Scotland – The Golfing Mecca
Scotland is famous around the world for being the ‘Home of Golf’ with this year playing host to a number of marquee golf competitions across both Ladies and Gents Professional Golf.
Scottish Open 2018
It all teed off with the European Tours Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at Gullane Golf Club East Lothian. The star-studded event attracts the world’s top players the week before The Open Championship is played. It certainly didn’t disappoint with South African Brandon Stone blowing the field away with a stunning total of -20 under par and a 4 shot winning Margin.
The Open 2018
The following week the world’s elite moved 90 mins north from Gullane to Carnoustie Championship Links to participate in the 147th Open Championship. Italian Francesco Molinari came out on top as The Champion Golfer of the year to win his first major Championship. The Italian was paired with Tiger Woods for the final round and started the day 3 shots behind the lead. With a number of players occupying 1st place throughout the day, it was the Italian who held his nerve. With a solid bogey free round of 69 Molinari won by 2 shots over fellow Europeans Rose and McIlroy.
Ladies Scottish Open 2018
Only 2 weeks after the Gents, the Aberdeen Standard Investment Ladies Scottish Open took place at Gullane. This event, similar to the gents is played the week before The Ladies Open, which is a Major Championship. The event attracted a strong field of the world’s best female golfers from around the world. Ariya Jutanugarn ran out a one shot winner over a sun kissed Gullane Golf Club on Sunday afternoon with a sensational score of 13 under par for 4 rounds of golf. Our PGA Pro, Peter Mitchell from Fairways Scotland was also fortunate enough to play in the Pro Am with Georgia Hall. Georgia finished 21st but then the following week travelled south to Royal Lytham and triumphed for her first Major Championship. An incredible achievement!
Senior Open 2018
Whilst the ladies were playing some phenomenal golf at Gullane the Senior men were taking part in The Senior Open Championship at The Old Course, St Andrews. Scotland continued to attract the world’s best golfers; this time the world’s best of the gent’s Senior tours from around the world. With a star studded field of Major winners and former world number 1’s such as Colin Montgomerie, Tom Watson and Bernhard Langer to name a few, it was going to be an exceptional event at The ‘Home of Golf’. After 3 rounds of golf and an exceptional final round of 69, the popular Spaniard, Miguel Angel Jimenez won the Senior Open Championship by 1 shot over fellow European Bernhard Langer. Miguel’s 2nd Major Championship of the year and first Senior Open Championship win.
Scottish Senior Open 2018
September came and we saw golf return to East Lothian when the Staysure Tour hosted Scottish Senior Open at Craigielaw. It was the first time the club has held an event of that magnitude and it did not disappoint. Again, a strong field including past major winners contested the 3 rounds in some great weather. The winner coming from a home-grown Scotsman Gary Orr on a score of -4 under par.
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2018
At the end of September, as always sees the wonderful event that is The Dunhill Links Championship. Pro-Am format where Europe’s top Professionals team up with celebrities from the world of TV, movies and sport. The event always attracts great crowds and the players love playing in this fun event. The first 3 rounds are played over a rotation of Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and The Old Course, St Andrews. After a 54-hole cut the remaining players compete in a final 18 holes over The Old Course. Popular Dane Lucas Bjerregaard won by 1 shot over a tough chasing pair of Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrell Hatton. It was the Danes 2nd European Tour win. A fitting way to bring the curtain down for Professional Tournament Golf in Scotland in 2018.
Looking forward to 2019……
After the huge highs and exceptional golf played throughout the year golf returns in 2019 with many more top Professional Events. There is a new new venue for the Ladies and Men’s Aberdeen Investments Scottish Open, The Renaissance Club. But the true jewel in the crown has to be The 16th Solheim Cup being played at Gleneagles Resort in mid-September. The event sees Europe’s best lady golfers take on the best that the USA have to offer. If the Ryder Cup of 2014 is anything to go by, it will be an epic spectacle.
Solheim Cup Packages
If The Solheim Cup is something that takes your fancy then why not check out some of the Tour packages we have to offer that will allow you to enjoy the event in style. Hospitality Packages to the event are now also available.
Once again, we are looking forward to welcoming golfers from around the world to Scotland next year to experience golf where it all began. Also to the number of people travelling to attend The Solheim Cup – see you next year! 🙂