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'No better feeling' - Matt Fitzpatrick spurred on by Ryder Cup-style chanting
By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
In-form Englishman up to third in world after landing RBC Heritage for a second time
In-form Matt Fitzpatrick said he was “spurred on” by Ryder Cup-style chanting in beating Scottie Scheffler to land a second PGA Tour win in three starts.
Fitzpatrick became a two-time RBC Heritage winner after making a birdie at the first extra hole in play-off with world No 1 Scheffler at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina.
The Signature Event win came hot on the heels of Fitzpatrick also landing the Valspar Championship while, in between, the Sheffield man finished in the top 20 in the Masters.
Having also finished second in the Players Championship last month, the hot run of form has lifted Fitzpatrick to third in the Official World Golf Ranking behind Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
As was the case in the Players Championship, fans chanted “USA, USA” as Fitzpatrick found himself battling it out with an American player and, on this occasion, it was the man at the top of the global rankings.
Asked if it had got out of line at any point, Fitzpatrick insisted it hadn’t. “No, it didn't get out of line in terms of no one was shouting on backswings or anything like that, which was great,” he said.
“I'm all for it. I love the people - they're supporting Scottie; that's great. You want golf to have an atmosphere in my opinion. I grew up watching football. I'm paid so much money to be out there in front of those crowds, having them chanting at you every week, it's a great feeling.
“However, there's no better feeling than coming out on top against that. There isn't a better feeling. To describe it in my terms, it's kind of winning away against your biggest rival.
‘It was loud but never crossed the line’
“Nothing to do with Scottie or the players; it's the fans that have sort of spurred me on there. It was nice to obviously win, but it never crossed the line. It was just loud.”
Fitzpatrick, who was sitting 79th in the world rankings this time last year, was asked if he felt as though he was the best golfer in the world right now.
“No, I don't,” he declared. “I feel like I can still improve. There's areas that I want to get better at. I feel like I'm playing very well right now and definitely high confidence for sure.
“The ball is obviously going where I intend it to go. It felt like my putter had let me down a little bit at Augusta. I didn't putt anything like I know I can. You never know what would have happened. This week, the first two rounds, even Saturday, putted fantastic, made everything I looked at. I just really felt comfortable.
Matt Fitzpatrick and Scottie Scheffler fought out a thrilling last-round duel before being involved in a sudden-death play-off in the PGA Tour’s latest Signature Event | Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
“I know there's still areas that I want to improve on. I know it's cliche, but I know there's things that can still improve in certain areas. So that's obviously exciting, given the results I've achieved so far and what's to come.”
On this sort of form, Fitzpatrick is a certainty for another Ryder Cup appearance at Adare Manor in Ireland next September and he’s braced for more “USA, USA” chants at PGA Tour events between now and then.
Insisting he’s happy for that to be the case, the former US Open champion said: “Americans are incredibly patriotic, and I think that was amazing. I guess the only issue is they just have shorter memories because we won in October (smiling).”
After a closing 73 - his worst round of the week - Bob MacIntyre finished joint-42nd in South Carolina and is now heading home for a break after playing three weeks in a row.
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New European Tour Group role for 'loyal' Colin Montgomerie
By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Scot joins board of directors and will sit alongside the likes of Martin Gilbert and Jay Monahan
Eight-time Race to Dubai winner and Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie has joined the board of the European Tour Group, which administers the DP World Tour, the HotelPlanner Tour, the Staysure Legends Tour and Ryder Cup in Europe.
The 62-year-old has been appointed on the back of being “one of the most successful and influential players of his generation” and is set to “bring immense experience of all aspects of the Tour and the game of golf to the boardroom”.
Montgomerie, who won 31 times on what was known as the European Tour at the time before being rebranded as the DP World Tour, is delighted to have joined a board that is headed by Eric Nicoli as the chairman and also includes Abdulla Al Naboodah, Penny Avis, Martha Brass, Martin Gilbert and Jay Monahan.
Record eight-time European No 1 Colin Montgomerie is a new board member of the European Tour Group | Contributed
“I am very much looking forward to joining the board of the European Tour Group and I consider it a great honour to be asked,” said the eight-time Ryder Cup player and winning captain at Celtic Manor in Wales in 2010;
“I pride myself in the fact that I was always one hundred per cent loyal to the tour in my playing days, and indeed I continue to be so. These are interesting times in professional golf and I hope I will be able to support, encourage and assist the Tour going forward in any way I can.”
A winner of more than 50 professional tournaments worldwide, Montgomerie was crowned as European No 1 an incredible seven times in a row between 1993 and 1999 before also lifting the Harry Vardon Trophy again in 2005.
On the back of four triumphs in a row, Rory McIlroy has now won the Race to Dubai title seven times and is bidding to equal Montgomerie’s record this year, though current leader Patrick Reed is doing his best to stop that from happening.
“I’m delighted to welcome Colin to our board of directors,” said Nicoli, who works closely with Guy Kinnings, Montgomerie’s long-time manager and now the European Tour Group’s CEO.
“His playing record speaks for itself and his knowledge of the game gleaned from almost 40 years as a professional is unparalleled. I know he will be an important asset for us as we continue to develop all aspects of the European Tour Group moving forward.”
Montgomerie’s first board meeting will be on Monday, when he will join fellow winning Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn in addition to former Tour colleagues Paul Eales, Chris Hanell, Grégory Havret, David Howell and Robert Lee as Tournament Committee Directors. He will replace Ove Sellberg, who will stand down through the board’s rotational system.
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Tiger Woods keen to play in Masters despite sore loss in his latest comeback
By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
15-time major winner is heading to Augusta but doesn’t know if it will be as a competitor
Tiger Woods is heading to Augusta National in a fortnight’s time - but the five-time winner has still to decide if he will be making the journey to tee up in the Masters.
The 50-year-old made his long-awaited return to golf after his latest back surgery on Tuesday night as he played for his team, Jupiter Links Golf Club, in the TGL final in Florida.
After the excitement of him being back swinging a club in a competitive environment, albeit at an indoor event, it turned into a disappointing night for Woods as Jupiter Links lost 9-2 to Los Angeles Golf Club after just ten holes.
Tiger Woods pictured in action during the 2024 Masters at Augusta National | Warren Little/Getty Images
The win meant that Los Angeles, represented by English duo Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose as well as American Sahith Theegala, won the title for a second time.
The question that everyone wanted to be answered afterwards was whether or not Woods will now be competing in the Masters, having made his last outing in a ‘real’ tournament in The Open at Royal Troon in 2024.
‘I’m going to be there either way’
“As I said, I’ve been trying,” he told reporters. “Just this body is - it doesn’t recover like it did when it was 24, 25. It doesn’t mean I’m not trying. I’ve been trying for a while.
“I’ve had a couple bad injuries here over the past years that I’ve had to fight through and it’s taken some time. But I keep trying. I want to play. I love the tournament. I’ve loved being there since I was 19 years old. It’s meant a lot to me and my family over the years.
“I’m going to be there either way with The Loop (his new nine-hole design at The Patch, which is Augusta’s municipal course) that's going up there, as well as the Champions Dinner.”
The 15-time major winner was asked when he thought he would make a decision about an event that will see Rory McIlroy defend the title after he joined Woods and four others by becoming a career grand slam winner 12 months ago.
“I don’t know, we’ll see how it goes,” he said. “I’ll be practicing, playing at home this week and keep trying to make progress.”
Woods had disc replacement surgery in October, which was believed to be the seventh time his back had undergone the surgeon’s knife.
He turned up the SoFi Centre in Palm Beach Gardens on Tuesday afternoon to get himself warmed up for the match against Los Angeles as Jupiter Links attempted to hit back after losing last week’s opener in the two-match final.
‘Feels fine physically’
“Feels fine physically,” insisted Woods afterwards. “It was just interesting the shots because usually you have more of a rhythm when you're actually playing a normal round of golf, hitting shots. Here it feels like I'm getting iced a bit at times.
“It's just a different rhythm. It's like when you play Ryder Cup or Presidents Cups and you play in foursomes. Some matches you just don't hit a putt for like 10-11 holes and all of a sudden you've got to make a three-footer. That's kind of what it feels like here.
“I had a couple drives I had to hit and then a couple putts. For me, it was different because I haven't really done this. I've been watching these guys do it. They make it look easy. I haven't done it in a while. It was a lot of fun, though, to be a part of it.”
He clocked 175mph with a couple of his ball speeds and insisted: “Yeah, there's definitely more (in the tank). I've never really struggled with ball speed. Ball direction is a different story. I've hit it left and right most of my life, hence my last name is Woods (laughing).
“Hey, I've always had speed. That's always been something that I've fortunately been gifted with. Even as I've gotten older and with the body not quite what it used to be, I can still get it up there.
“It's just that now everyone is living at that speed and higher. We were joking the other day that in '97 I averaged 296. That's like nothing now. I was No. 2 in driving distance behind [John] Daly. Guys are hitting that with 3 woods.”
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Bob MacIntyre's big boost as start of 2026 major campaign looms
By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Oban man has been steady rather than spectacular this year but his game looks in great shape
It's been more than a quarter of a century since Scotland produced a men's major winner - Paul Lawrie in The Open at Carnoustie in 1999 - and, you know what, it could well be another 25 years or so before we've got something really big to shout about again.
That's how difficult it is for anyone to land one of the game's biggest prizes and it is something that we should all remember as the 2026 major campaign looms on the horizon, with The Masters being followed on this occasion by a PGA Championship at Aronimink, the US Open visiting Shinnecock Hills and The Open being held at Royal Birkdale.
That said, there can be no denying that Scotland has a genuine contender at the moment when it comes to the events that really matter in the sport because Bob MacIntyre certainly has both the talent and potential to become a major champion.
It was absolutely huge for the Oban man when he came close to winning last year's US Open, having posted the clubhouse target in a gruelling final round at Oakmont before seeing J.J. Spaun produce a brilliant birdie-birdie finish to leave him having to settle for second spot.
MacIntyre then gave another good account of himself when finishing in the top ten in the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush the following month and has now recorded five top tens in what is still a relatively short career in the game's marquee tournaments.
He's also now had successive top-ten finishes in The Players Championship, having ended up ninth last year and then claiming solo fourth spot in the PGA Tour's flagship event at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida on Sunday.
Given that the 29-year-old had been joint-42nd and 12 shots off the lead at the halfway stage, it was a brilliant effort, having catapulted himself into contention by making nine birdies in a third-round 65 before being in with a definite chance of winning as the action unfolded on the back nine.
Make no mistake, the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course is an absolute brute and you actually have to see it with your own eyes - as I was lucky to do for the first time a couple of years ago - to know that, from start to finish, it just never lets up.
Standing in the middle of the fairway at the par-5 16th, MacIntyre knew that if he could find the green and make a birdie, he might well have emulated Sandy Lyle's superb success in the event back in 1987, when the two-time major winner beat Jeff Sluman in a play-off.
‘Worst lie I could possibly get all week’
Alas, he came off his second shot with a 7-wood and was unlucky to find an awful lie in the rough, leaving him with a perilous chip, having to dig one out and, having no control on it, seeing it run all the way across the giant green before dropping over the edge of the wooden sleepers and into the water.
"I got the worst lie that I could possibly get all week in a kind of little valley where the mowers couldn't get to and it was six, seven inches long," he later revealed, doing well to limit the damage to a bogey before signing off with two solid pars.
In the end, he finished three shots behind Cameron Young, admitting it felt a "sore one right now" but had also been a "good week" and, rightly so, feeling proud of himself that he "gave it a shot" and had still "played aggressive but smart" on the final two holes following his untimely setback.
It’s no surprise that lots of Scots are feeling excited about what lies ahead for MacIntyre this season, starting at Augusta National, where he tied for 12th on his debut in 2021 then gave another good account of himself by finishing in the top 25 again the following year before missing the cut last year on his return to that particular stage after a two-year absence.
Bob MacIntyre and caddie Mike Burrow talk tactics during the last round of The Players Championship | Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
In six events so far this year on the PGA Tour, he’s been steady rather spectacular but making cuts is a great habit when you are playing at the top level and his worst score in 16 rounds has been a 73 while 12 of those efforts have been in the 60s.
He talked on Sunday about how he feels he is “driving it beautifully” and “putting unbelievable” and, if he can keep it that way when he heads up Magnolia Lane in just under three weeks’ time, then, yes, he could be in with a chance as be bids to try and emulate Lyle once again.
If not, MacIntyre will move on to Aronimink, Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale knowing that he has the game to get himself in the major mix and that, more than anything, it’s about trying to stay patient and letting things happen rather than trying to force the issue.
Just think about Matt Fitzpatrick, for example, when he won the US Open at Brookline Country Club in Boston in 2022 and certainly don’t be surprised if he adds to that tally over the next few years because, although he was denied by Young at TPC Sawgrass, the Englishman is one of those players who thrives on big occasions.
‘Child’s play compared to Bethpage’
Though helped, of course, by the fact, they are TGL team-mates, it was very classy indeed to see Fitzpatrick masking his own disappointment to show genuine joy for Young on Sunday, when, over the past couple of holes, it felt more like a Ryder Cup as the fans starting singing “USA, USA!”
“Listen, that was literally child's play compared to Bethpage,” said a smiling Fitzpatrick, referring to the awful abuse aimed at the Europeans in last year’s Ryder Cup. “If they think that that was anything, then they need to reassess. Get yourself up to New York!”
It’s Ireland next, of course, for that event and, with Fitzpatrick, MacIntyre, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka, Justin Rose and Viktor Hovland all finishing in the top 15 on Sunday, then Luke Donald should be a contended European captain once again.
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Donald Trump's new course in Scotland to stage its first big professional event.
By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Staysure PGA Seniors Championship heading back to Aberdeen venue - but for different test
The New Course at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire is set to stage its first big professional event - a year after it was officially opened by US President Donald Trump.
The Staysure PGA Seniors Championship hosted by Colin Montgomerie will mark a significant milestone when it takes place at the Balmedie venue on 6-9 August.
The event has been played on what is now called the Old Course at the Trump-owned resort over the past three years. But, after it was opened during last year’s tournament, it is now being switched to the equally spectacular New Course.
The PGA Seniors Championship will be part of a 2026 global Legends Tour schedule, with Staysure having become the circuit’s new title sponsor.
Featuring the likes of Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Stephen Gallacher and David Drysdale, events will be staged across the UK and Ireland, Europe, America, the Caribbean and Asia.
The schedule also includes a second staging of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Gleneagles, where Darren Clarke triumphed in 2022.
Other highlights include a co-sanctioned PGA Tour Champions event in Portugal at the end of July that will see many global stars playing at the Els Club in Vilamoura.
“The Staysure Legends Tour represents the very best of the game’s experience and competitive spirit,” said Ryan Howsam, chairman of both Staysure and the Staysure Legends Tour.
Slot left open on DP World Tour
“Aligning Staysure with the tour allows us to support a global sporting platform built on trust, quality and long-term ambition. The strengthened schedule and new identity reflect the direction of travel and the opportunities ahead.”
A slot has been left open on the DP World Tour at the end of August, with an event at Trump International Golf Links expected to be announced in the near future.
It follows the success of the inaugural Nexo Championship last year, when Grant Forrest landed a home victory and was congratulated by Trump in a video call almost straight afterwards.
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PGA Scotland 2026 Yearbook
The PGA Scotland 2026 Tournament Yearbook is now available to view
2025 highlights & tournament results2026 tournament scheduleInformation about The PGAKeep up to date with latest Member storiesYou can view the Yearbook here
https://shorturl.at/faE6Z
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Qatar Masters: Will it be Doha delight again for one of 11 Scots as 2022 winner eyes repeat?
By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Scots chase more glory in 29th edition of DP World Tour event
It’s the event that sits alongside the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship when it comes to delivering the most Scottish success on the DP World Tour in the past 25 or so years.
Andrew Coltart started the ball rolling when he got his hands on the iconic Mother of Pearl Trophy in the inaugural edition of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in 1999 before Paul Lawrie triumphed the following year at Doha Golf Club then again in 2012.
Ewen Ferguson in action during the pro-am prior to the Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club | Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Ewen Ferguson landed another tartan triumph in 2022 and he’s excited to be back at the same venue for this week’s 29th edition as part of a bumper 11-strong Caledonian contingent. “Yeah, it would be cool to get my hands on that trophy again because it is something else,” admitted the 29-year-old.
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Results and Prize Breakdown from the American Express
The American Express
22 - 25 January, 2026ESPN+/Golf ChannelLa Quinta Country Club - La Quinta, CAPar72Yards7060PGA West (Nicklaus Tournament Course) - La Quinta, CAPar72Yards7147Pete Dye Stadium Course - La Quinta, CAPar72Yards7210Purse$9,200,000Previous WinnerSepp StrakaFinalPOS PLAYER SCORE R1 R2 R3 R4 TOT EARNINGS FEDEX PTS 1 
Scottie Scheffler-27 63 64 68 66 261 $1,656,000 500 T2 
Jason Day-23 63 71 67 64 265 $616,400 184 T2 Ryan Gerard-23 70 66 64 65 265 $616,400 184 T2 Andrew Putnam-23 72 60 65 68 265 $616,400 184 T2 Matt McCarty-23 63 66 68 68 265 $616,400 184 T6 Sam Stevens-22 64 67 68 67 266 $322,000 95 T6 
Si Woo Kim-22 63 65 66 72 266 $322,000 95 T8 Sahith Theegala-21 71 64 67 65 267 $250,700 75 T8 Russell Henley-21 65 66 69 67 267 $250,700 75 T8 
Haotong Li-21 68 67 64 68 267 $250,700 75 T8 Austin Smotherman-21 66 65 68 68 267 $250,700 75 T8 Tom Hoge-21 64 68 65 70 267 $250,700 75 T13 David Ford-20 67 66 70 65 268 $169,740 55 T13 Zach Bauchou-20 65 70 65 68 268 $169,740 55 T13 Patrick Cantlay-20 63 68 68 69 268 $169,740 55 T13 Jacob Bridgeman-20 64 66 69 69 268 $169,740 55 T13 Wyndham Clark-20 66 64 66 72 268 $169,740 55 T18 Will Zalatoris-19 65 70 70 64 269 $117,607 44 T18 S.H. Kim-19 63 66 74 66 269 $117,607 44 T18 Karl Vilips-19 67 65 70 67 269 $117,607 44 T18 Pierceson Coody-19 62 72 67 68 269 $117,607 44 T18