Thru Two Rounds: Catching Up On The Scottish Open

Seems it was an interesting two days here at Castle Stuart, where the wind pushed the boundaries of sanity, prompting the European Tour to issue an apology for not setting the course up appropriately, reports Golfweek's Alex Miceli.

He also notes Phil Mickelson's Friday charge to make the cut and set himself up for a run this weekend. Mickelson is paired with Henrik Stenson for Saturday's third round. Alex Noren leads, with Danny Lee one back.

Golf Channel and NBC coverage times are here.

Ill be out watching some golf and chatting with Morning Drive's Damon Hack at 8:15 am ET.

Monty Questions Olympic, BMW Defectors

Alex Miceli reports on the comments by Colin Montgomerie as he prepares to defend his Senior PGA in Michigan.

On the Olympics:

“I think that, to take the opportunity is golden in every way,” Montgomerie said Wednesday, on the eve of his title defense at the Senior PGA Championship at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores in southwest Michigan. “What we did to try and get the Olympic, golf in the Olympics, I can’t understand why some people have said that it’s not for them. I really can’t.”

And this will please European Tour chief Pelley:

“I’m surprised that a number of top Europeans aren’t playing,” Montgomerie said. “Not many, if any, don’t compete at the TPC at Sawgrass (site of the recent Players Championship). And I really, for the life of me, I don’t understand why top Europeans – probable possible Ryder Cup players, whatever, this year especially – aren’t competing at Wentworth. I don’t understand that.”

Li's China Open Victory A Win For HSBC's Grassroots Support

While the Volvo China Open didn't sport the greatest field in the tour's history, a tip of the cap to HSBC for getting to see the first European Tour winner from its CGA-HSBC China Junior Program, the only sanctioned program for aspiring players in the country currently hostile to the game.

"Grow the game" has become a tired and obnoxious phrase wheeled out way too often in the name of trying to justify greed or pandering, but when the results are tangible like this, I say let 'em pat themselves on the back. Especially after Haotong Li contended at last fall's WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai and looks to be headed toward big things.
 
From Giles Morgan, HSBC's man in golf:

“Haotong Li’s win clearly demonstrates just how far golf in China has come over the last decade and what an exciting future the game has. It’s an incredible story of human ambition and shows exactly why HSBC supports golf and why our junior programs are so important to our sponsorships around the world. A win for any golfer in their home nation is inspiring but for this to happen in China for a 20 year old is really special.”
 
“For HSBC he is proudly one of our own. Haotong was first inspired into the game as a youngster by attending our tournament, HSBC Champions in Sheshan and now he has the potential to inspire a new generation. He graduated through the ranks of the CGA-HSBC Junior Golf Program, a development program we started nine years ago with the ambition of supporting future champions. Today we have realised that ambition. We saw glimpses of his potential at WGC-HSBC Champions last year and now he’s advanced into the winner’s circle and we’re delighted for him. For Li and golf in China this is only the start. The CGA-HSBC Junior Golf Program offers a proven pathway to the very top of the game and I’ve no doubt with this victory many more will be inspired to make that journey.”

As Will Gray notes at GolfChannel.com, with this win Li likely vaults into the top place for one of China's male Olympic golf exemptions.

Nice setup:

A star in the making 🌟 #VolvoChinaOpen

A video posted by European Tour (@europeantour) on May 1, 2016 at 10:30am PDT

Congratulations Haotong Li! The 20 year old won his first European Tour title in style thanks to an 8 under par final round 64 at the #VolvoChinaOpen. 🏆🇨🇳

A photo posted by European Tour (@europeantour) on May 1, 2016 at 1:43am PDT

Full highlights from his win:

European Tour Winning Battle Of The Bridgestone?

The news of Rory McIlroy choosing to play the European Tour's 100th French Open June 30-July 3rd instead of the WGC Bridgestone (where he's a former winner and where the European Tour will not be a co-sanctioner this year), allowed ESPN.com's Bob Harig to point out the ugly scheduling showdown between tours.

And based on McIlroy's decision, Harig says the PGA Tour's decision to hold its ground on the WGC date (or having the event at all this year) has backfired.

This WGC's traditional date is prior to the PGA, which wasn't going to work. So what to do?

Move it to a time on the schedule that clearly rankles a so-called partner in these events, the European Tour? Clearly the two sides discussed the situation, with the European Tour expressing its unwillingness to bend on its schedule. And the PGA Tour did it anyway?

McIlroy won't be the only top player to skip Akron. Henrik Stenson is also not going, meaning he will miss two WGCs this year. And defending champion Shane Lowry has a brutal decision to make as a European Tour member who dearly wants to be part of the Ryder Cup team but can't earn any points at the Bridgestone.

Video: A Rarely Seen Albatross, Scott Hend Edition

Soomin Lee leads the Shenzhen International but Scott Hend recorded a 2 on a par-5. And it was caught by cameras manned by real people!

The shot, and low-key reaction produced by the dearth of spectators and Hend's inability to see the ball go in the cup.

Albatross!! 😱 One of the shots of the year from Scott Hend! 💪

A video posted by European Tour (@europeantour) on Apr 22, 2016 at 7:43pm PDT

Video: France Would Be Really Good At Relay Golf

Here's another form of golf that would be more fun that 72 holes of stroke play in the Olympics. Ok, the cart part is a little strange, but we could work through that.

Judging by the scores, and this comment from Paul Lawrie (thanks reader Brian), this is the most fun the European Tour's finest had this week at Valderamma in the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation:

Update on 2016-04-16 14:40 by Geoff

**On the record breaking play...

Tournament host Sergio Garcia led a three-team, international challenge ahead of the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, as the Guinness World Records™ title for the ‘Fastest hole of golf by a team of four’ was broken in spectacular fashion.

The official attempt, which was held on the iconic par five fourth at the Andalucia venue, involved a trio of four-man teams from host country Spain, plus France and Denmark, vying to complete the hole – which played at 500 yards – in the fastest time possible as a relay.

Garcia led a Spanish squad featuring compatriots Rafa Cabrera Bello, Pablo Larrazábal and Nacho Elvira, while Thorbjørn Olesen captained a Danish team completed by Lucas Bjerregaard, Morten Ørum Madsen and Lasse Jensen. But it was the French team led by Raphaël Jacquelin and featuring Alexander Levy, Grégory Havret and Romain Wattel, which set the fastest time in a blistering 34.87 seconds to smash the target time for this Guinness World Records title – which had been set at 68 seconds.

Jacquelin said: “I mean, 34 seconds, that’s unbelievable! It’s the best feeling ever and very cool to have the Guinness World Records title and hopefully get in that famous book. It was a big drive from Romain and an incredible three iron from Alex and then the putts from Grégory and me were very fast too, so it was a big team effort and the whole thing was a lot of fun. We knew it was fast but not quite that fast!”

Tournament host Garcia, added: “It was very close and we gave it a very good go but France deserved the record – that was amazing. The whole experience was exciting and all of us had a great time competing against each other and the clock!”

Guinness World Records Official Adjudicator Anna Orford said:  “As the official adjudicator for Guinness World Records, I was able to witness the three teams from Spain, France and Denmark giving it their all to bring home the title, however Alex Levy's superb shot which landed perfectly on the green secured the French team their Guinness World Records title for the fastest hole of golf in a very impressive 34.87 seconds. An officially amazing record breaking moment!"