Not what Sandy hoped but he can’t wait to tee it up atwinged Foot
It’s fair to say to that 2020 has gone in a direction that few of us anticipated, and Sandy Scott certainly falls into that category.
Thewalker Cup player expected to be in golf’s pro ranks by now, but the global lockdown caused by Covid-19 changed his plans.
Instead, he is back at college in Texas, and all his focus is now on preparing for an amateur spot in the US Open.
With no sectional qualifying for the tournament this year, the USGA created a category of exemptions for leading amateurs and the 21- year- old, ranked sixth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, secured one of those spots.
So the Nairn golfer will take his place alongside Scottish pros Bob Macintyre and Connor Syme in the field at Winged Foot in New York, starting on September 17.
“They announced in June that it would be an all- exempt field, with seven spots for amateurs, so I knew I would be close,” Scott told The Sunday Post.
“As time went on, and the chances of me playing in the US Amateur Championship improved, I wanted to come over and play my way in.
“When I found out after that event I had done it, I was absolutely delighted.
“I’m really looking forward to it. After a terribly tough year, this is a great boost for me.
“I have been watching the US Open for years, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. Having no fans there is certainly different, but I won’t let it affect how I see the event.
“There is no difference in the quality of players in the field and it’ll be great to be around them all week. But I’m still looking to play well.
“I like to think playing in this company will get me nervous, and that’s when I get the juices flowing, which tends to help my golf.”
Scott finished his undergraduate degree this summer at Texas Tech, but has returned for a fifth year of studies as he weighs up his options.
The goal of becoming a professional has not altered. But where he takes his first steps will be carefully considered over the next few months.
However, the long- term plan is to compete against the same faces he has played against on the college circuit, including some of the new stars of the PGA Tour.
“Col lin Morikawa,Vikt or Hovland and Matthew Wolff were all in college golf,” said Scott. “Hovland and Wolff were both at Oklahoma State – in the same conference as us – so I played against them a few times.
“The quality of college golf is very high, so seeing these guys performing on the main tour gives you belief.
“I played with Morikawa a couple of times and he was a professional athlete. To see him win the US PGA last month and doing so well is really inspiring.
“I graduated last semester, and I had wanted to turn pro and play in Europe this summer. But a lack of playing opportunities for that altered my plans.
“Now college has started again, and I can revisit that decision later as to where I go when I see how things are taking shape in the game.”
Lockdown did give Sandy the chance to spend a few months back home in Nairn, the longest period he has been home since he left for the States in 2016.
Playing with friends and family was a real treat – and he revealed that he’s not the only member of the family with a talent for the game.
“It was great to get out and play at home, especially after that period of 8-10 weeks of not being able to,” he admitted.
“It reminded me of playing when I was a kid.
“My younger brother, Calum, beat me a couple of times. He’s 16 and plays off plus three, so he certainly didn’t get any shots off me!
“He’s now in the process of deciding if he also wants to go down the college route with his golf.”