THE YEAR IN GOLF
It has been the year of St George in European golf, with English victories around the globe from Januar y right through until December.
But, while it has been success after success for English golfers, Scotland remains without a win on the European Tour since Russell Knox’s triumph at the WGC event in China two years ago.
Graeme Storm kicked it all off with victory at the South African Open, when he edged out Rory McIlroy in a play-off.
And the 39- year- old admits there was a surprise Tartan connection to his success. He was wearing former Open champion Paul Lawrie’s new clothing line, Cardinal!
“I did not have a clothing contract in late 2016,” says Graeme. “I spoke to Paul and he wanted to get his clothing brand out there.
“In my first week wearing it, I won the tournament! Paul sent me a lot of nice messages and a lovely gift.
“He’s been very kind to me since by providing me with all the clothing and I’ve become a brand ambassador.
“They’ve used my picture with the South African Open trophy on many different adverts and on Twitter. It’s been quite an honour!”
However, Storm refuses to look negatively at the situation north of the border.
“There is an abundance of Scottish talent,” he states.
“My former coach, Ian Rae, has done really well in the amateur scene.
“You look at the players out on Tour. Scott Jamieson and Marc Wa r ren are both e x t reme l y talented. Bradley Neil has just got his Tour card and Connor Syme looks like one for the future.
“But it’s tough out there and you just need a break.
“Scottish Golf is doing well developing players, but in England there is a wider crop.
“These young players now are competitive and have done the ground work. That means that when they’re in the mix, they are ready to win as has been proven.”
England’s Tommy Fleetwood won the Race to Dubai, just pipping Justin Rose, and those two were part of a magnificent seven who won a combined 10 European Tour events.
Storm’s South African victory was the backbone of his best season on the European Tour for a decade, as he eventually finished 39th.
With nearly a quarter of the players in the top 60 at the Race to Dubai, it was only fitting that two Englishmen competed for the top prize.
“I got the ball rolling and then Tommy won the following week in Abu Dhabi which kickstarted his great year,” reflects the Hartlepool golfer.
“Then you throw in Justin and Tyrrell Hatton winning back- toback at the Dunhill Links at St Andrews and then the Italian Open.
“To have two Englishmen going head- to- head at the DP World Tour Championship was amazing.
“No- one could have envisaged that it would come down to the back nine on the Sunday, after Tommy had enjoyed such a big lead.
“But Justin almost snatched it from him over those last four tournaments. “I know Tommy quite well. “He has a good team behind him,
a good coach in Alan Thompson and he’s a nice lad to boot.
“I like the way he goes about his business and he seems to keep working harder and harder. I’d also put Tyrrell in that bracket, although they are obviously very different characters.
“There’s no reason why those two and Matt Fitzpatrick can’t continue this upward trend and they should all be in the mix for the Ryder Cup.”