Scotland's First Minister Got The Donald's Golf Course Approved, Then Asked For A Pretty Sleazy Favor

We're getting a better picture about the complex relationship between Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond--distinguished guest speaker at the Ryder Cup closing ceremony--and his former friend Donald Trump.

Magnus Gardham explains in the Scotland Herald that Salmond asked Trump "to back the Scottish Government's controversial decision to release the Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds."

Mr Trump, who is now in dispute with the Government over a proposed offshore wind farm within sight of his golf course, said he declined to put his name to the statement.

Labour said the approach suggested the First Minister believed he was owed a favour by the tycoon, although the Government insisted it was "perfectly entitled" to seek support.

The statement was drafted by Geoff Aberdein, then a special adviser and now the First Minister's chief of staff, in the days after Megrahi's release in August 2009.

The story goes on to quote the draft statement by Salmond's office that The Donald declined to put his name on. Salmond rivals are howling.

Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said: "Alex Salmond needs to tell the Scottish people why he thought it was appropriate to use his political and personal relationship with Donald Trump to gain support for such a controversial decision.

"It would appear the First Minister thought Mr Trump had a favour to return, even if the US tycoon didn't agree."

McGinley Quiet On Ryder Cup Captaincy: "It's best if I just step away now and let things evolve."

For a long time the presumed favorite and still so with the bookies, Paul McGinley is going to go silent on the topic even as various well-known, full-bodied individuals plot their way to the job.

From an unbylined BBC report:

"My caddie is a wily old Scot and he has a great saying: 'whatever's for you, won't pass you by', so I'll just stand back and wait until January."

Presidential Debate As Match Play

Thomas Friedman, well-known golf nut, in his Sunday New York Times column:

For weeks, Romney had performed so badly and had fallen so far behind in swing states that if this campaign were a Ryder Cup singles match, you’d have said the president felt he had the match in the bag with just a few holes left to play. So he did the worst thing you can do in match play golf: he started playing not to lose. He continued with an uninspired, vague and cautious campaign and just waited for Romney to keep hitting balls out of bounds. Romney, his back to the wall, had no choice but to start aggressively playing to win.

Trump's Wind Farm Vista And International Golf Links To Get Its "Best In Europe" Hotel

Alistair Munro quotes The Donald as saying it'll be the best of its kind, etc...and that his previous vows to not build until the offshore windfarm situation is settled won't stop his lawyers from having a good year.

The celebrity businessman also warned he was planning a “massive lawsuit” in relation to the wind farm – which he claims would ruin the view for golfers at his course, which saw a lavish opening ceremony in July.

Mr Trump, who flew in by private jet to Aberdeen Airport, said: “I’m ready to build a hotel. It will be the best hotel in Scotland and one of the best hotels in Europe. Everybody wants to be near our course.”

By the way, for those of you wondering why Trump International didn't land the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open either of the next two years, heavily supported by the First Minister of Scotland, it's possible that The Donald's charm may have played a role with repeated quotes like this.

He said: “This will end up looking like a poor man’s Disney Land. We want to do something to help Scotland.

“We will fight it. We have good lawyers. There is a really terrible thing going on and it’s all because Alex Salmond has a death wish for Scotland.”

I have to say that considering the views, the sense of having landed in a remote location and the lack of smog, my sense was that the wind farm would be visible from the course. And not a pretty sight.

Golf's Unsolved Mysteries Files: Why Does John Daly Keep Getting Sponsor Invites?

After his 63-86 in Las Vegas, the inevitable questions arose in the local papers that John Daly had given up during his round, prompting John Strege to solve a golf riddle right up there with why does anyone watch The Big Break?

Daly was nine shots better on Sunday, though a 77 is more fodder for the argument that he doesn't warrant the sponsor exemptions that continue unabated. The attraction is what, bad golf or bad behavior? He has finished in the top 10 only twice in the last seven years and has withdrawn from tournaments 12 times in the same period, while playing almost exclusively on the benevolence of sponsors.