Euro Championship buzz for Gleneagles
Golf fans flock to Perthshire for inaugural event
Golf fans from across Europe have descended on Perthshire this week for the inaugural European Golf Team Championships.
Part of the new multisports event being held in Glasgow and Berlin, the top sporting action began with practice rounds at Gleneagles on Tuesday ahead of the competitive action getting under way the following day.
Players from 15 countries have been competing for medals on behalf of their nations in the first-ever staging of the tournament.
Connor Syme, former Major winner Catriona Matthew, Lee Slattery and Dame Laura Davies are among some of the British golfers in action.
And they were joined by Georgia Hall, fresh from her triumph in the Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham last week.
Hall, who was excited about teeing-up at the PGA Centenary Course, opened up with a Pool A victory against Spain alongside Davies.
Women’s British Open winner Georgia Hall and Laura Davies of Great Britain stride off from the first tee at Gleneagles on Wednesday
“I’m extremely happy to going to change all my plans. play here this week. I’ve never “I am going to stick to the played here before,” she said tournaments I was going to before action got under way. play in anyway.
“I’m looking forward to “It’s going to be fun playing playing with Laura (Davies) with Laura. She’s a great and hopefully we can win. person.” That will make it two very good There will be individual weeks. competitions for men, women
“Just because I won the and also a mixed team event – British Open doesn’t mean I’m the latter being staged for the first time.
Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “The inaugural European Golf Team Championships is an exciting addition to the 2018 European Tour schedule, and we are looking forward to this unique event at the historic Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course.”
Great Britain fans at Gleneagles
Aileen Campbell MSP, the Scottish Government’s Sports Minister, said: “Scotland, the home of golf is no stranger to innovation when it comes to golf so it is fitting history will once again be made with men and women competing side by side in the European Golf Team Championships.
“Scotland is a proud advocate of equality, not just in sport but in society, and I’m delighted the Glasgow 2018 European Championships is playing its part to effect positive change.”
Tickets for the golf are available on the door through to Sunday, with children under 16 admitted free when accompanied by an adult.