Archives for March 2011

Scotland is the Home of Golf, although that has been barely apparent in recent years when occasions to sound bagpipes to herald victories have occurred all too infrequently.

But after wins on both sides of the Atlantic for Scots Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird it is tempting to use the tired old London bus analogy about waiting for ages and then two come along at the same time.

Except, there was Scottish cheer a couple of weeks ago with Sandy Lyle's Seniors' Tour win in China as well - so this is now becoming a glut of golfing success to help make up for Andy Murray's loss of tennis form and the desertion of Sir Chris Hoy's golden touch on his bike.

It is wonderful to see Lawrie back in the winner's circle for the first time since 2002, but it is Laird's victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill that should capture most attention.

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Tiger Woods was all smiles as he signed for his closing 66 in the WGC Championship at Doral. It gave the former world number one his first top-10 finish of the year and had him nodding enthusiastically when asked whether he liked his chances for the Masters.

His fine round of golf included seven birdies, five of which were converted from inside six feet of the hole. So was this the round that told us that the 35-year-old American is at last back to his best and ready to challenge for the first major of the year?

Discount a 14-time major champion at your peril but it is just as likely that this six-under-par round will prove another false dawn.

Woods has had several impressive finishes recently. There was a 67 at the Barclays in August and a 68 in Boston the following week. Then there was a 68 in Shanghai at the final WGC event of 2010, followed seven days later by a 65 in the Australian Masters.

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