Barclays Scottish Open / European Tour / July 9-12, 2009

[alex_chung]

Just like to say thanks Yoda and Mrs Yoda for their company last night at dinner, it was good fun to catch up and chat.
After dinner I drove Yoda and Mrs Yoda back to Cameron House. Yoda then invited me in to meet none other than our Heros Brian Gay and Sir Kip Henley. So ended spending a couple of hours with Brian, SKip (new name for Kip as he is now a Knight (self appointed I may say) ), Yoda, Mrs Yoda and James (who was staying in the hotel and had played in the Pro Am. He also had a hole in one earlier that day so was everyone's best friend as he bought the drinks )
After last night I am now currently incubating the new 5th Accumulator that SKip taught me........ still not sure about Accumulator 5.5 though
So really kewl night and its not every day that you get to hang out with a 3 time PGA Tour Winner and walk past all these players that you see on TV every week.
Alex

[Daz]

You're a lucky man Alex. I followed Brian for a few holes yesterday I hadnt seen this thread so wasnt aware of the injury. He didnt miss the centre of the fairway with any drive that I saw. He was unlucky on 7 where his approach was all over the pin but ran through the back. I spotted Lynn but when I caught up at the 8th hole (Brians 17th) he had disappeared. Maybe just as well as I may have made him late for dinner talking G.O.L.F.

Brian missed the green and put his ball in the green side bunker on 8. With a very tight pin he played a great shot with what looked like a pause minor stroke with a vertical hinge, a tap in putt for an easy 3 and a birdie at 9 got him back under par.

The scottish weather certainly held up and it was sun screen weather for me. I even saw Yoda take the sleeves out of his rain jacket!

With a later start things should be warmer for Brian and he'll have more time to warm up. I certainly think he could go low.

Good luck to Graeme Storm as well who is from the same part of the country as me. Yodas magic must have rubbed off on him too.

[alex_chung]

You're a lucky man Alex. I followed Brian for a few holes yesterday I hadnt seen this thread so wasnt aware of the injury. He didnt miss the centre of the fairway with any drive that I saw. He was unlucky on 7 where his approach was all over the pin but ran through the back. I spotted Lynn but when I caught up at the 8th hole (Brians 17th) he had disappeared. Maybe just as well as I may have made him late for dinner talking G.O.L.F.

Brian missed the green and put his ball in the green side bunker on 8. With a very tight pin he played a great shot with what looked like a pause minor stroke with a vertical hinge, a tap in putt for an easy 3 and a birdie at 9 got him back under par.

The scottish weather certainly held up and it was sun screen weather for me. I even saw Yoda take the sleeves out of his rain jacket!

With a later start things should be warmer for Brian and he'll have more time to warm up. I certainly think he could go low.

Good luck to Graeme Storm as well who is from the same part of the country as me. Yodas magic must have rubbed off on him too.

Daz,

You going to be there all 4 days? I am heading down on Sunday and hopefully Yoda and Brian will be around then as well.
Let me know and we can catch up.
Alex

[GPStyles]

wow, good times!

[Yoda]

Yoda did say that Loch Lomond is a course that suits Brian's game.
Brian is off at 12.30 (I think tomorrow) so plenty of time for some more physio and rest.

Many thanks to Alex for last evening's chauffeured service to downtown Glasgow. We enjoyed his guided tour of the inner city and dinner at one of his favorite Italian eateries. He's now arranging some Carnoustie golf for us during this already memorable trip to Scotland.

P.S. Last night I asked Alex to do a quick demo of his address alignments for Brian. The Master's somewhat incredulous conclusion? "They're perfect!"

********************************

Here are more photos from Tuesday and Wednesday's BSO practice rounds. Sorry to be so slow getting them up. It just takes a lot of time to do the uploads, and that precious commodity has lately been in short supply. Enjoy!

#1 Oliver Wilson gets interviewed by the local media.

#2 Darren Clarke checks spin rates and launch angles on a variety of new toys.

[alex_chung]

Arranging Carnoustie as we speak. Will give Prestwick a call later on as well.
Alex

[12 piece bucket]

I have quite a number of photos taken Tuesday and Wednesday of tournament week. Here's a kickoff:

#1 Michael Walker, my friend and fellow instructor, with his student, European Tour player Mark Rowland. Mike is one of Europe's finest swing coaches, long a stalwart with Pete Cowan Golf in Manchester, England. Mike spent 2 1/2 days with me at Cuscowilla last October.

#2 Nick Faldo preparing to hit from the practice bunker. Nick is taking a break from his CBS broadcasting duties to compete here and prepare for The Open Championship at Turnberry next week.

#3 and #4 Brian Gay and Yoda at work.

#5 Graeme Storm, Pete Cowan, Lynn Blake and Michael Walker. Pete is Graeme's coach as well as about 25 percent of the last four European Walker Cup teams. He also teaches Henrik Stenson, winner of this year's The Player's Championship.

Man! Been outta town for a while . . . that pic of BG at follow-through-ish is BEAUTIFUL . . . beautiful right shoulder alignments . . . no wonder BG = 1BADMAN.

[purehitter]

I hope Brian gets his back worked out. I saw a video of his swing over there and it looks great. Cool threads as well. Enjoy your time in the UK Lynn and all the best to you both. Kick ass on the field.

[golfbulldog]

Brian adapting well to UK conditions - 36 holes...9 birdies so far...not a bad ratio!

Well positioned at -3!

another 9 birdies over he weekend and -12 on sunday evening will be great start to the Open warm up event...sorry, Scottish Open

[Yoda]

Brian adapting well to UK conditions - 36 holes...9 birdies so far...not a bad ratio!

Well positioned at -3!

another 9 birdies over he weekend and -12 on sunday evening will be great start to the Open warm up event...sorry, Scottish Open

Yesterday could have been real low. I think BG missed only one fairway (by about an inch) and then only because of a severe slope. From there he hit a pitching wedge to about eight feet. He didn't get that one down, and he also missed from about five feet at the last. Several other such golden opportunities got away, as did a couple inside ten feet after too-strong pitches from greenside rough. Such is golf.

Today is Moving Day . . .

Let's move!