GMac: Castle Stuart Too Easy, Too One-Dimensional

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Shocking statements from the normally learned Graeme McDowell in justifying why he's skipping the prestigious Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart for the second year in a row.

Jim Black reports:

McDowell, speaking on the eve of the Irish Open at Carton House near Dublin, said: “The Scottish Open has lost its identity and its prestige. Castle Stuart probably has not been a strong enough golf course.

“Let’s see them get the Scottish Open on a phenomenal links golf course with a great purse and get a world-class field back.

“We need to be capitalising a little harder on the week before and after the Open.

“I feel bad singling out the Scottish Open, because I used to love it at Loch Lomond. It was a phenomenal tournament. Taking it to Castle Stuart was designed to get it on a links course the week before The Open and it’s a beautiful venue — but it is probably a little too wide open off the tee and a little one-dimensional.

“But Royal Aberdeen next year is a venue which attracts me. I’ve heard great things about it and it could re-light the event.”

McDowell finished T42 in his lone appearance at the too easy Castle Stuart, the year freak rains softened the course and reduced the tournament to 54-holes.

Phil Mickelson is returning for a third year to the Scottish Open and NBC is providing network coverage in the United States, a first for a European Tour event.

And needless to say, I didn't find the course one-dimensional last year when watching some of the best shotmaking and most interesting play I'd seen in a long time. Some photos from Saturday and Sunday.

Unfortunately, Royal Aberdeen is excessively narrow to offset modern distance and will be a bit too one-dimensional if not widened out. Oh wait, wide is bad GMac! I forgot.

Dodt On His Two Aces In One Euro Tour Round: "It's all luck."

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I've been searching for video of Andrew Dodt's two European Tour holes-in-one at the Nordea Masters, but no luck.

Here's a Golfweek item on the 1-in-67 million occurrence and thanks to reader Gene, Dodt's post round remarks.

Q: Can you tell us about the two holes in one…the feeling,the clubs and what you did off there?

A: We teed off on 10 and the 11th hole was the second hole of the day. I think it was 190 yards, not much wind and it was a perfect six iron for me. I saw a little draw in there and as soon as it came out I knew it was going to be close. We didn't quite see where it went, it could have been a little short or hit the flag and went somewhere else. It took a couple of seconds before we realized it went in. That was a pretty cool feeling, at that point. I made some birdies during the round and a couple of bogies but I was going the wrong way in terms to making the cut. We got to the 7th hole, which was our 16th and once again, perfect yardage, a little bit down breeze, a perfect little draw and straight at it and it fell in as well. To do it in one round, that's incredible.

Q: But you have done holes in one before?

A: Yeah, I've had two in tournaments and five in practice.

Q: Yesterday, you shot 77 I think, what was the feeling this morning? Was it a good feeling that you had or….

A: I felt pretty relaxed today. I knew I had to shoot a low score to make the weekend. After I got that pretty hot start and made a few birdies in between it was just good luck. I knew I had to make that putt on the last to make the round count to make it to the weekend.

Q: How much skill and how much luck is there to hit a hole in one.
(Laugh from Andrew)

A: Yeah, surely it's more luck than skill. Yes, you have to hit it in the right direction and use the right club but it's all luck.

Q: Did you realize that the putt on the last hole was to make the cut?

A: Yeah, I knew I'd be close and I said to my caddie, "Yes, I think we have to hole this putt." I read it perfectly and it went right in the middle.

Q: Did you think that if I got another hole in one I could make the cut?

A: I don't want to say no, because I actually did think would it be possible to do it again. And it didn't happen in the middle of the round and we got to the 7th (hole), it was pretty short, warm, downwind, 8 iron…and I still can't get my head around it.

Q: You obviously have figured out the secret, so could you tell us what it is?

A: I couldn't make a putt all day, so I started going at the flag and see if I could get them in that way. Yeah, so, incredible…

"The only thing the Spaniard has achieved in the last 24 hours was to make a sympathetic character out of Woods"

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Tom English with a super assessment of the Sergio Garcia mea culpa.

By the time he had finished his mea culpa you almost started to feel some pity for him. Woods is not only trouncing him on the golf course but he’s also trouncing him off it. Woods has the career that Garcia always wanted. At one time, many years ago now, these two looked like they were going to form the rivalry of 
the age but Garcia has been a profound disappointment on that score.

The only thing the Spaniard has achieved in the last 24 hours was to make a sympathetic character out of Woods – a hell of a feat beyond the ken of so many who are paid to do it, but now achieved, ironically, by the man who dislikes him more than most.

John Huggan reminds us that there are others who have made mistaken comments who still populate the airwaves.

An off-the-cuff comment regarding fried chicken -- while brainless almost beyond belief -- wasn't as damaging or hurtful as Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman saying Woods' nearest pursuers should "lynch him in a back alley." And, last time I looked, Ms. Tilghman was still on the air.

While Garcia is clearly guilty of crass stupidity, to condemn and categorize him solely on the basis of a single phrase uttered during an adrenaline-charged interview alongside his 2012 Ryder Cup teammates would be wrong. Just as no sensible assessment of a golfer's worth can be made after only one shot or one round or one tournament, the same criteria must surely apply to any assessment of a man's character.

And the Daily Mail's Derek Lawrenson suggests that Sergio's £5 million-a-year deal with
TaylorMade may be in jeopardy.  Even better is the photo that ran with it of Tim Finchem doing his best somber executive look.

Zach & Dustin WD From Korea Event Due To "Perceived Unrest"

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I suspect Zach Johnson and Dustin Johnson have read a few too many New York Times stories and decided the perceived unrest was too much, even with an appearance fee at stake for this week's lightly anticipated Ballantine's Championship in South Korea.

A statement from Ballantine's confirmed the WD's and the unusual reason given:

Ballantine’s is disappointed to announce that Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson have informed us they will no longer be attending the Ballantine’s Championship. They have reached this decision following perceived unrest on the Korean Peninsula and can no longer assure their commitment to this year’s event.

Ballantine’s can, however, confirm a list of world-class players attending the Ballantine’s Championship, including Louis Oosthuizen, YE Yang, Bae Sang Moon, Paul Lawrie, Thomas Björn, Thongchai Jaidee, Marcus Fraser and Paul Casey.

Ballantine’s and event organisers, The European Tour, would like to reiterate that the tournament is going ahead as planned with a full field of European, Asian and Korean PGA Tour members. Ballantine’s has been kept fully up to date on relevant issues and The European Tour has also been liaising with key decision makers, including the Foreign Office, who have not warned of any increased risk to those travelling to or within the country.

We are looking forward to hosting a number of the world’s leading players and some of Korea’s best golfing talent at the Ballantine’s Championship later this week.