Disappointing that no Scots will be teeing up at Augusta
is always an easy target in golf. Because we gave the game to the world, we should always be good at it. At least that’s how some people look at it, and, in fairness, they are right to a certain degree.
The Saltire should be flying proudly on the game’s biggest stages but, at the same time, it’s a lot different these days to when the likes of Old and Young Tom Morris, Willie Park, Jamie Anderson, Bob Ferguson and James Braid were the dominant forces.
Yes, of course, it is disappointing that there isn’t a Scot in the field for this week’s Masters - the first time that has happened at Augusta National since 1984 - with former winner Sandy Lyle having brought down the curtain on his career in the Georgia event 12 months ago after appearance No 42.
Over the years, two-time major winner Lyle had been joined in representing Scotland in the season’s opening major by Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Stephen Gallacher, Martin Laird, Russell Knox and, most recently, Bob Macintyre from the professional ranks and also Stephen Dundas, Gordon Sherry, Craig Watson and Bradley Neil as Amateur champions. Richie Ramsay, too, when he was the US Amateur champion.
Macintyre will be hurting like hell this week as he sits at home for the second year running as this event takes place, having instantly discovered why left-handers feel comfortable at this particular venue as he finished joint-12th on his debut in 2021 before making the top 25 again 12 months later. No-one needs to tell him that it’s a tournament he should really be playing in, having been unable to use last year’s Ryder Cup appearance as a springboard to break back into the world’s top 50.
As for the others currently flying the Saltire in the top level in the men’s game, Martin Laird is enjoying a bit of a rejuvenation but came up short in his bid to secure just a second Masters invitation since 2013, while Russell Knox is currently having to enter Monday qualifiers to try to get starts on the PGA Tour after losing his full card at the end of last season.
Ewen Ferguson, Grant Forrest, Connor Syme and Calum Hill have all made headway on the DP World Tour in recent years but the simple truth is they need to keep upping their games to give themselves a chance to compete on one of the greatest stages in sport and, take it from me, they all work their socks off to try to get better.
Sandy Scott, who shone on the US college circuit, still has bags of potential as he bids to start climbing the professional ladder after recovering from a nasty wrist injury while his younger brother, Calum, is also impressing after following him to Texas Tech.
Add in the like soft he graham brothers, Connor and Gregor, and the talent is definitely there, while both Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher are givscotland ing Scottish youngsters every possible opportunity to grow as golfers through their respective foundations. But it would be helpful for Scottish Golf in its attempt to do likewise if the game was supported better at government level and, let’s face it, you only need to look across the Irish Sea for evidence of how that can reap rewards.