Where are our Scottish Champions?

Proud History; Great Courses; but where are the Modern Day Champions?

Another US Open and another strong showing from England’s Justin Rose & Danny Willett, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy & Graeme McDowell and a classy euro trio of Henrik Stenson, John Rahm and Francisco Molinari.

Not a Scottish golfer in sight!

Back in may at the USPGA the sole Scot Russell Knox missed the cut at Augusta National for The Masters former champion Sandy Lyle was left to carry the country’s fortunes on his talented but ageing shoulders.

We have spent far too long locked in this vicious circle where a lack of any superstar leaves the next generation wholly uninspired and falling playing numbers negatively impacts on our chances of unearthing genuine world class competitive performers

Those individuals ambitious and talented enough to secure a Tour Card over the last ten years have performed with limited success without being able to take that final step up on to The Major stage.

Governing bodies work hard to put coaching and development programmes in place and arrange numerous regional and national competitions to test the best.

However, without the individual’s fanatical will to win, obsession for hard work and ability to perform to their best under pressure very few will fulfil their potential.

In simple terms, we need to adopt all the special qualities that took Andy Murray and Chris Hoy to Olympic, Davis Cup, World Championship and Wimbledon glory and sprinkle liberally across all our best young golfers.

Simple!