The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Perthshire courses gear up to host new Tartan Tour event
Blairgowrie Golf Club is ready to roll out the welcome mat for another high-profile tournament. The 2014 Junior Ryder Cup venue staged a successful PGA Championship over the summer and on September 28 and 29, the Rosemount and Lansdowne courses will host a Farmfoods Tartan Pro Tour event.
The inaugural Blairgowrie Perthshire Masters 2021 enjoys support from Perth-based Carbon Financial, a longstanding corporate partner with the Blairgowrie club.
The Perthshire event follows hard on the heels of this week’s St Andrews Classic, with Renaissance and Carnoustie rounding off the schedule next month.
Open winner and Ryder Cup veteran Paul Lawrie launched the tour last year to give young Scottish pros a chance to play tournament golf as the country emerged from lockdown.
A veteran of Brookline and Medinah, Lawrie took part in Carbon Financial’s Ryder Cup-themed webinar this week and confirmed his plans to compete at Blairgowrie with son Craig and nephew Sean.
“I feel it is important to play in these events, even if the youngsters are bombing it way past me,” he laughed.
With a new generation of professionals making an impact on the European and second-tier Challenge Tours, Lawrie is eager to enhance the pathway to the elite level.
He believes foundations spearheaded by himself and Stephen Gallacher, along with one set up in memory of Perth’s Barrie Douglas, are key to nurturing the next generation of Scottish talent.
Blairgowrie managing secretary and former Team Europe Junior Ryder Cup team captain Stuart Wilson admits hosting the Tartan Tour event is another feather in the Perthshire club’s cap.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the pros for the inaugural Blairgowrie Perthshire Masters and we are confident the competitors will find the championship courses prepared by our greens staff in excellent condition,” he said.
“There will be a 72-strong field for spectators to follow, including Paul and this year’s Women’s Amateur champion and Curtis Cup player Louise Duncan.
“It’s a great way to sign off what has been a busy season for the club.”
Lawrie welcomed the backing from Carbon Financial, who are longtime sponsors of European Tour pro Richie Ramsay.
“It’s great to have businesses supporting events on the Tartan Pro Tour and young pros need all the support we can give them,” he said.
“It’s not cheap on the Tours and it is a tough job,” he said.
“The Tartan Pro Tour offers opportunities for aspiring male and female golfers to compete and develop, playing at some of Scotland’s best venues.”