"THIS is why the Euro tour is just cool."

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Reader Alex sent the latest Euro Tour viral video, which I had watched with amusement a few weeks and about 500,000 viewers (!?) ago.  Alex wrote, "THIS is why the Euro tour is just cool...somehow, I can't imagine Finchi and a couple of tour pros getting together for something like this."

I have to say, he has a point. Hard to imagine the PGA Tour filming a spot without a script that hasn't been vetted by the briefcase brigade.

Of course after watching it also begs the question, how many PGA Tour brats players would have the personality and disposition to spend all day filming such a spot?

Scottish Open Situation--Remains!?--Unsettled

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I thought we had this all worked out, links in 2011 and 2012, with Castle Stuart and The Renaissance Club taking over for Loch Lomond. Apparently not, reports Martin Dempster who says The Renaissance is out entirely through 2013.

The Scotsman understands it has been ruled out due to the fact it doesn't yet have a proper clubhouse, while the European Tour would also rather wait until three new holes in the pipeline there are not only built but also bedded in before hosting one of the biggest events on the circuit.

It had been suggested Castle Stuart could host next year's tournament before it then moved to The Renaissance Club for a spell, but a problem with that is the return of the Open Championship to Muirfield, its next door neighbour, in 2013.

Having two major events back-to-back in such close proximity is a situation both the European Tour and the R&A are believed to be keen to avoid.

As things stand, it appears Castle Stuart, which has earned rave reviews since opening its doors 18 months ago, is still the likely option for next year and, quite possibly, for another two years after that.

“That's still a work in progress with the PGA of America and the PGA Tour to try and secure an earlier date for the match."

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Nice spot by Mike Walker at golf.com who points out George O'Grady and Richard Hills' remarks about the next European Ryder Cup moving up to sometime in September, pending confirmation from the PGA Tour. Considering the PGA Tour hasn't announced at 2011 schedule yet, it would seem a bit premature to lock in 2014 when no TV deal has even been discussed yet.

European Ryder Cup director Richard Hills said that the date was still being negotiated with the PGA of America, but that the rain-soaked 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales, which took place in early October, was a factor in getting an earlier date.

“That's still a work in progress with the PGA of America and the PGA Tour to try and secure an earlier date for the match,” Hills said. “I think they all saw what happened, and the request is being listened to, but it is still a work-in-progress as TV schedules are agreed on that side of the pond.”

"The year 2010 will not be remembered for any particular playing accomplishment but rather for Dustin Johnson failing to realize he was sharing a bunker with dozens of spectators who had nowhere else to go on a depraved course that led mobs into hazards."

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I suspect that Frank Hannigan would just point us to his timelier-than-ever Golf Digest story after some of the rules-related groveling following Ian Poulter's unfortunate "lucky" coin incident Sunday.
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"The Middle East may have the money to stage golf tournaments right now, but it’s not rich with golf fans."

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Alistair Tait paints a bleak picture of the outside-the-ropes scene at the European Tour's Dubai finale.

Fridays and Saturdays constitute the weekend here in the Middle East, so we can expect more fans for the next two rounds. But I’m guessing not many more.

The land outside the fairway ropes of the Earth Course here at Jumeirah Estates explains why the crowd was so sparse.

The course is situated in the middle of a huge construction site. With one exception – no construction is taking place.

Half-finished villas line most fairways. Ugly, concrete monstrosities with scaffolding, pipe work and steel supports exposed to the world dot the landscape. Players this week use a temporary clubhouse because the one that was half-finished last year is still half-finished.

The place is an eyesore. Very little, if any, construction has taken place since last year’s tournament. Even those villas that are finished are lying empty.