Ex-First Minister Salmond: Trump's Odds Of Landing The Scottish Open "Lengthening"

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The former First Minister of Scotland was instrumental in pushing for investing in the Scottish Open and protecting its now important spot on the European Tour. While he's no longer in charge, Alex Salmond is still clued in to the proceedings.

So it's somewhat telling he's suggesting to The Scotsman Martin Dempster that the time separation from comments made by Donald Trump this summer, to the scolding he received, to now leading in polls, has not helped the chances of Trump International landing three of the next five Aberdeen Asset Management sponsored Scottish Opens.

“It’s not my decision, but I would have thought Mr Trump’s odds are lengthening as far as these matters are concerned,” he replied to being asked about the American hosting the tournament before adding, jokingly: “But he might become the president of the United States of America. He might say, ‘do it or else’!” His tone becoming serious once more, Salmond continued: “Look, let’s talk positively. There’s absolutely no doubt it’s an absolutely great golf course. But there are things to consider in the fullness of time, and I’m sure Aberdeen Asset and the Tour will be considering these matters. Obviously the PGA of America made a decision, a quite understandable decision. Politics is a rough, old trade, as Mr Trump will find out. Sometimes you can say things when you’re a television star, but not necessarily when you’re a politician.”

Earlier this year Trump suggested his Aberdeen area course would be getting the 2017, 2019 and 2020 Scottish Opens and there were indications an announcement was postponed at Gullane during this year's event.

The R&A downplayed Trump's comments as an issue for Turnberry's future Open Championship hopes.

As for Trump National Los Angeles' Grand Slam of Golf, the PGA of America tells me they are still working on a replacement venue and will let us know as soon as they have something. The event is six weeks away.

Pelley's First Move: No Euro Tour Sanctioning Of WGC Bridgestone

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New European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley is off and running at headquarters in a move somewhat expected but still refreshing to see in the swiftness of the decision/announcement: pulling European Tour sanctioning of the 2016 WGC Bridgestone because the Olympic-year edition conflicts with the Alstom Open de France (the French).

The event is one of the tour's oldest and most important, as it leads into The Open and is played at the 2018 Ryder Cup site, Le Golf National.

Here is the full release. From the text:

“The Alstom Open de France has been a staple on our Tour since 1972 and we are confident that next year’s event, with an increased prize fund alongside the current renovations to the golf course, will properly reflect the importance of the tournament alongside the 100th anniversary celebrations.”

The WGC Bridgestone moves to June 27-July 3rd in 2016 due to the Olympic Games in Rio's schedule-wreaking havoc.

It's A Wrap For O'Grady; Pelley Takes Over European Tour

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As Commissioner Elton takes over the European Tour and the press (so far) opts out of tributes to his predecessor George O’Grady, Golfweek's Alistair Tait has some thoughts for new ET lead man Keith Pelley.

Tait wishes he had a webcam to see Pelley run the board's first meeting where rumors say he took them through a singalong of Bennie and the Jets before moving into a solo rendition of Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters for those on conference call from New York, Tait also credits Pelley’s predecessors for holding the entire operation together.

That doesn’t suggest Tait feels status quo should be the order of the day.

Pelley could focus on the immediate threat of a continued talent drain to the PGA Tour. More and more young players – Danny Willett, Andy Sullivan and Tommy Fleetwood, for example – look certain to follow in the footsteps of older peers and eventually base themselves in the U.S.

Despite the $185 million schedule, there are too many long stretches of the Euro Tour calendar with low-purse tournaments. That’s fine for the lower end of the food chain, but the big beasts need stretches of big money events in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe to entice them stay at home for longer periods of time.
Pelley has hopefully taken a look at the accounts, and wondered why the European Tour only makes money in Ryder Cup years and runs a deficit every other year. That’s clearly not good enough.

On the heels of a successful event at Murcar and hosted by Paul Lawrie, Martin Dempster asks the new man to order up more match play.

Photos And Third Round Wrap: Scottish Open

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A nice steady breeze restored order at Gullane Saturday, as proper links conditions followed two days of relatively benign weather. The late gusts and showers didn't quite separate the leaderboard as much as hoped, leaving a final round shootout in order.

England's Daniel Brooks holds a one shot ead over Raphael Jacquelin and is two ahead of Rickie Fowler, Joost Luiten and Tommy Fleetwood, while Eddie Pepperell, Russell Knox and Matt Kuchar are well within range three back. 

A few images from the past couple of days here at Gullane, where all seem to be having a good time and the atmosphere surrounding the experience is excellent. Of course I write this just after having enjoyed a dessert pastry from the otherworldly Falko Limited, so all is right with the world...

Green Speeds And Pace Of Play, Gullane Edition

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Out watching Scottish Open opening day play, an odd thing happened: players routinely putted out 3-4 footers. The overall pace seemed brisk, but relaxed.

Case in point: the group of Fowler, Donaldson and Poulter were at the 17th green. Both Donaldson and Fowler hit mediocre first putts, leaving 3-4 footers for par. Both briefly marked their ball, repositioned for alignment, then putted out.

This is hardly unique in the annals of golf, particularly on links. Except that such putting-out rarely happens any more due to professional event green speeds consistently in the Stimpmeter 12-foot range.

The green speeds at Gullane for round one? According to the European Tour course setup "table": 10 feet, 3 inches.

The "time par" for day one threesomes at Gullane was 4:20. That's about what it took the faster twosomes to get around Chambers Bay this year.

According to the European Tour's charts of player pace for round one, groups played in the 4:28 to 4:48 pace, with the final two threesomes of the day taking a very respectable 4:48. And that's with a few long walks between greens and tees, along with enough breeze to make things interesting (and some rough too).

The moral of the story? Green speeds impact pace of play, not to mention what they do for maintenance cost and architectural integrity.

Photos: Day One Scottish Open At Gullane

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With little breeze, excellent turf and crisp (light sweater) weather at Gullane, opening day scoring in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open was excellent.

Thorbjorn Olesen opened with a 7-under-par 63 and leads a lost of players including a trio of Americans--Jimmy Walker (65), Rickie Fowler (66), Matt Kuchar (66)--along with a resurgent Graeme McDowell. I watched Fowler for a few holes and he looked particularly relaxed, as if the U.S. Open never happened (a short write up here at The Loop). Ewan Murray's Guardian game story also focused on the fine scoring by the Americans along with Olesen's hopes to qualify for The Open.

As hoped, the tournament setup at Gullane captured the essence of this special course and town. It never hurts to have an Archie Baird sighting either! He held court at his museum just off the pro shop, receiving a visit from European Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady while giving a few tours to impressionable lads who got their first lesson in golf and clubmaking history before heading out to find, who else, Rickie.

That, plus Nike's special Scottish/Open Championship logo and some scenes from a well-attended Thursday at Gullane: