American Turnout For Wentworth, Or Lack Thereof

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From Doug Ferguson's notes column as the BMW Championship prepares to get underway at Wentworth. The World Top 50 plus past major winners are exempt. Only Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem and Ben Curtis are representing the Stars and Stripes.

Luke Donald wishes it would attract more Americans, though he understands the reasons not to play.

"You don't have to travel far to play in a $6 million event at a great course at Colonial," Donald said at Sawgrass. "But I've always been a proponent of to get the most out of your game, it's important to travel and to experience new places. I think at least go try it once, and if you don't like it, fair enough. But it's a big event on our tour. It's considered our Players Championship of the European Tour. And I would have thought that would incite some interest in some of the big Americans that would be exempt for it."

Seve's Son Can Play

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Nice scores for a law school student making his debut in a pro event...six spots higher than his late dad finished in the satellite event 38 years ago.

The 21-year-old Spanish amateur, who tied 14th in his first professional tournament at the same venue where his father started out in 1974, ended the Peugeot Alps de Barcelona tournament at Sant Cugat on 4-under, 12 strokes behind two-time European Tour champion Pablo Larrazabal.

“I come away satisfied and will gain a lot of confidence from playing here,” said the law student, who fired rounds of 65, 72 and 68.

“I like playing with the pros as I play better. It motivates me and helps me improve.

“My mother and father always supported me to play golf but both always told me that studies come first.

“With every day that passes I enjoy golf more, but I do not plan challenges or set goals. For now I enjoy, have fun.”

George O'Grady Caught In Revealing Photograph: First Time Seen Smiling...Ever?

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Now we know what makes the somber European Tour head perk up: really expensive rare hooch!

European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady received a special a bottle of Ballantine’s 40 Year Old from Chivas Brothers Chairman and CEO Christian Porta to mark the Tour’s 40th anniversary, which was celebrated earlier this month.

The presentation of the ultra-rare blend was made in Seoul, Korea prior to the start of the fifth anniversary edition of the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship, which takes place at Blackstone Golf Club this week.

Only 100 bottles of the 40 year old blend, which was launched in Korea earlier this year, will be made available annually, and O’Grady was presented with one in recognition of The European Tour’s milestone anniversary.

Imagine what he'll look like when he's actually had a wee nip?