Maude Aimee Leblanc just a shot off the lead.. Sunday at the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open..

 LPGA/LET Tours: Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open  leaderboard here

" I just feel comfortable out here" was they way Maude Aimee Leblanc described the week she's having at the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open on the spectacular Dundonald Links in Ayr.

With the final round under way in what the BBC describes as "sunny intervals with a moderate breeze" the big hitting Canadian is T3 67 69 66 -14 just a shot behind the leaders Lydia Ko and Celine Boutier both -15, and they will make up the final pairing..

Follow the scoring by clicking here

Pendrith and Finau putting a charge into the Rocket Mortgage..full Sunday leaderboard

 PGA Tour: Rocket Mortgage Classic leaderboard  here

Hall of Famer Lorne Rubenstein tweeted what we were all thinking "it was a pleasure watching Taylor Pendrith and Tony Finau play golf today"

Pendrith playing easy ."I'm just happy to be playing golf again pain free" after 4 months off, and Finau who finally broke through last week in Minnesota, riding his hot streak both are tied at -21 atop this Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.

They will be in the final pairing 4 shots clear of Cameron Young -17 who damn near won the Open Championship earlier this month in St Andrews

Taylor was leading after 54 holes in a gale in the Bahamas last October, before losing  his form in a final round 76 to finish T5. He will have learned from that experience today.

Both he and Finau are locked in virtual match play, both making birdies after they slip with an odd bogey, he made 4 birdies in his last 5 holes to catch and tie Finau on Saturday.

He leads the field in total birdies with 25 against just 4 bogey's and also leads the field in that all important strokes gained with 16.4 and putts per greens in regulation 1.512.

Adam Svensson is having a good week as well T9 at -12, Roger Sloan T40 -7 and Adam Hadwin T60 -5.

There will be those who will make those traditional Sunday runs, so it may not be not be either Pendrith of Finau who wins, but they way the two are playing it will be a pleasure to watch them again today.

Bryan Angus 

Maude Aimee Leblanc T8 at the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open... full leaderboard

 LPGA/LET Tours: Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open leaderboard  here 

With Brooke Henderson apparently sequestered somewhere in France or Scotland or even seeing the sights in London after she pulled out of the Women's Scottish Open sponsored by Trust Golf, her fellow Canadian Maude Aimee Leblanc has stepped into the spotlight and has handled the spectacular Dundonald Links course with its fabulous new clubhouse with aplomb.

Maude Aimee Leblanc courtesy Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

After 36 holes, rounds of  67 69 -8 with 10 birdies and just 2 bogey's she is T8, 6 shots behind Lydia Ko at -14.

Leblanc is long off the tee, her flat stick has needed improving so here are her numbers:

Fairways hit, 19/28, with an average of 266 yds,  Greens in reg., 29/36, Putts per round 28, and she has stayed out of the bunkers.

Heavy rain is expected overnight and light rain with a moderate breeze will hang around until noon on Saturday, but dry for the late wave although the greens should be softer.

A partly sunny Sunday with a gentle breeze is in store for Sunday..

Bryan Angus 

Roommates Crocker, Ferguson, big Friday's at Hero Open...Cockerill misses cut.. full scoreboard..

 DP World Tour : Hero Open full Leaderboard

Ewen Ferguson said it was "pretty cool" to emulate playing partner and recent house guest Sean Crocker after setting the new course record at Fairmont St Andrews with a spotless 61 on day two of the 2022 Hero Open.

The Scot fired 11 birdies in total, and six in a row from the 11th hole, on Friday to set the new mark before Wilco Nienaber made two eagles and seven birdies in the afternoon to tie Ferguson's record.

American Crocker, who at 15 under par leads the tournament heading into the weekend, had set the previous course record with his 63 on Thursday.

After the duo both missed the cut at last week's Cazoo Classic, Crocker stayed with Ferguson at his house over the weekend.

And being paired together on Thursday and Friday, they were there to witness each other's record-breaking rounds on the Scottish coast.

Ferguson said: "I missed the cut last week despite not playing badly but my head was down because I’d putted badly.

"Sean Crocker came to my house at the weekend to stay and me and him, my brother and a couple of friends had a night out and relaxed, really.

"Then I was drawn with him this week and I think that helped us chill out. He went out and shot a course record yesterday and I must admit I felt extra nerves playing with him today because of that and having a chance to beat it. 

"It is pretty cool."

Ferguson's fabulous form on the greens was key to Friday's score and he revealed he had coach Jamie Gough to thank for that.

He added: "I played incredible and putted a lot better than I have been. I’ve been working on that a lot with my dad and Goughie (Jamie Gough) to try and get the stroke right because the tempo was out.

"I still couldn’t get it then I woke up this morning feeling knackered and with not much hope because the scoring had been so low.

"But Goughie came up to me with a piece of string that he put on the ground and told me to start hitting putts. 

"I kept pulling it and he was telling me ‘you are aiming left’ and I could see the line on my putter was aiming left.

"So he got me to put my hands forward and, though I felt it was abnormal, he took a video and I could see it actually looked normal and I started banging them in.

"That gave me a bit of hope on the greens when I headed out and I holed a good one for par on the tenth then another good one for a birdie on the 11th. I could feel it suddenly."

Fellow home favourite Scott Jamieson added a second-round 64 to Thursday's 66, taking him into the weekend on 14 under and without a single bogey on his card.

He said: "I’ve been really good tee to green.

"Yesterday was a good start, would never turn my nose up at six under but it felt like I’d left a lot out there.

"Today was better, I took advantage of some chances. It’s that kind of course, if you’re playing well you will give yourself a lot of chances. You’ve got to stay patient."

Canada's Aaron Cockerill made a double to start with a pulled opening drive, and was 3 over through 5 holes, but 3 quick birdies had him out in E 36. With the cut projected at -6 he made 8 straight pars until he birdied the last for 71 and a -5 total to miss the cut

Bryan Angus (europeantour.com)

Taylor Pendrith ties for lead at the Rocket Mortgage Classic ... full scoreboard

 PGA Tour: Rocket Mortgage Classic LEADERBOARD

It's been a long and frustrating 4 months for Taylor Pendrith. 

After the finishing 13th at the Players Championship in March he felt discomfort in his side, only to find out he had broken a rib. Four months of rest and rehab, then a COVID scare later he returned to play this month with ties for 11th and 13th.

Out early yesterday in benign weather on a soft Detroit Golf Club he played his best round since returning with 9 birdies and a lone bogey at the last for -8 64 to take the lead along with Tony Finau, last week's winner in Minnesota.

It's the first time he's led after the opening round and not surprisingly he had this to say. "When I'm healthy I can compete with the best. I putted very well and drove it good. I played the par 5's very well and honestly the whole day was really clean. One bogey on 18, but did a lot of things right.

Honestly for me it's just really nice to be back playing healthy, it's been a long time off and I'm just happy to be playing golf again pain free"

Canadian  golf fans will remember him leading the Bermuda Championship in a gale last October before shooting 76 on that Sunday to finish 5th, his PGA Tour best.

Currently 237th in the world, he's on his way back up the standings.

The cut is projected at -4.

Canadian scores:

Adam Svensson T33 -3 69

Roger Sloan T53 -2 70

Adam Hadwin T53 -2 70

Nick Taylor T79 -1 71

Mac Hughes T132 +2 74

Michael Gligic T150 +5 77

Bryan Angus

DP World Tour at Fairmont St Andrews.. leaderboard including Aaron Cockerill

 DP World Tour : Hero Open Thursday leaderboard Leaderboard

Just 3 miles outside St Andrews, the Fairmont is a 5 star, luxury hotel on Scotland's "Golf Coast"

DP Tour members who are not at the PGA Tour event in Detroit are here at this relatively new links course adjacent to the hotel, playing the Hero Open.

Here's the europeantour.com report on Rd1

Sean Crocker produced two brilliant bursts of scoring as he fired a course-record 63 to lead by a single shot on the opening day of the 2022 Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews.

The 25-year-old American picked up six shots in five holes on the front nine after going birdie-birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie from the third.

And after dropping his only shot of the day at the tenth, he made four birdies in his next five holes to get to nine under par and stand alone at the top of the leaderboard.

After a day of low scoring, Frenchman Romain Langasque, English duo Ben Stow and Ashley Chesters, Swede Jens Dantorp and Spaniard Adrian Otaegui were in a tie for second on eight under, one ahead of the group containing home favourites David Law and Connor Syme.

Crocker opened his round with pars at the first and second before picking up back-to-back birdies from close range on the third and fourth.

He made it three in a row with a lengthy birdie putt from the fringe of the fifth green before firing an eagle at the sixth from 14 feet to jump to five under.

A birdie from nine feet followed on the seventh before Crocker carded his first bogey of the day at the tenth.

But he bounced back in style, reeling off birdies at the 11th and 12th to grab a share of the lead.

He sent his tee-shot into the thick rough at the 13th but escaped with a par there before holing from 17 feet on the 14th to take the outright lead.

A stunning up-and-down from an awkward spot in a bunker saw the American make another birdie at the 15th before three closing pars rounded off a brilliant 63, which is Crocker's lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour.

That milestone comes in the same season as a long run of missed cuts at the beginning of the year which Crocker described as one of the toughest things he has been through.

Since then, Crocker has enjoyed strong finishes at the Soudal Open and Barracuda Championship in recent months, and he admitted his experiences this year taught him a lot.

He said: "Nine missed cuts. Mentally that was the toughest thing I’ve gone through so far.

"People speak about the mental side of sport but that’s probably the darkest I’ve been in life on a golf course.

"It’s the first time I’ve had bad things happen to me on the golf course. And it’s just a case of having to grow up.

"Just said to myself, 'okay, you’ve been lucky to play good golf your whole life and now you’re going to get a taste of what this game is really like'."You just realise how hard this game is, and I realise that I can hit bad shots; I can do all the work and I can still hit bad shots.

"There’s no point in getting upset.

"Mentally it helped me out a lot. It showed me a lot of bad places on a golf course but it showed me, it opened my eyes to the game of golf."

Speaking about Thursday's opening round, Crocker said: "That was fun. I'll be honest, I don't get too many days like that on the greens.

"It's fun making putts, I'll definitely say that, because I'm not used to it as much as some of these guys."

Canadian Aaron Cockerill had a -4 68 playing in the late wave, so is out early on Friday morning.

Seven Canadians playing for FED Ex Cup points at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.. live scoreboard

 PGA Tour: Rocket Mortgage Classic leaderboard  here

The PGA Tour is closing in on it's season ending Fed Ex Cup playoffs, so that is very much on the mind of players who haven't secured their place in them.

The top 125 players in the Fed Ex Cup standings will qualify with the first event being staged at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis. The top 70 will move on to the BMW Championship with the top 30 then making it to the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta..

The winner this year pockets $18,000,000.....

Seven Canadians are in this week's field in Detroit at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Here they are with their current Fed Ex Cup standings. 

Taylor Pendrith (97),  Nick Taylor (121), Roger Sloan (166), Mac Hughes (44), Michael Gligic (132) Adam Svensson (89) and Adam Hadwin (49).

Bryan Angus 

Leblanc, Cockerill the Canadians golfing in Scotland this week.... live scoreboards

As I mentioned on Tuesday, Brooke Henderson quietly withdrew from this week's Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open on Dundonald Links in Ayrshire.

As is often the case no reason was given for those of you who have been asking me why, however earlier this year after her unusually poor play included 2 missed cuts she talked to us about how she hadn't been "feeling well" having missed her family for over a year due to COVID travel restrictions, among the reasons.

She talked about learning how important it was mentally as well as physically to take time away from the game when she felt it necessary. She had always been one of the LPGA Tour's most active players.

I'd think after all the hoopla surrounding her 2nd major win at the Evian Championship in France, she may have found it tough to get mentally invested in the Scottish with the Women's Open coming up next week across the country at Muirfield. 

However there are two Canadians playing in Scotland this week.

 

You can follow Maude Aimee Leblanc  here at the Scottish and Aaron Cockerill is playing the Hero Open at the Fairmont St Andrew's, a 5 Star luxury resort jus 2 miles outside the old town itself. He is currently ranked 60th in the DPWT rankings. Leaderboard

Bryan Angus 

Brooke Henderson has withdrawn from the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open

 I can confirm that Brooke Henderson has withdrawn this morning from the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open, days after winning the Evian Championship in France..No official word yet, nor for what reason..

Henderson's win in France sets up a great fortnight in Scotland.

With her Canadian record 12th win, 2nd major at last weekends Amundi Evian Championship in France, Brooke Henderson really has a run of tournaments that could further embellish her place in the LPGA history books.

Brooke Henderson 

From the French Alps around beautiful Lake Geneva, she has crossed the English Channel and made her way up to SW Scotland in Ayrshire where she begins a fortnight of links golf beginning at Dundonald Links for the Trust Golf  Women's Scottish Open, their national championship.

After a 2 year COVID  hiatus American Ryann O'Toole returns as the defending champion. A very strong field with 8 of the top 10 in play. 

Following that she travels across country to the south east coast for the AIG Women's Open being held for the first time at Muirfield.

After flying home to Smith''s Falls for 2 weeks of rest, recovery and practice the Ottawa Hunt Club will be packed for the CP Women's Open an hour away in Ottawa.

Four national championships, including 2 majors in a row, and she's already won one of them. 

After her opening 64's last week I had to admire the way Brooke overcame a really scrappy start to her final round with that bogey on her first and the double (4 putt) bogey at 6 wiped out her 2 shot lead.

Her birdies at 14 and 15 got her right back in it with a major credit to her sister/caddy Brittany who she said " was really key in that, reminding me to relax and just hit good shots, just hit fairways and greens, just keep it simple"

Best of all for the final coup degras, after a poor drive on 18, she ended up with a great wedge then the winning 10 footer which has filled her with confidence. 

The greens at Dundonald and Muirfield for that matter traditionally run slower than most parkland courses the LPGA plays on, around 10 on the stimp meter which I think will further assist Brooke.

WEATHER: After an unprecedented heat wave in Scotland that sent temperatures as high as 40*c there is a lot of rain in this week's forecast for Ayrshire, and a decent breeze 12-15mph on the weekend.

So the stage is set, we'll how the rain and wind and links affects the great run that Brooke is on. It really seems to be her time to shine...

Bryan Angus 

'Not as good as first 2 days, but still leading" Brooke Henderson.. Evian Championship leaderboard ..

 LPGA /LET Tours.. Amundi Evian Championship Saturday leaderboard here

This was Brooke Henderson's spin after her 3rd round -3 68 for a 2 shot lead heading into Sunday at -17

"It wasn't as good as the first two days, but, yeah, really hung in there. Made some clutch par saves on back nine, which felt nice,” said Henderson, who shot 64-64 in the first two rounds. “Not as many birdies on the card. Felt like the course is playing a little bit tougher for me today. Hopefully go out tomorrow and continue to ball strike pretty well and hopefully make some putts.”

Stephen Ames T3 AFTER 36 holes at the Senior Open at Gleneagles... full scoreboard..

 Senior Open: 2nd round leaderboard 

If you want to re mortgage your home and take a trip to my old home town of Perth, more specifically a few miles south to the 5 star Gleneagles Golf, Resort & Spa hotel.. it's well worth the while.. trust me I know..

James Braid and his pals from St Andrews and Edinburgh were roamin' in the gloamin' in these Perthshire rolling hills away back in the late 1800"s, and the golf at Gleneagles is the result today..

This week the world's best seniors are enjoying the big feather mattresses and room service all on their sponsors..

Rain and wind replacing the Spanish heatwave that has scorched Britain is expected on Sunday so the Saturday movers will be interesting.

Darren Clarke missed the cut at the Open and has been practising and leads at -8 65 67... I must say so many of my heroes know on the Senior Tour have spent a lot of their earnings on Barbeque...

Darren who has fought the flab all of his pro career has decided the Champions Tour is the place to let his enormous belly hang out

CANADIANS:

Stephen Ames made a mess of the 18th hole but with T3 64 71 -5 is well placed for the weekend

David Morland has also made the weekend,,,71 69 E

Bryan Angus

Henderson in top form, leads the Evian Championship after 36 holes.. full scoreboard

 LPGA /LET Tours: Amundi Evian Championship leaderboard here

After a couple of unusual missed cuts in western USA earlier this year, and the fact that due to COVID she was away from her parents, living out of her condo in Florida while they were at their home in Smiths Falls for nearly a year, Brooke Henderson recently took nearly a month away from the game, back home with her family.

Devout Christians, she seems to have found comfort and dare I say her confidence again, the old 48" driver a thing of the past and a renewed belief in her putter after a simple change to left hand low has her looking like the Brooke of old.

Driving it long and straight, stellar iron play and my goodness just 26 putts instead of 32 have her putting on a show at this Evian Championship with rounds of 64 64 only 128 shots at -14.

That is 3 shots clear of Nelly Korda 64 67 -11 and they will be in the final pairing on Saturday.

Brooke has made 14 birdies and an eagle with only 2 bogeys after 36 holes. 23/26 fairways as she continues to drive the lights out, 30/36 greens in regulation and an average of 27 putts so far.

It's often tough to follow a 64 with another low round but once again today she got off to a confidence building 2 straight birdies, and that settles any of us down, She also finished with 3 straight birdies in today's 64.

Maude Aimee Leblanc has missed the cut which falls at E with 75 71 +4.

Bryan Angus

Henderson has the clubhouse lead at Evian Championship... live scoreboard

 LPGA: Amundi Evian Championship leaderboard here

Beginning on the 10th tee with 2 straight birdies then 7 pars out in 34, Brooke Henderson then got hot, with 4 birdies in 5 holes before a lone bogey at the 8th and a brilliant closing eagle 3 at the par 5 9th, she had a great start to the Evian Championship early this morning with a -7 64 to take the clubhouse lead.

She hit 12/13 fairways, 14/18 greens in regulation and only 26 putts in one of her best rounds of the year.

The LPGA is at Lake Geneva in France for this major, before crossing the English Channel for the Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald links in Ayrshire, then heading for the east coast to play the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield.

Three of their most exciting venues of the year and the first time they have played historic Muirfield.

It was one of those rare days for Brooke "when all the putts fell in" and she got plenty of TV time if you were up watching early. 

Minjee Lee, from Australia is the defending champion, shot -1 70 on the day of low scoring. I had to go all the way down to 85th to find a score over par. 

The late wave is currently on course, so we'll see if Brooke's 64 stands up.

Maude Aimee Leblanc is in that wave at +1 through 12 holes..

More to follow...

Bryan Angus 

Henderson, Leblanc return to action at Evian Championship... tee times/scoreboard

 LPGA: Amundi Evian Championship tee times, leaderboard here

Brooke Henderson and Maude Aimee Leblanc have flown over to beautiful Lake Geneva in southeastern France at the Evian Resort Golf Club for the LPGA's 5th major this week. Tee times are local..

8.03am 10th tee  Brooke Henderson, Jessica Korda, Sei Young Kim

12.39pm 1st tee  Maude Aimee Leblanc, Ashleigh Buhai, Paula Reto

Bryan Angus

Sad day for golf.. Henrik Stenson removed as Ryder Cup captain

 Yesterday I was moved to tweet this on hearing that Henrik Stenson chose to turn his back on the ultimate honour of the captaincy of Europe's Ryder Cup team to take the money on offer from LIV. 

" The after glow of a simply enthralling @theOpen is barely gone, being replaced by more talk about heroes like Stenson and even Cam Smith leaving for LIV. All the divisive talk about money and greed attached to the game I love is simply sickening"

This morning after a Tuesday meeting with Henrik and the Ryder Cup committee this statement was issued as a result.

Ryder Cup Europe today confirms that Henrik Stenson’s tenure as Captain of Team Europe for the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy from September 25 – October 1, 2023, has been brought to an end with immediate effect.

In light of decisions made by Henrik in relation to his personal circumstances, it has become clear that he will not be able to fulfil certain contractual obligations to Ryder Cup Europe that he had committed to prior to his announcement as Captain on Tuesday March 15, 2022, and it is therefore not possible for him to continue in the role of Captain.

Confirmation of the new 2023 European Ryder Cup Captain will be made in due course. Ryder Cup Europe will be making no further comment on any aspect of the process until that time. 

I have, nor ever will be offered $1,000,000, or even for that matter $100 and apart from Stenson's published earnings, I have no idea of his financial plight or lack thereof.

However what I do have an idea of is honouring my word and despising greed. 

I also treasure the respect my colleagues, peers and supporters have bestowed upon me. 

All this, his respect, his standing in the community that has provided him with the highest praise, and enormous riches, have just been flushed down the toilet.

He and his family will be no more comfortable 20 years from now than they were yesterday, no happier.

When we get older we enjoy looking back on our life's accomplishments and I dare say everyone of us would hold the honour of being asked to captain our country's Ryder Cup team right near the top.

Henrik has sold that honour for a mess of pottage...

Bryan Angus

Aussie Cameron Smith 64 grabs the 150th Open Championship... Sunday final results

The Open Championship.. Sunday final scoreboard here.

I tweeted earlier the I "dreaded someone was going to shoot 59" on the Old Course in the weekend's benign weather, but as it turned out the fast and firm fairways and the ancient greens stood the test of time.

Even with the latest equipment and talent driving some of the revered par 4's included,   you've never seen so many guys having to make 80 foot lag putts after approaching with short irons in their hands.

Sunday with an overcast start turned out to be a 4 horse race by the final nine

Rory could have won it, but too many pars for -2 70 sees him finish T3. Victor Hovland just couldn't make enough birdies either, finishing T4 after his 74 . American Cameron Young did everything he could and certainly deserved it if he had won, finishing 2nd -19 with a terrific 65

In the end it was the other Cameron, Aussie Cameron Smith who simply went out after beginning the day 4 shots off the lead and made 5 straight birdies on the tough back nine for -6 30 coming home for a record tying Open score of -20 after posting -8 64.

He is the Championship Golfer of the Year"....67 64 73 64 268 -20 the winning score....

"He's is a triple threat, he drives it, he wedges it and he putts it" said Paul Azinger.

"This week my driver felt pretty good, and today all the putts were going in" said the media shy little Aussie, adding " This one's for Oz "(Australia) after being reminded the last Aussie to win was 28 years ago.

For me I didn't want this 150th Open to end, it was compelling theatre, every shot had an uncertain ending, from the pounding drives that ran on and on, many times into the famously named fairway bunkers, or onto the huge double greens with all their humps and hollows.

Throw in the romance of the old grey town, a cast of "villain's" from the LIV ranks, with apparently more to follow, it was a worthy chapter in the vaunted history of the Open..

Bryan Angus

PS. Corey Connors finished T28 -8 after a closing -5 67.

Connors in, Hughes out, Woods finished and the Camerons lead the Open... full scoreboard...

 The Open : Saturday leaderboard here.

Corey Connors shot -1 71 to qualify for the weekend T46 at -2, while Mac Hughes was also in, until he managed to bogey 4 of his last 5 holes for 75 to miss out as the cut fell at E.

Meanwhile as the stars lined up for this historic weekend at St Andrews,  Aussie good guy Cameron Smith made 5 birdies in 9 holes out in 31 for a sparkling -8 64 -13 to take a record low scoring 36 hole lead over American college guy Cameron Young  who has been rock solid with his own -9 63 for a -11 total. 

The two Cameron's are in the last pair at 3.55pm local.

Right behind them Rory was the story -4 68 -10, with Norway's finest, Victor Hovland -6 66 -10 just a shot ahead of Greedy Guts himself, Dustin Johnson -5 67 -9 and somewhere Greg Norman and his LIV cronies are smiling at the thought of their prize turncoat winning golf's most precious trophy.

It was another excruciatingly long 6 hour round in relatively benign conditions on a rock hard Old Course, where the ball was rolling to enormous lengths, 400 yard drives down breeze the norm.

World #1 Scottie Scheffler -4 68 and England's demonstrative Tyrrell Hatton -6 66 are both at -8. More great scoring from Aussie Adam Scott -7 65 who leads a pack at -7, while US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick stayed in contention at -6 with his own -6 66.

On the other hand defending champion Colin Morikawa missed the cut and of course Tiger was near the bottom of the 160 man field at 78 75 +9. He doffed his cap at the Swilikin bridge for a final time at St Andrews as the Scots rose as one to bid him farewell.

83 players will play for the Claret Jug this weekend. 

WEATHER: Saturday looks like a copy of today, no rain to take the fire out of the fairways, the breeze getting up a bit with the tide to 20 kmh for the late pairings, but as predicted another day for low scoring, with the R&A likely to tuck the pins to save the Old Course's blushes. 

Bryan Angus

Cockerill , Gligic in contention at the Barracuda Championship....Friday leaderboard

 PGA/DP World Tour: leaderboard here

While all eyes are on Scotland at the Open the others in the rank and file are away over in California playing in the Barracuda Championship under the Stableford format.

For an albatross you get 8 points, an eagle 5, a birdie 2, par 0, bogey -1, double bogey or worse -3.

Aaron Cockerill is one of 50 players from the DP World Tour who has qualified, and after the 1st round he's made the most of it with 12points T3.

What's more remarkable, starting on #10 he began at -3 after a double bogey. However he bounced right back with 2 birdies at 11,12 and another 2 at 17,18. Making the turn he got 5 more points with a long putt for eagle at the 2nd, and added birdies at 4,6 with just 1 bogey for his total of 12.

He is just a point behind leaders Mark Hubbard and Charlie Hoffman, both with 13 points.

Michael Gligic has continued his good form which has seen him with 2 top 10's. He is T6 with 11 points with an eagle and 4 birdies, 2 bogey's.

Taylor Pendrith T49 +5 points, Roger Sloan and David Hearn are T95 with +1 point.

Bryan Angus

The Cameron Clan join Rory atop the Open leaderboard... Friday scoreboard

 Open Championship: leaderboard here.

The Cameron Clan in Scotland is from the West Highlands in Lochabar, right across the county from the East lowlands and their main city of Edinburgh.

South of Edinburgh in East Lothian is Scotland's "Golf Coast' and across from the Kingdom of Fife you'll find the home of golf at the University town of St Andrews.

After an enthralling Thursday 2 Cameron's join Northern Ireland's superstar Rory McIlroy in the top 2 spots at this 150th Open Championship.

American Cameron Young after 2 wins on the Korn Ferry Tour had the round of his life -8 64 to grab the early lead as the sun set over the old grey town.

Rory had it all going with a sparkling -6 66 while Aussie sensation Cameron Smith -5 67 was joined by little known Englishman Robert Dinwiddie.

With the Old Course starved of rain the greens are hard and the fairways firm, and with a little wind to help she was not embarrassed.

The Canadians are not out of it, but hardly in contention.

Corey Connors T35  34 37 -1 71 and Mac Hughes T77 36 37 +1 73  

The bettors have set the projected cut at 144.4  which is E or +1

Bryan Angus

Jack Nicklaus made an honorary citizen of St Andrews

Jack Nicklaus paid an emotional tribute to the people of St Andrews after being made an honorary citizen in a special ceremony.

Photo: Andy Buchanan/AFP

The three-time Champion Golfer won two of his three Claret Jugs at the Old Course in 1970 and 1978 before playing his final major championship at the venue in 2005.

Now Nicklaus has become only the third American to be awarded the honorary citizenship of St Andrews, following in the footsteps of Bobby Jones in 1958 and Benjamin Franklin in 1759.

The honour for Nicklaus was conferred by the Royal Burgh of St. Andrews Community Council, which is the equivalent of the “Freedom of the City” honour given to Jones.

18-time major winner Nicklaus, who made his first appearance at St Andrews in 1964, received the honour at a public ceremony at the town’s Younger Hall on Tuesday.

Nicklaus said: “Let’s go back to 1959, my first visit to Scotland. I was a 19-year-old, I was an Ohio State University College student and made the US Walker Cup team.

“I came to Muirfield, home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, to play the matches and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit - it was one of the greatest experiences of my life, I loved it and it will stay in my memory forever.

“I then came back in 1962 as the US Open champion for my first Open Championship, not knowing much about seaside golf, to play at Troon and I didn’t fare so well.

“Arnold Palmer shot 276 and only nipped me by 29 shots, a very humbling experience. But I knew I really like seaside golf and I made a good run the next year at Lytham and came back the next year for my first experience at St Andrews.

“I had heard so much about St Andrews and how it had stood the test of time. How Bobby Jones once told me that a golfer’s resume is not complete until he has won at St Andrews.

“That always stuck in my mind. When I got to St Andrews I loved it from the start. How could this old, old course still be a challenge to the golfers of 1964?

“I then came back in 1966 to the first place I’d been in Scotland, Muirfield, a golf course that was theoretically not suited to my game - so I made my game suit the golf course.

“I used my head and I fortunately won. It was now 1970 and I was ready for St Andrews, I played well it looked like I was going to finish a disappointing second to Doug Sanders until he missed a short putt on the 72nd hole and allowed me to get into a play-off which I won.

“My golfing resume was now complete according to Mr Jones, I had won at St Andrews. I came back to St Andrews in 1978, I played well again and I won again.

“The people of St Andrews were unbelievable, they welcomed us with open arms, hanging from the rooftops as we finished. I’ll never forget that reception I received. It was unbelievable.

“I returned in 1984 and I was bestowed an honorary doctor of law degree from the University of St Andrews, a wonderful honour. You humbled me then just as you are humbling me today.

“It remains one of my proudest moments as a golfer and a person. There seemed to be a mutual admiration and love affair between the people of Scotland, St Andrews and me.

“All the experiences I had at St Andrews, and I was here on eight occasions to play The Open, have been something I will love and cherish forever - and so will my family.

“They were all here with me then and they are all here with me now. Thank you so much for this wonderful honour. To quote Bobby Jones, ‘I could take out of my life everything except my experiences at St Andrews and I’d still have a rich, full life’. I feel exactly the same.”

Before returning to the home of golf this week to receive the honour, Nicklaus had not been back to St Andrews since making his final competitive appearance at The Open in 2005.

The Golden Bear, who birdied the 18th hole of the Old Course during an emotional swansong to his career 17 years ago, also stopped by for The R&A Celebration of Champions on Monday.

He added: “I’m now 82 years old, 44 years removed from my last win, as Grantland Rice wrote they rarely remember as quickly as they forget so let me say thank you for remembering and not forgetting me and most importantly, thank you for allowing me to be what I always felt I was for so many decades - one of you. Thank you, St Andrews.”

In addition to Nicklaus’ honour, two-time Champion Golfer Lee Trevino, 1985 winner Sandy Lyle and 2009 Women’s Open champion Catriona Matthew also received honorary degrees from the University of St Andrews at the ceremony, recognising their outstanding service to golf.

Weather forecast for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews

 On Sunday, the temperature peaked at 29.3 degrees Celsius (84.7 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest recorded temperature in St Andrews ever in July, and one of the hottest days on record. The hot weather continued on Monday and Tuesday. As a result, the Old Course links that has had nearly a week with no rain is getting very firm. With very light rain, if any at all, currently predicted for just a few occasions on the week, the course could be set to stay that way.

Thursday 14 July

A dry and bright start. Cloud amounts tending to increase during the day but some sunny spells likely to continue. Much of the day dry though with a chance of showers during the afternoon.

High: 19°C (66°F) Low:12°C (54°F).
Winds: W or SW 7-10mph, picking up during the day to W or NW 10-15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

 

Friday 15 July

Perhaps bright at first before clouding over. A good deal of dry weather is expected through the day but with an increased chance of some rain at times (0-2 mm). Cloud breaking with a diminishing chance of rain during the evening.

High: 19°C (66°F).
Winds: W-SW 5-10 mph, varying in direction later.

 

Saturday 16 July

Most likely dry with a good deal of sunshine.

High: 21°C (70°F).
Winds: Winds picking up during the day to S-SE 8-12 mph, perhaps some gusts 15-20 mph during the afternoon.

 

Sunday 17 July

Showers possible but much of the day likely dry with warm sunny spells.

High: 24°C (75°F).
Winds: Winds from the S or SW and likely similar in strength to Saturday.

A photo of the a revetted bunker at The Old Course.