Senior Open Championship at Troon

Aug 1 2008

Tee-riffic at Troon

THE sun shone and record crowds totalling 38,000 soaked up the stars when the Senior Open Championship rolled into Royal Troon.

And American legend Tom Watson thrilled 116 youngsters by giving them a golf coaching clinic before the action teed off. The 58-year- old, winner of five Open Championships, hosted a session for young players aged nine to 14.

As well as meeting one of golf’s greatest champions, and picking up invaluable tips, the young golfers were given a tour of the famous Royal Troon links, as well as the tented village and media centre.

Sixty of the children invited are participating in Scottish golf’s junior golf programme, clubgolf, which recently announced spectacular figures for the numbers of youngsters it has introduced to the game this year.

In 2008, clubgolf has introduced 33,466 primary five children to the sport in school and South Ayrshire is well ahead of the game. Ninety six per cent of the area’s Primary 5s – 1,246 children – have been introduced to the programme this year through firstclubgolf.

One local youngster who was inspired by the Tom Watson experience was 13- year- old Stephen Maxwell, who is part of the clubgolf programme at Maybole.

He said: “It was great. I learnt how to handle the grip and hit the ball straighter. I hit the ball a lot further than I can normally.

“I only started playing golf this year but I’m really enjoying it. I’ve started playing every day, now I just want to get better.”

The clubgolf coaching area provided 250 short lessons for juniors. Project manager, Torquil McInroy said: “The Senior Open has made Scotland its home for a few years now, and I’m naturally delighted that clubgolf continues to work closely with this major event to promote junior golf in Scotland.

“clubgolf has seen spectacular growth over the past year, and I’m grateful to the European Tour for their support in helping to make that happen.”

lPrestwick’s Ross Drummond finished top Scot with rounds of 72, 76, 75 and 76 for a four round total of 299.

He finished 11 shots behind Americans Bruce Vaughan and John Cook. Vaughan took the title for the first time when he won at the first hole of a play-off.