Scott who? You may well ask. Certainly Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo had never heard of him until his dreamlike week at Wentworth. Scott shot a fantastic eight under par 64 in the final round, for a two stroke winning margin over Argentinean Angel Cabrera and a world class star-studded field. With that, the man who ranked 435th in the world at the start of the week became the first player to win the Volvo PGA Championship on his debut since Arnold Palmer in 1975.
What a month for the Devon based Scott. He became a father for the first time only four weeks ago and his daughter Kiera was on hand to witness his win. He celebrated his 30th birthday on the Saturday of the tournament and to complete his dream month, his winner’s cheque of 419,778 pounds sterling was over 400,000 pounds more than any prize he had won before. Add to this a five-year exemption on the European Tour and automatic entry into the British Open and you have the golfing equivalent of winning the lottery.
Scott Drummond’s win at Wentworth is another example of the depth of talent in the world of tournament golf these days. The Europro Tour, the equivalent of the third division in tournament golf, held a tournament at the Quinta da Ria Golf Course for the second year running recently.
This tour is the training ground for young playing professionals to gain experience – in fact, Scott Drummond won on this Tour in May 2000 on his way to the very top.
Irishman Tim Rice won this year’s event in a play-off with Englishman Lee Slattery after both had tied on 12 under par, which represents very good golf around the more difficult Quinta de Cima course.
Wil V.J. catch Tiger’s tail?
With June and July providing the highlights of the golfing calendar with the US and British Open Championships, the questions are:
Can V. J. catch Tiger in the world rankings? Will Phil continue towards the Grand Slam? Will there be another Ben Curtis, or for that matter another Scott Drummond, exploding onto the world stage? All will be revealed.
Golfing TipS
By Eddie Charnock,
Teaching Pro
at Pinheiros Altos
Load the gun
Here’s a fail safe way to improve.
Making your back swing is like
loading a gun.
If the back swing is correct all that
is left to do is pull the trigger.
Any good back swing will consist
of a good shoulder turn around
and onto a resisting right leg
(opposite for left hander).
The better turn and the better the
resistance, the better loaded your swing will be at the top of the back swing.
The trigger in the down swing that releases this loaded power is the hips.
These snap to the target and then around the left leg, pulling the arms and hands
behind them. Load the back swing – fire from the hip.
Blue monster call
Finally, the Blue Monster Pro-Am at Pinheiros Altos will take place on June 22.
We would like to invite all professionals and amateurs to enter this tournament.
For more information please contact Christophe in the Pinheiros Altos golf office by telephone 289 359 947 or fax 289 394 392 Come along and find out why we call it the Blue Monster!
Until next month, happy golfing and happy Euro 2004, whichever team you support!
