Golf, by TourMiss

Alistair Tait is one of the most respected golf journalists covering The Open here at Muirfield. He’s also a very good friend but little did he know what he was letting himself in for when he attended the now annual – Callaway Meet The Player function at the nearby Renaissance Club. Twelve months ago Alistair was the ‘smash’ hit of the function when he thinned a shot from a greenside bunker clearing an adjoining tee, the practice putting green, tables and chairs in front of ...

Phil Mickelson heads to this week’s British Open in the best form possible ending a 20-year European winless drought with a playoff victory in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. Mickelson, and the highest world ranked player in the field, captured his 50th pro career, success after defeating South African Branden Grace with a birdie at the first extra play-off hole. Both players had ended regulation play tied at 17-under par with Grace posting a 69 and finding his ...

Gareth Maybin has put himself in superb position to capture maiden Tour victory and qualify for next week’s Open Championship with a sizzling 64 on day three of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. Maybin, ranked 414th in the world, moved into a share of seventh place on 13-under par and just three behind Sweden’s Henrik Stenson. Stenson carded a six under par 66 to move two clear of the field on 16-under par with five players, among them World No. 8 Phil Mickelson, ...

For the second time this week we’ve had the pleasure of playing a round of golf at Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club. The club is this celebrating its 125th anniversary as part of those celebrations a dozen members of the club played against a dozen members of the media covering this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. However this morning club secretary, Mike MacDonald kindly arranged for Steve Douglas, golf writer for Associated Press, and myself to again play the course. We ...

Adam Scott says he still has a score to settle with the Open despite making brilliant ammends in becoming the first Australian to win the Masters. Scott arrived at Muirfield late on Thursday and played a first full practice round on Friday using John ‘Ronnie’ Roberts and the caddy to Brett Rumford, and winner earlier this year of the back-to-back Ballantine’s Championship and Volvo China Open. It’s the second occasion in three years Scott has drawn on Roberts as the Bournemouth-born ...

Four-time Major winning Ernie Els confessed just a week prior to his Open Championship defence that if it were not for golf he would be selling hot dogs on a South African beach. Els returns to Muirfield early next week to defend his Open Championship at Muirfield and where he first claimed golf’s oldest Major when the tournament was last staged in 2002 on the course to the east of Edinburgh. The 43-year old South African will not only be looking to capture a third (British) Open but become the ...

Padraig Harrington returns to Muirfield next week and venue for this year’s British Open on a course that continues to be the ‘gold standard’ of performance for the triple Major Champion. Eleven years ago, Harrington braved the now infamous Saturday afternoon storm to head into the final round six shots behind eventual champion and now good friend, Ernie Els. But after a thrilling 67 Harrington was left ‘devastated’ to have missed the four-man play-off by a single shot. Harrington’s ...