Turn Left For Scotland

On the day that Phil Mickelson, nicknamed “Lefty”, announced his return to the Scottish Open a young 16 year old named Robert Macintyre won the Scottish Youth Championship at Lanark Golf Club. That was in May of this year and then just over a week ago the most successful left handed golfer ever triumphed in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. The only downside was during the acceptance speech, where an over exuberant First Minister Alex Salmond fought desperately to have his photo taken with the champion.

All this after trying to wrestle the trophy off the title sponsor’s CEO to hog the presentation and steal the limelight.

It took until 1963 for the first Golf Major to be won by a Lefty and that was the Kiwi Bob Charles. Only Mike Weir of Canada and Bubba Watson of the US have managed to match that achievement. And so it was no mean feat for Mickelson, the ever popular Californian to secure his long awaited first British tournament success by winning 2 trophies in a fortnight on the treacherous Links courses. He clearly loves Scotland, its soil and the relaxation that it offers to him and his family. If they could afford him I’m sure the Scottish Tourist Board would have signed him up already as his enthusiasm and gushing for the delights north of the border are clearly displayed.

The next Scottish host will be St. Andrews in 2015 and then in 2016 at Royal Troon on what will be the 145th Open Golf Championship. Surely worth an each way flutter now for Mr McMickelson? Scotland as a nation might have voted to breakaway from the UK by then and Alex Salmond might be King of the castle. So, if Lefty does win again let’s hope he can enjoy his victory rostrum independently!