Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / GOLF
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Golf Contents:  Live scores | Results | Rules and Equipment | Get Involved | Skills

Friday, 13 July 2007, 13:51 GMT 14:51 UK

The missing links?

By Keir Murray
BBC Sport at Loch Lomond

Andres Romero plays an iron off the tee at the par 3 11th

At first glance, everything about Loch Lomond appears perfect; from its picture postcard location to the painstakingly manicured greens.

Even the weather, ever a factor during sporting events in Scotland, is favourable and the midge-eating machines are working wonders.

Mind you, quite how the greenkeepers dispose of bags of dead insects is another issue, for the sign at the municipal dump in nearby Balloch says "no fly-tipping". Ah, well...

Despite the obvious craving for perfection, some people are never pleased. Tiger Woods, for one. Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington are others.

The reason for the grumbling is that Loch Lomond isn't a links course and therefore doesn't afford the players ideal preparation for The Open, which is staged the week after the Scottish Open in the golfing calendar.

Donald, while praising the course and saying how much he enjoys playing it, wonders if he should continue to play at the Scottish Open if he is serious about improving his Open chances.

"If I don't have a good Open Championship, I might have to consider not playing this week just to try something different," he told reporters.

Phil Mickelson, who performed so well on the opening day, suggests otherwise. The American reckons players will have to use a number of similar shots at both Loch Lomond and Carnoustie, especially if the wind picks up in the next few days.

"Even though the ground is reacting differently than Carnoustie, the shots we have to hit are very similar this week to next," claimed Mickelson.

Despite rumours of a switch of venue, in April Barclays agreed a deal with the European Tour and Loch Lomond Gold Club to sponsor the event here until 2012, so there is no chance of the Scottish Open moving before then.

But who would bet against a change of course after that date? Lyle Anderson, the club chairman, also owns Loch Lomond's sister course, Dundonald, an Ayrshire links.

The Arizona-based business has been ploughing money into the links course, employing the talents of Kyle Phillips, who also designed the splendid Kingsbarns, south of St Andrews.

In five years' time, Dundonald, formerly known as Southern Gailes until it was acquired by Anderson in 2003, will have matured.

With investment in the infrastructure to match that on the course, Ayrshire could have another top-notch venue to rival Turnberry and Royal Troon.

Writing this in such an idyllic setting, such a move is hard to contemplate. In any case, there is no guarantee that all the major American players would play the Scottish Open, even if it were held on a links.

Woods often prefers to practise links golf rather than compete in the lead-up to The Open.

Maybe the suggestion made by Ernie Els offers the perfect solution - strike a balance by alternating the event between Dundonald and Loch Lomond.

That way, at least the poor midges would get a chance to recover their stocks.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Monty misses cut at Scottish Open (13 Jul 07 |  Golf )
Scots washed out (13 Jul 07 |  Golf )
Mickelson makes blistering start (12 Jul 07 |  Golf )
Putt-putting along at Loch Lomond (12 Jul 07 |  Golf )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Phil Mickelson
Loch Lomond
The Open Championship
Golf on the BBC
European Tour
PGA Tour
Golf tips
Latest golf discussions on 606
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Golf Contents:  Live scores | Results | Rules and Equipment | Get Involved | Skills

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©