner Martin Laird is set to be among a minimum of 13 Scottish players teeing up in the Nexo Championship, the first DP World Tour event to be held at Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen. Laird, who has been based in the US throughout his professional career after staying on at the end of his college campaign, last played on home soil in the 2018 Scottish Open, which was sponsored by Aberdeen Standard Investments at the time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Martin Laird pictured during the recent ISCO Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky |But the 42-year-old has teed up an exciting return in a fortnight's time after deciding to commit to the upcoming $2.75 million event in Aberdeenshire ahead of the entries closing on Friday morning. Laird will be playing through the category introduced through the Strategic Alliance between the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, which offers spots for a maximum of five players who finished in positions 126-200 on the FedEX Cup Standings the previous year. Laird, who has played more than 400 events on the PGA Tour and has amassed career earnings of close to $23 million, ended up 147th to lose his full playing privileges and has been mainly playing this year on the Korn Ferry Tour. The Glaswegian, who finished just outside the top ten in the recent Barracuda Championship in California, will be flying the Saltire at Trump International Golf Links, which is staging a DP World Tour event for the first time, as part of a strong Caledonian contingent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Connor Syme and Calum Hill, winners of the KLM Open and Joburg Open respectively this year, will spearhead the home challenge along with three-time DP World Tour winner Ewen Ferguson. Grant Forrest, who finished as the leading home player in the Genesis Scottish Open just under a fortnight ago, will be aiming to build on that encouraging effort while Richie Ramsay, who will be teeing up in his home city, and Scott Jamieson are also in the line up. David Law acknowledges fans after clincing his recent win on the HotelPlanner Tour in the D+D REAL Czech Challenge | Getty Images David Law, another Aberdonian and a recent winner on the HotelPlanner Tour, is teeing up as well, as are Daniel Young and Euan Walker, who are also making strong bids to secure step ups to the DP World Tour at the end of the season. Three-time DP World Tour winner Marc Warren, meanwhile, has secured a sponsor's invitation, with three more of those still up for grabs along with an amateur spot. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Also in the field are Paul O'Hara and Graeme Robertson, the pair having been handed the two national spots through topping the Arnold Clark PGA in Scotland Tartan Tour and Tartan Pro Tour points lists respectively last season. In addition to the posse of home players, fans heading to the event will get to see the new crop of winners on the DP World Tour this season, including Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, Frenchman Martin Couvra and Norway's Kristoffer Reitan. Others teeing up include English stars Dan Brown, Jordan Smith, Richard Mansell and Marco Penge, who won the Scottish Stroke-Play Championship at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth as an amateur in 2015. The event is part of a double-header at Trump International Golf Links, where the Stasysure PGA Senior Championship also takes place next week and is set to feature Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
The Irish Sun
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Watch English golf star John Parry nail amazing first hole in one of The Open sparking wild celebrations on tee box
AN ENGLISHMAN nailed an incredible first hole in one of The Open - sparking wild celebrations on the tee box. John Parry, 38, teed it up with an eight iron on the 192-yard par 3 13th in the third round on Saturday. Advertisement 3 John Parry bagged a hole in one on the par 3 13th Credit: Sky Sports 3 He tee shot pitch in front of the hole and rolled in Credit: Sky Sports 3 He was congratulated by his playing partner Justin Leonard Credit: Sky Sports His shot pitched just in front of the hole and flew straight in the hole after a couple of bounces. And when the ball disappeared into the cup, the crowd at Portrush went crazy. Parry whipped his hat off in delight 192 yards further back before high-fiving and hugging playing partner Justin Leonard. He then soaked up the adulation from both caddies and the celebrating audience behind the tee on what is Advertisement READ MORE ON THE OPEN Parry said: "I did hit a really good shot for once, so it was quite nice. "It was quite a comfortable shot where I knew I had a big window to land the ball in. "It went in a bit stronger than I thought it would from that distance for what club I hit. But I felt like it was going to be close." Parry's ace continued a great year for the popular Yorkshireman. Advertisement Most read in Golf CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS He won three times on the second-tier HotelPlanner Tour last year to regain a place among the big guns on the DP World Tour. And Parry then ended a 14-year wait for a second victory at the top level by winning the Mauritius Open. Justin Thomas tries casting a spell on golf ball in desperate attempt to nail birdie putt at The Open The Harrogate golfer also clocked up a runner-up finish at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and qualified for just his second Open from the European money list. Advertisement Parry is a bit of a late bloomer. He was hailed as a potential superstar when he played alongside future Major champions His only regret will be that the Majors do not offer prizes for a hole in one - unlike last week's Scottish Open. Colombian golfer Nico Echavarria won a £70,000 car, a Genesis GV 60, for acing the sixth hole at the Renaissance Club. Advertisement The Open 2025 ONE of the most anticipated Opens in years is finally here. Can THE OPEN 2025 LIVE - Follow all the latest updates from Royal Portrush TIPS AND FREE BETS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW... The Open 2025 schedule and tee times The Open prize money 2025 TOP STORIES...
Scotsman
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Late finish on day one in The Open leaves Scot feeling 'deflated'
Daniel Young and Cameron Adam both finish rounds in near darkness at Royal Portrush 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... Daniel Young was left feeling 'deflated' after dropping four shots late on as he played his final few holes in near darkness along with fellow Scot Cameron Adam in the first round of The 153rd Open. As play finished at 10.13pm at Royal Portrush after the later groups took six hours to get round, Young had to settle for a four-over-par 75 in the penultimate three-ball. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Playing in the group ahead, Adam carded a 73, matching fellow amateur Connor Graham's effort earlier in the day on the County Antrim coast, but he, too, felt his score had been hampered by play finishing so late. Daniel Young tees off on the first hole during day one of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush |'Yeah, very frustrating,' said HotelPlanner Tour professional Young, who was two over after four holes on his major debut before picking up four birdies in seven holes only to then finish bogey-par-double bogey-bogey as the light faded. 'I battled very well to get back and I was pushing to get into the red coming in there. Caught a bunker at 15, so that's a bogey pretty much straight away, which was disappointing. Then I hit a great tee shot into 16, made par. 'Then the hardest part at 17 is getting a tee shot away. Hell of a tee shot and then just hit a terrible, terrible wedge shot, just probably a lapse in concentration more than anything. Just being here for so long, not that that's an excuse. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But it was pretty dark there coming in, certainly on 18, where none of us saw any of the tee shots. Yeah, pretty disappointed, a bit deflated at the minute, to be honest. 'There was no refs talking to anybody I think about pace of play and stuff, which is disappointing. I think it's one of them where they just want your round.' Adam, one of nine amateurs in the field, reckoned the daylight had already started to go when he came close to making a hole-in-one at the 13th - one of three birdies on his card. 'I didn't really realise how long it actually was until we were standing on the 17th tee and I was like, daylight is getting really bad; what's the time?' said the Royal Burgess man. 'We're like quarter past 9pm; it's getting late. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I feel for the guys still out there. We were trying to read putts on the 18th going, this is bad. But it's part of the game, isn't it? You get a late tee time, you've just got to deal with it.' With the top 70 and ties making the cut, Adam sits right on the projected cut-off mark heading into the second round while Young is joint-114th. 'It was okay,' said Adam, winner of The Open Amateur Series, of his opening effort. 'I felt like I played probably better than I shot. Cameron Adam tees off in the third last group on the opening day at Royal Portrush |'The frustrating thing for us was I dropped some shots through calculations today where I actually put pretty good swings on it and just the calculation wasn't right and resulted in a dropped shot. But I've got to take a lot of confidence from how I hit the ball. Making the cut is definitely the plan. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's been an awesome week. A lot of the guys have been great with me and just been trying to learn as much as I can, but I'm also here to compete. While I'm a little bit frustrated by the score, just got to take the positives from my game and it could be a different story tomorrow.' Young said he'd 'struggled' over the opening few holes before 'playing some really good stuff' as he picked up shots at the fifth, seventh, tenth and 12th.
Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
The Open: Rory McIlroy out on course as Shane Lowry reaches final holes in Royal Portrush
2 minutes ago Adam McKendry Danish delight We already have Jacob Skov Olesen in a share of the lead, Nicolai Hojgaard in the clubhouse two back at -2 and now there's another Dane on the charge as John Axelsen birdies 12 and 13 to move to -2, two off the top. The 27-year-old plays primarily on the HotelPlanner Tour (formerly known as the Challenge Tour) and only qualified through Final Qualifying at Royal Cinque Ports - he's certainly making the most of that invitation. 8 minutes ago Gareth Hanna 'Oh Rory' Rory loops his long putt round the slope and in to three feet but then…. MISSED IT. Leaves himself further away for bogey but at least gets that. Shockwave for a nervous crowd. Fleetwood two putts for par off back edge but, JT can't tease his own putt from back there down the slope as leaves it 20 foot short, missing the hill altogether. Bogey for Thomas. (To anyone who saw my brief trigger happy post that he had holed it, I am sorry. Fully scudded him. Fully.) 9 minutes ago Adam McKendry Scheffler on the move He's hit an absolute stunner into Calamity, flirting with the chasm but bouncing it up onto the green and up to three feet - and he drains the putt! That's the World No.1 up to -2 and just two back, with the birdie-able par-four 17th coming up! Unfortunately Sergio Garcia is going the other way as he bogeys the par-four eighth and is back to -2 as well, having been at -3. 18 minutes ago Gareth Hanna And a roar! Very impressive from McIlroy. We've barely seen anyone make the green from that left rough but he manages to squeeze it on the front edge. A long two-putt and we're away. Gareth Hanna on Twitter / X And everyone in Portrush breathes a collective sigh of relief for Rory McIlroy Gareth Hanna (@GarethHanna11) July 17, 2025 22 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Audible relief There was a physical and collective sigh as Rory's tee shot lands IN BOUNDS. It's in the rough on the left and we know how thick that is. So not ideal. But it's not a reload. So sure look. We move. Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood safely on the short stuff. Everyone in Portrush is glad that's over. 26 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Here's Rory The first cheer for the man himself as the supporters round a packed first tee catch a glimpse of him on his way. This shot is six years in the making. Can he exorcise the ghosts of 2019? Rory McIlroy reacts to 2019 nightmare at Royal Portrush during Open press conference Rory McIlroy admits that after the disappointment of missing the cut at The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019 he is going to take a brand new approach to this year's tournament. 29 minutes ago Gareth Hanna First feature group Bryson, Rose and Bob MacIntyre all through the first with routine, two-putt pars. No drama. The atmosphere is so different to yesterday. It was like a festival - fun and frivolous. Today, it's tense. The competition is here. 30 minutes ago Adam McKendry Just before Rory tees off We have another player in the clubhouse at four-under-par as Matthew Fitzpatrick, fresh off that chip-in birdie at the 16th, has signed for the third 67 of the day to join Jacob Skov Olesen and Haotong Li at the top of the leaderboard! Some fine play from the Englishman today as he looks to secure a second Major title. 33 minutes ago Adam McKendry Wind dropping? It mustn't be as tough as it was this morning because on the par-three third there have been more birdies in the last five groups (three) than there were in the previous 35 groups (two). Because golf. 42 minutes ago Adam McKendry Forgotten stars aLIVe again? On the big scoreboard in the media centre, it shows the top-12 players on the leaderboard and currently four of them are from LIV Golf, with Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm all going well, while Laurie Canter is at -1 as well. What odds on one of them winning on Sunday? 44 minutes ago Gareth Hanna God loves Rory? The afternoon feature groups might just be blessed by the weather as word is that the squalls are through and it's cleared up for the afternoon. 49 minutes ago Three in a row for Sergio Birdies at five, six and seven for the Spaniard and he's one back! It's hotting up. 51 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Big cheer from the first And that signals the honorary local Bryson DeChambeau arriving for his tee time as the afternoon feature groups begin. Today 09:33 AM Gareth Hanna The Open Guinness tracker: Where's the cheapest pint in Portrush this week? Consider this thorough investigation by Niamh Campbell a public service. The Open Guinness Tracker: Your guide to the cheapest and most expensive pints in Portrush Guinness is by far the most popular choice of pint for golf tourists, and with nearly 300,000 people venturing through the streets of Portrush this week, there'll be a serious amount of kegs constantly flowing with stout. Today 09:26 AM Gareth Hanna Fitzpatrick slam dunk from Calamity to lead! Well if that's not shot of the tournament, something else special is going to happen. Matt Fitzpatrick was in the ditch at the 16th and facing calamity.... until his pitch goes straight into the hole - no bounce, no touching the sides! Unbelievable. And he goes to -4 alongside the leaders. Shot of the week. Hands down. Today 09:20 AM Gareth Hanna Jordan in and just one back Matthew Jordan competes his three under par 68 with three pars to finish what had been a rollercoaster back nine. Elswhere on the leaderboard, back to back birdies on five and six have shot Sergio Garcia into a tie for sixth and just two back. The rain has stopped, the umbrellas are down and with the greens softened up, it could be time for those two leaders to come under fire. Today 09:07 AM Gareth Hanna One hour to Rory time I'm sure he can't wait until this tee-shot is over, given 2019, and the report of this quote from his putting coach Brad Faxon yesterday... Quoted message Yesterday 01:17 PM Gareth Hanna Rory's first tee struggles? Emmmm, not to alarm anyone ahead of tomorrow but the reports of this quote aren't exactly what we want to hear. Remember, Rory teed off early on Monday and Tuesday and nobody saw him hitting those shots. He did, however, get it safely off the first tee today, hitting an iron down the right side, just short of the bunker. The context of all this, of course, is his tee-shot out of bounds left in the first round in 2019, which ultimately led to an opening quadruple bogey 8 and him missing the cut by a shot. So quite why his putting coach would say this is a bit of a mystery. Just pretend we didn't mention anything... External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Show more Today 09:04 AM Adam McKendry Darren Clarke on shooting a 75: 'Maybe I should have spent more time in the Harbour Bar!' On his round:"I played really nicely and practised and everything was good. Then today just didn't quite have it. That was it. You'd think I've never played here before, some of the places I hit it to. That's frustrating. I know you can't hit it short of the third. I know you can't hit it right on seven. I just hit it a few places that you cannot hit it here. I know better. Unfortunately, I just did. Then I couldn't really borrow a putt to go with it. It was a tricky day, could have been worse. Just got to play better tomorrow." On being home:"It's been brilliant. I've really enjoyed it. I've been down here practising a lot, hitting putts, doing everything. Coming in here shooting four-over, maybe I should have spent more time in the Harbour Bar than out here! It's great. I love getting home. It's one of those things. Unfortunately I'm so busy now over in the States it's tough for me to get home as much as I want." On Pádraig hitting the opening tee shot:"He made three, didn't he? I told him the other day, I made three (in 2019), so you should do the same. And he did. It's one of those sorts of things where, if you haven't played a Ryder Cup, you don't understand what it's all about until you do something like that. It's a huge honour to hit the opening tee shot, especially for somebody like Pádraig in Ireland. As much as I told him he was going to feel nervous and feel a bit of pressure when he walked down the steps, he probably didn't believe me, knowing Pádraig like I do. But I guess whenever he got there and got on the tee, oh, this is pretty big. So I'm glad to hear he was emotional about it." On the difference between 2019 and 2025:"It is bigger and better. The whole build-out for the event is bigger and better. It's getting better every year, The Open Championship. It's great to see. We had bad weather last time, looks like we're going to have iffy weather again. The fans are still going to come and watch. From a personal point of view, they were really good to me. They were shouting and roaring at me and encouraging me even when I was struggling a bit on the back nine there. It's great to see so many people out there. It's just a shame we got some of this inclement weather. That's links golf. That's what happens." Gareth Hanna Phil loves Portrush After carding his one under par 70, Phil Mickelson was full of love for Portrush. On the fans:"The people here are just so nice. They're very warm and receptive for everybody. I think they're very appreciative too that The Open has come back here. And we as players are very appreciative too because it's such a great golf course." On why Americans love Royal Portrush:"I just find that it's a very rewarding course if you hit good shots and a very penalising course. It seems to be consistent with the degree of how good or bad you hit it, as opposed to getting away with really bad shots and get lucky. It seems like it penalises it to the degree which it should." On his hole-out from the bunker:"That was a crazy one. It was really one of maybe two poor shots I hit, I felt - that bunker shot that buried in the lip, and then to make it, it was obviously a lot of luck. It was crazy. I was just trying to save bogey, and I got lucky and it went in." Today 08:57 AM Gareth Hanna Leader Olesen - familiar success on north coast Jacob Skov Olesen, the joint leader, is used to success on the north coast, having won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin last year. After his four under par 67 today, he spoke to the press. On his 'awful' form: "The way I was playing, I wouldn't say it was on the cards. I always feel like if I play my game that I can do well, especially around links courses, kind of shape it around with some good short game as well. But yeah, it hasn't been very good golf the last couple of months. I've been driving it well, but my approach game has been quite awful to say the least. "I wouldn't say suits links golf, but it's been good off the tee definitely suits. You can get it up quite far with the firm fairways compared to if you land it in the rough. Yeah, it's nice." On the toughest stretch: I'd say the start. As a lefty, the right-to-left wind isn't the nicest wind for me. I've been working on it. I thought I did fairly well on those holes. I felt like if I could make some pars on those right-to-left wind holes, that would be good, especially hole three with that front on the right as a lefty with the wind off the right, it's really hard to try and hit a high draw up, and it's hard to get it to really stop compared to if you can hold a little softer cut up into it.
