An early in-flight medical emergency left three of Scotland’s top golfers grounded at East Midlands Airport in England while on route to this week’s BMW International Open in Munich.
Craig Lee, Scott Jamieson and David Drysdale were aboard an Easyjet direct flight earlier this week when a passenger took seriously ill shortly after take-off from Edinburgh.
The only doctor on board was fellow Scot Dr. Anne Dunbar who co-incidentally is employed by the European Tour and was bound to Munich where she’s working on site at this week’s Munchen Golf Club host venue.
The Easyjet flight touched down at East Midlands Airport, and some 370 kilometers from Edinburgh Airport, where an ambulance met the plane and transported the passenger to a nearby hospital.
Craig Lee aboard an Easyjet flight forced to land at East Midlands Airport due to a passenger emergency. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Craig Lee, who has just had three weeks off and working hard in his game at the Renaissance Club to the east of Edinburgh, said it all a surprise.
“Everyone was a bit surprised by it all but then when it was announced we had to touch down at East Midlands we understood it was an emergency and besides the flight was only delayed by no more than 90 minutes,” said Lee.
“It just meant arriving into Munich a little later than expected.”
After a best season in 2013 when Lee finished 59th on the Race to Dubai the 38-year old Stirling golfer has struggled the past 18 months ending 2014 107th on the money list while he arrived in Germany lying 103rd with a best effort this year of T3rd in the Tshwane Open but also missing the cut in seven of another dozen events.
“I’ve got a big run coming up as I’m not only playing this week along with the French Open and the Scottish but then I have a 36-hole Open qualifier at Glasgow Gailes next Monday ahead of the French,” Lee said.
“So if I qualify for The Open, and that of course is the big goal, it will mean adding St. Andrews to my schedule and will be very special as it will be my first Open Championship.
“But then I have been working hard on my game at the Renaissance along with hosting a two charity days at the club and a round with my mates so that’s been fun.
“However in coming here to Munich my Race to Dubai position is okay but I am not over impressed with my form so far as I’ve missed many cuts and the game is just not close enough.
“I’ve had just the one good event and that was the Tshwane Open in South Africa but then to put a handle on it, I would say that I haven’t practiced as hard as I should be and as a result everything has slipped a bit.
“In the past one part of my game may have dropped but of late it seems I’m struggling with all parts but then I’ve got these big events coming up and it would be nice to do well this week and take that form into coming weeks.”
Joining Lee, Jamieson and Drysdale is fellow Paul Lawrie, Scott Henry and Chris Doak.
