“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.

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. 

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.

“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.

‘I don't know where everything stands’

“No,” he continued. “I mean, it's just one of those things with contracts and stuff. There's a lot of language and wording in contracts and everything, and, at this point, I don't know where everything stands.”

Conditions for Dunhill Links ‘helped somewhat’

“You try and tell yourself that, definitely,” he replied to being asked if it had just been a case of staying patient after being in a similar position two years ago and taking it right to the wire on that occasion.

“But, you know, it is not guaranteed to come and maybe the conditions and playing on courses I am very familiar with in those conditions helped me somewhat last week. You’ve just got to stick to the programme, so to speak, and be brave enough to take the opportunity when it comes.”

Jamieson’s sole success on the circuit came in the 2012 Nelson Mandela Championship in South Africa but, as he edges towards the 400 appearance mark, his career earnings stand at £6.7 million.

“Next year will be my 16th season - it’s a long time,” he said. “I suppose there’s probably not many that have been out here that long as lots come and go.

“It’s spectacular - but it’s flipping hard,” observed Laird, a four-time PGA Tour winner who, on his first DP World Tour appearance since the 2018 Genesis Scottish Open, is among a 14-strong Caledonian contingent that also includes KLM Open winner Connor Syme.

It was no surprise that Storm Floris forced the spectacular Donald Trump-owned course to be closed on Monday and, with the wind still blowing hard on Tuesday, Laird didn’t even tackle one of the holes in his first practice round.

Martin Laird catches a ball on the practice range prior to the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire | Ross Parker/Getty Images | Ross Parker/Getty Images

“Well, hopefully the Ryder Cup in Rome had a positive effect on him,” added the world No 1. “I've seen it go both ways. Sometimes people play Ryder Cups and they understand that maybe they're not quite good enough to be a part of what a Ryder Cup represents.

“But I think Bob, even though he didn't quite have his best game on Friday and was really fighting to find it, especially on the greens, he got a lot out of it. Two and a half points out of three. I think it helped him really grow as a golfer and give him the belief that he could perform with the very best.”

Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka are the others in automatic Ryder Cup spots heading into this week’s $9 million Rolex Series event.

European captain Luke Donald and his players, including Bob MacIntyre, pose with the Ryder Cup following their win in Rome in 2023 | Andrew Redington/Getty Images

No doubt earning him a handshake from the two Scots when they get to East Lothian, Brown landed a second DP World Tour win after signing off with a bogey-free 66 for a 22-under-total and a two-shot success over Smith, who finished runner-up for the second year in a row.

“The last two days I just kept thinking about him to try and take my mind off it. I suppose he was there with me and it made it a little bit easier,” said Brown of the inner turmoil he faced in the tournament.

In addition to a top prize worth £4315, Franssen also secured a spot in the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A, which is taking place this year at Schloss Roxburghe near Kelso.

“That’s a nice bonus,” he admitted. “I’ve played in that the past few years at Newmachar. It’s a great event and I am buzzing to be in it again.”

Having opened with rounds of 69 and 65 before adding his polished final-day effort, Franssen finished with a 14-under total as he won on this occasion from both Graeme Robertson and Chris Maclean.

“Yeah, it was a great win,” he said. “It was a tough week weather-wise, so I was ecstatic to pull through in the end.

Two injuries were ‘working against each other’

“I can’t take you through all of it as it is too painful to go back over, if I am being perfectly honest,” he admitted in reply to being asked how difficult things had actually got for him after making around 80 appearances on the DP World Tour and more than 170 on the Challenge Tour, which has now been rebranded as the Hotel Planner Tour.

 “I had an issue with my back and I got a poor diagnosis with that early on and I ended up injuring my leg as well, so I had two injuries working against each other over quite a period of time without realising how serious both were.

“Off the course, Gordon's influence, passion, and commitment to our club were critical to the construction of our new clubhouse after the old one was destroyed by a fire in 2021. He put together and chaired the project team that resulted in the amazing new building we have today.

“The club committee thought that these accomplishments and efforts should now be acknowledged as a token of appreciation and, so the decision to rename our iconic 16th hole was taken following a number of conversations and recommendations.

“It will now be known as 'Gordon Law', This has been included on our new tee sign and will be on our new scorecards.”

The 16th hole at Uphall will now be known simply as ‘Gordon Law’ 

Law was Uphall’s first professional, with his big shoes having been filled by Sam Craigon, who has been put in place by Craig Donnelly Golf.

Scot sits 52nd in FedEx Cup Standings

MacIntyre sits 52nd in the FedEx Cup Standings, having teed up in 12 events on the US circuit this year and recording two top-ten finishes. He tied for sixth in the WM Phoenix Open and ended up ninth in The Players Championship.

He talked during last week’s PGA of America major, though, about how he was feeling “behind” where he wants to be at this stage of the season and a disappointing weekend at Quail Hollow after being in the top ten at the halfway stage wasn’t what he was looking for either.

After being part of a winning team on his debut in the event in 2023, Bob MacIntyre is determined to be part of Europe’s Ryder Cup defence at Bethpage Black in September | Andrew Redington/Getty Images

There is still a long way to go in this season’s campaign, but this effort was a timely boost for the Dundonald Links-based player after making eight cuts in a row.

Top-20 finish for Graeme Robertson

As Charmasson survived a late wobble to hold on for a one-shot win, Hotel Planner Tour rookie Graeme Robertson closed with a 69 to finish joint-20th on ten under.

Calum Fyfe signed for a third straight 69 to end up on seven under, one ahead of Sam Locke, who had jumped close to the top ten after making an eagle at the tenth only to then follow that with a quadruple-bogey 7 at the 11th.

Charmasson’s title triumph came in just his fifth start on the circuit after securing promotion from the Pro Golf Tour last season. “I’m just proud,” said the 26-year-old. “Seeing my parents on the side of the 18th green, and all the work for the last ten years, it’s so fun that I can get to share this with them.

The Northern Irishman became the first player to win at Augusta National after running up four double bogeys while he also joined Nick Faldo (1990) and Tiger Woods (2005) in overturning a seven-shot deficit after 18 holes.

“I think it’s a different Rory. I think it’s an evolution of Rory,” he said in his role as a Golf Channel analyst. “There is mental resilience there that might not have been there. He’s got strategies, he digs deep, and he can win when he’s not right on it...he’s on a path to maybe win more.

“Now that he’s climbed Everest, does he lose a little bit? When you reach something you’ve desired so much, you kind of soften...but I don’t think so. I think he’s going to keep going.

“I’ve said if he’ll win one major, he’ll win three or four. I don’t think he’s done winning majors this year. He’s got some great chances to add to it – maybe a double, a triple, or maybe even a Grand Slam this year? How about that (laughing)?”

In terms of The Masters, McIlroy had tried everything you could think of to see if it would do the trick. In the end, it was a combination of some outstanding golf and being resilient that got the job done but, as he admitted, extraordinary achievements like this one don’t come easy.

“You have to be the eternal optimist in this game,” he added, having joined Seve Ballesteris, James Braid, Brooks Koepka, Byron Nelson, J.H Taylor and Peter Thomson on the five-major mark. You know, I've been saying it until I'm blue in the face. I truly believe I'm a better player now than I was ten years ago.

“You know, it's so hard to stay patient. It's so hard to keep coming back every year and trying your best and not being able to get it done. There were points on the back nine today, I thought, ‘have I let this slip again?’ But I responded with some clutch shots when I needed to, and really proud of myself for that.

“The commentators have been talking about the lefty from Scotland,” declared the buggy driver taking this correspondent on the journey from the Press Building at the Georgia venue down to the drop off area close to the first tee.

In truth, the RBC Canadian Open and Genesis Scottish Open champion looked very comfortable indeed over the opening few holes only to be punched in the guts by coming up just short with his approach at the seventh and walking off with a 6 after playing a nice bunker shot.

“This year I've been saying to people, my good is good. When I have been playing well, I feel like I have been competing at a high level. My consistency maybe has not been as high this year, but my good is good again.

“So I'm excited about that. I played a lot of golf here at Augusta National, so to come away with my equal best score is certainly an achievement for me.”

Rose, who did a brilliant job mentoring Bob MacIntyre on the opening two days in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, has topped the leaderboard after more rounds - nine - than anyone who has yet to win this event.

“Then it's tradition on Sunday at The Masters that past champions get to bring a guest to play. Last year it was one of my sisters and this year I think my mom is going to come play.

“And so I think that day is a good day for me to soak in being back at The Masters, enjoy the memories and have some fun with a family member or close friend and just enjoy the golf course, enjoy the day before the work week starts on Monday.

“As far as my favourite spot on property, I don't know if I really have (one). I think when you pull in the gates, I think that's the most special thing for me. When you pull in, it feels like we’re going into a different world and everything else just kind of melts away. I forget about a lot of stuff that's going on. I just kind of get really in tune to just try to play golf and get ready and prepare to play the golf course.”

North, who also landed two title triumphs in the US Open, talked up MacIntyre, who will be the sole Scot in the field on this occasion after having Lyle for company on both his previous appearances and Martin Laird, too, for the first one, as well on the same call.

“I don't see Bob being much of a different player today than he was maybe two years ago,” said the ESPN golf analyst. “I just think for the first time, he really believes that he can do it, and that's such a big part of it. I think deep down, he knows he can win. He knows that he can beat these guys. I don't think he knew that two or three years ago.”

“When you're in the midst of complex negotiations, particularly when you may be near a breakthrough, there are ebbs and flows in the discussion,” added Monahan. “The most important thing is the mutual respect that we've built over the last couple of years.

“We appreciate Yasir's innovative vision, and we can see a future where we welcome him on to our board and work together to move the global game forward.

“As part of our negotiations, we believe there's room to integrate important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform. We're doing everything that we can to bring the two sides together.

“My winter has looked slightly different to previous years,” Howie, who is managed by Paul Lawrie through his Five Star

Sports Agency, told The Scotsman. “I’ve spent more time in Peebles over the last five months than I have over the previous five years combined!

No-one is more determined to be a winner on the circuit than 29-year-old, who has a brilliant work ethic and will hopefully get the reward he deserves before too long.

It became apparent from the first time I met him around a decade ago, though, that Syme is also one of those individuals who is a credit to himself in particular but also his country for the way he handles everyday matters off the course through being a class act.

That, it has to be said, applies to Scottish golfers in general, but there has always been something about Syme that has made him one of the most likeable figures I’ve come across in the game and others, I’m sure, will probably know exactly what I am trying to share about him.

When his time does indeed come, there will be lots of people out there feeling that exact same joy as he did for Hill on Sunday.

“I feel like the atmosphere at Bethpage would be pretty similar to this, especially for me as a European. Lots of people

shouting at me,” said Detry with a smile of September’s clash in New York.

“I finished last season feeling really disappointed with how the regular season finished and to then not get my card at the Q-School was disappointing. But, at the same time, it kind of spurred me on to work hard over the past few weeks. Look, I am excited, to be honest, which sounds strange being back on the Challenge Tour.

“However, it’s an opportunity for me to try and improve and, fingers crossed, spend a bit more time in contention and just get a little bit better at competing again.

The 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open champion made the cut on the mark after opening with scores of 71-70 before climbing up the leaderboard with weekend efforts of 68 and 71.

“I play rubbish on that thicker grass,” he said of his performance at Royal Queensland the previous week. “I never really play well in South Africa and that was the same.

 “So it was nice to have a decent week in Melbourne. I was set on being done for the year after that one, but I am going to go to Mauritius now and I feel a little more positive now than I did last week.”

The way he is playing at the moment, that shouldn't be something that he should dread if it did, indeed, happen but it goes without saying, of course, that he'd prefer it didn't. Hence why he's travelled out to Incheon along with compatriots Richie Ramsay, Calum Hill and Scott Jamieson - they are all there for different reasons that we will get round to - for a $4 million event starting on Thursday at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea.

"I don't think you can switch off from it," admitted Law in our chat at The Belfry. "It's not possible and, if you try to switch off from it, you dilute yourself from the situation you are in. Sometimes you need to meet it head on. That's the mindset we are in."

As players took full advantage of benign conditions at all three courses, Kiwi Daniel Hillier, last year’s Betfred British Masters champion, posted a best-of-the-day nine-under 63 at St Andrews while Jon Rahm took pride of place at Carnoustie with a seven-under 65.

“I hit it well. Felt comfortable out there. But my putting was really good today,” declared the Spaniard, who is among 14 LIV Golf players in the field. “The amount of putts I made from 15 to 20 feet, it's more than the average for sure today – that's what it takes on a golf course like Carnoustie to post a score. Hopefully I can keep playing like this for the next few days.”

According to Dougie MacIntyre, Bob’s dad and the head greenkeeper at Glencruitten Golf Club in Oban, the greens at the Angus venue were “probably the best I’ve ever seen” and Rahm, on his return to the event after being an absentee since 2018, was also purring about them.

“So the last few days I’ve played at the Old Course, which gets a lot more traffic and, though the greens there are good, they are just not as good as these ones,” said the two-time major winner. “Coming here and seeing them roll at exactly the same pace, which is a great job, and they are brilliant – they are fantastic.

“It’s a joy to be out here playing golf today. I don’t think Carnoustie is ever going to get any more enjoyable weather-wise than today and with the setup.”

On a day when Mother Nature even seemed to give her approval to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Public Investment Fund chief Yasir Al Rumayyan playing together as talks continue to try and get the game’s best players back competing more again outside the majors, it was left to hugely successful businessman Johann Rupert to talk about how this week’s event is playing a part in that process.

“I think there has been a lot of misunderstandings about who did what and when,” said Rupert, the driving force behind the tournament. “But I have known Jay for a very long time and I have got to know his Excellency (Al-Rumayyan) as well and they both only have the best interests of golf at heart.

“I think if we keep on having days like today. Golf is supposed to be a maker of friends. Guy Kinnings (the DP World Tour CEO who watched the duo tee off along with his chairman Eric Nicoli) asked the one party if he wouldn’t mind playing with the other party and they both said ‘absolutely’.

“You know, we have a war going on in Ukraine and a terrible situation in the Middle East and another war going on in Sudan and then we argue about golf! Surely all we want to do is see the best players in the world playing together and the majority of them would like it.”