Latest news

Lawrie Claims Johnnie Walker Championship Title
Lawrie Rises to the Top at The Johnnie Walker Championship
Mark Foster and Richard Finch jointly share the lead on 8-under, after the end of day two
Borsheim and Rumford share the lead at the Johnnie Walker Championship
Last chance saloon at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
Stage Set for an Enthralling Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
Spotlight turns to the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
Scott Jamieson day a big hit with competition winners at Gleneagles
Gleneagles Scottish PGA Champion Graham Fox books his place at the Johnnie Walker Championship
Anticipation Builds Ahead of Ryder Cup Showdown at the Johnnie Walker Championship
Johnnie Walker Championship Hole In One Weekend
Thomas Björn Relishing Johnnie Walker Championship Defence
DIAGEO NAMED OFFICIAL PARTNER OF 2014 RYDER CUP
Bjorn takes Johnnie Walker Championship title after five-man play-off
Behind the scene

Lawrie Claims Johnnie Walker Championship Title
26 August, 2012

Paul Lawrie won his second title of the season with victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The 43-year-old Scot celebrated his Ryder Cup return with a four-stroke win over Australian Brett Rumford. Lawrie, who won in Qatar in February, led overnight and shot 68 for his eighth European Tour title.

“It feels pretty good to be fair,” said Lawrie.

Lawrie led Frenchman Romain Wattel by a stroke going into the final round and produced a consummate display of ball-striking and mental discipline to seal his third professional win on home soil.

“Probably one of the best ball striking weeks in my career. This course is obviously very good and the course played quite long and I’ve hit the ball a bit longer this week,” he said.

Lawrie, who won the Open at Carnoustie in 1999, has rediscovered his passion for the game after slumping to 346th in the world back in 2005. Earlier this week, the Aberdonian secured his return to the Ryder Cup for the first time since his debut in the infamous Brookline event in 1999.

“It’s difficult to rank wins, but obviously this is huge for me. My goal, once I got on The Ryder Cup team was to finish Top-5 in The Race To Dubai and obviously in front of my home crowd was very satisfying.”

Rumford carded 68, while Wattel took 72 to end 11 under with Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber.

Lawrie's Ryder Cup team-mate Francesco Molinari of Italy was in a group on 10 under alongside previous European captain Colin Montgomerie and fellow Scots Richie Ramsay and Stephen Gallacher.

Monty was please with his resurgence of form, “I was losing heart a wee bit,” said Monty. “So I can still win out here and that’s all I want to do, just win once, you’ll never see me again” Monty joked.

A visibly tired, Nicolas Colsaerts needed a top-two finish to pip Martin Kaymer for the final Ryder Cup spot but ended 19th and will have to rely on a wildcard.
“It’s just been exhausting, just the last two months. You know, it’s just every week.” Colsaerts said. “If I had a couple of good breaks a round, I think I would have been in the last couple of groups and playing for the title.”

European Ryder Cup skipper Jose Maria Olazabal will name his two captain's picks at 12:00 BST on Monday, with England's Ian Poulter and big-hitting Belgian Colsaerts considered the leading contenders.

Lawrie Rises to the Top at The Johnnie Walker Championship
25 August, 2012

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie holds the overnight lead at Gleneagles after day three of The Johnnie Walker Championship.

The former Open Champion shot a five under 67, to go with his 68 and 69 and has gone one shot clear of second placed Romain Wattel on 12-under. In a round that included seven birdies, Lawrie is looking to take his second Tour victory of the season after winning in Qatar back in February.

“I played very good again and hit the ball very solid” said Lawrie. “ I gave myself a lot of chances and the only poor shot I hit was second shot on 9 off the fairway but apart from that, I hit the ball really solid, and putted well, 5‑under, so a good day.”

Lawrie was thankful of the home support.

“The support has been good all week to be fair; unusual, for me, maybe, but it's nice to see them all. And with Monty and Stephen Gallacher having good scores today they have seen some good golf by the Scottish boys” said Lawrie.

Monty shot a 3-under, 69 to finish tied seventh whilst Stephen Gallacher went round `sence felt.

England's Gary Boyd had made the cut with nothing to spare at level par, but finished the day alongside Maarten Lafeber and Brett Rumford on 8-under with a 64 containing two eagles and four birdies.

The first of the eagles came when he pitched in at the 350-yard 11th and he added another on the 513-yard last, the hole re-designed by Jack Nicklaus with the 2014 Ryder Cup in mind.

Defending Champion Thomas Bjorn grabbed birdies at four of the first seven holes and eventually finished on seven under. Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts was pushed down to joint 13th. He needs a top two finish to claim a Ryder Cup debut by pushing Martin Kaymer out of the final automatic qualifying spot but a wild card pick is looking more likely.

“I have some fly fishing set up Monday morning to think about something else” said Colsaerts.

Bjorn has already been named as one of Jose Maria Olazabal's four assistant captains, but hopes a successful defence of the title might bring him into consideration for a wild card.

Joint overnight leader, Mark Foster, who lost a play-off last year after taking a bogey six on the final hole, finished day 3 on 5-under with a disappointing 75, at five under Foster joins a group of five in tied 17th.

Knut Borsheim who shared the lead with Foster after day two, shot a 69 to finish on 7-under.

Mark Foster and Richard Finch jointly share the lead on 8-under, after the end of day two at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
24 August, 2012

Foster, who hasn’t tasted victory on Tour since his first win at the 2003 Dunhill Championship in South Africa, shot another 4-under 68 on Friday to go 8-under overall in search of his second Tour victory.

After two excellent rounds of golf, when asked what was responsible for his good scoring, Foster said, “Consistency, hit the ball well and kept the ball in play. Holed a few putts, but not as many as I would like.”

Finch had one of the rounds of the day, 67, which included seven birdies, to join Foster at the top of the leaderboard.

“Yeah, delighted. A couple of fives to start the day wasn't really what I was hoping for to be honest but after that, the next 16, I was delighted with; so to shoot 67 was definitely good. We had a few downpours, and I had a couple of 3‑putts and I got that the first couple of holes” Finch said.

“All in all, it's nice and looking forward to playing, out first tomorrow, good fun, and it should be a good weekend.”

Scotland's Ryder Cup star Paul Lawrie and Australia's Brett Rumford are the next best clubhouse scores on 7-under. Lawrie, who returns to the Ryder Cup next month for the first time in 13 years, shot 69 and Rumford 70.

"The Ryder Cup is still in the back of my mind but these last couple of days I have been able to just stand up and pick my target and not worry too much about the Ryder Cup," Lawrie said.

Rumford who held the joint overnight lead with Norweigan, Knut Borsheim, just couldn’t quite find his lines on a day that saw testing conditions over The PGA Centenary Course. “It was a really, really close to being a very, very good round, and hit a lot of good putts, but just nothing would drop, couldn't quite get the lines today, simple as that” said Rumford.

Two players lie just a shot further back on 6-under, Gregory Bourdy and Paul Waring.

Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who needs a top two finish to earn a Ryder Cup debut and push Martin Kaymer out of an automatic spot, was among the later starters. He finished on a 5-under, 70, leaving him in a tie for seventh following his first round 69.

“I didn't feel as loose as I did yesterday. I got a couple of bad breaks early on and it was just on and off. But I finished in very good fashion,” said Colsaerts.

European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will have the weekend off to consider his two 'wildcard' picks, which he makes on Monday, after a 69 left him 3-over - the wrong side of the cut.

“I’m going to keep an eye on a few things, a few players obviously, Yeah it’s going to be interesting to see what happens at the weekend,” said Olazabal.

Former British Open champion Darren Clarke also finished on 3-over after a par-72.

The Northern Irishman, who played alongside Olazabal, returned to the tournament after a four-year absence. He has not broken 70 in 10 rounds on the Gleneagles course.

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Borsheim and Rumford share the lead at the Johnnie Walker Championship
23 August, 2012

Day one at the Johnnie Walker Championship and two unfamiliar names share the lead of a tightly packed leaderboard. Norweigan, Knut Borsheim, and Australian, Brett Rumford, who were playing in the same group, both fired 5 under 67’s on a pleasant day at Gleneagles.

Australia's Brett Rumford

Borsheim, who turned professional in 2010 is still seeking his first European Tour win and the 25 year-old got off to a good start with an early birdie on the par 5 second. Four more birdies were to follow with the final one coming on the 18th, a hole that has been considerably remodelled ahead of Gleneagles, that plays host to the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Borsheim seems to be a fan of the course, “It suits me pretty well, fairly long carry on my ball, and I can take advantage of the par fives. Today, I played solid, solid golf. It could of been better, could have been worse but a really solid round of golf and that’s nice and gives me confidence for the next” said Borsheim.

Not to be outdone, Rumford also sank his birdie putt on the 18th to match Borsheim and the Australian, who is 10 years his senior, is looking for his first Tour win since 2007 at the European Masters.

“It was a nice, steady day and the course was set up reasonably difficult,” said Rumford, who admits he has been going through a difficult patch of form. “Yeah, it’s been really annoying. It takes time to get back there and you have to work really hard at this game” he said.

Early pace setter, Thorbjorn Olesen, who held the lead for most of the day, had his first tour win in Sicily in April and showed his recent form hasn’t deserted him over The PGA Centenary Course, lying just one behind on 4 under.

“It's been a lot of good weeks and I think I learned a lot from The Open and the PGA, also. It's nice to make the Championship,” said Olesen who is tied with England’s, Mark Foster and two players who will be taking on the Americans in the Ryder Cup in just over a month’s time, Paul Lawrie and Francesco Molinari.

“It's been a good stretch and I've definitely learned a lot,” Olesen said.

Olsen’s compatriot and defending Champion, Thomas Björn, kicked off with a 70, while Nicolas Colsaerts, who is playing in an event where a top two finish will give him a Ryder Cup debut next month, came back from an early bogey with five birdies in seven holes around the turn to finish on a three under 69.

Colsaerts was happy with his days work, “Exactly the day I wanted - something not very stressful,” said Colsaerts. “A bit of a shaky start and then I found my rhythm again, made a couple birdies in a row and then was in control of my ball, which is what I wanted in these conditions.”

Another Scot who will also be happy with his day’s work is Richie Ramsay who joins Colsaerts on 3 under.

England's David Lynn, runner-up in the USPGA Championship a fortnight ago and with an outside chance of being one of José María Olazábal European Ryder Cup wild card picks on Monday, shot a one under 71.

Tomorrow sees the continuation, for the second successive year in a row, of ‘£5 Friday’. The Championship organisers have set the Friday ticket price to just £5. Once again Gleneagles will donate all the revenue from on-the-day ticket sales to ClubGolf – Scotland’s junior golf development programme.

Tickets are available at the course and at www.europeantourtickets.com. Parking is free. For full details on the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles visit www.johnniewalkerchampionship.com; for further details on The Gleneagles Hotel, visit www.gleneagles.com.

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Last chance saloon at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
22 August, 2012

As the 156 players tee-up in the £1.4million Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles tomorrow, stakes are high with plenty to play for over The PGA Centenary Course. As well as the 1.4 million prize fund, with the winner receiving a cheque for £233,330, there is also the small matter of the final three spots for the 2012 European Ryder Cup team.

Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts speaks to the media at The Johnnie Walker Championship on Wednesday

Newly announced European Ryder Cup Vice-Captain and reigning Champion of The Johnnie Walker Championship, Thomas Björn, is hoping he can use Gleneagles to recreate some of the form he showed just a year ago. “I've got things I want to achieve in this game and it might as well start this week. You have to put it together for four rounds, and coming out at a golf course where you have good memories and recent good memories, it's going to be nice,” said the Dane, who clinched last year’s Championship after a titanic playoff, finishing on a 5th extra hole.

Whilst defending his title this week, Björn will also have his Ryder Cup hat on, having been announced as one of José María Olazábal’s Vice-Captains last Thursday. “I was fortunate to play under Seve, and when you get a chance to work with José, I don't think there's two guys that's meant more to European Ryder Cup than those two” said Björn who hasn’t even ruled out the possibility of a playing role, “I would be surprised if I won this week that they wouldn't think about involving me on the golf course” he said.

It would be foolish to write the 2011 Champion off, the 41 year-old is a big fan of The PGA Centenary Course and is pleased with its recent modifications. “As a venue, you couldn't pick a better venue in golf I don't think. As a whole, it's fantastic, with the hotel and the facilities that are here, and the golf course is there now, too, to host such a big event” he said. Fellow Vice-Captain Darren Clarke expressed similar opinion, “I think if you look at any challenge around the world, the last hole, the one that you can have that possible three shot swing, they are the real excitement, exciting holes, and this certainly looks like it now” said Clarke. All three Ryder Cup Vice-Captains are in the frame for the 2014 Ryder Cup Captaincy, when it rolls into Gleneagles in just over 24 months time.

Belgium’s, Nicolas Colsaerts, is one player Björn and Clarke will most definitely be keeping an eye on, Colsaerts is paired with Bjorn and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher in tomorrow’s 08:15 tee off and the Belgian is the only player who can make his way into Olazábal’s team automatically with a 1st or 2nd place finish at Gleneagles. Olazábal will name his two wildcard picks on Monday following the Championship.

Another of Olazábal’s wing men in Medinah, in just over a month’s time, will be Paul McGinley. The Irishman is full of admiration for 29 year-old Colsaerts determination to get into the team, having finished tied 7th at the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour last week. “All credit to him, playing the last few weeks in America, getting on a plane, flying into Scotland, completely different weather, completely different golf course and busting a gut to get on the team.” Said McGinley. If Colsaerts doesn’t make automatic qualification he can surely expect to be a top consideration when Olazábal names his wildcards in Gleneagles Hotel on Monday.

“I think you're only looking at two or three options, so it's quite simple” said Colsaerts. “I'd like to think that I've done enough and showed basically everything I could have done to get the pick” he continued.

One player, whose name is also right in the frame for a pick, is US PGA Championship runner up, David Lynn. A good performance here in Perthshire may just be enough for the Englishman to convince Olazábal that he is the man in the best form ahead of Medinah. Lynn is taking inspiration from how Edoardo Molinari made his way into Colin Montgomerie’s 2010 team with a stunning victory at The Johnnie Walker Championship.

“Yeah, of course we can think about that,” said Lynn. “It would be lovely to come out and emulate that. But you know first things first. I have got to turn up tomorrow and I can't qualify tomorrow or win the tournament tomorrow, but I can certainly lose it” he said.

With Ian Poulter looking likely to be one of Olazábal’s wildcard picks, the other pick will go right down to the wire. Lynn would most certainly give Olazabal a headache if he was to win here this week. “Obviously I have thought about that and I have thought about how nice it would be to do, that but just to be talked about in the conversation when it comes to The Ryder Cup, is nice in itself” said Lynn.

Previous winners of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles include England’s Warren Bennett in 1999; Sweden’s Pierre Fulke in 2000; Englishman Paul Casey in 2001 and 2006 (the only player to win on two occasions); Australia’s Adam Scott in 2002; Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen (2003); England’s Miles Tunnicliff (2004); Italy’s Emanuele Canonica (2005); Marc Warren, the only Scot to win, in 2007; Grégory Havret of France (2008); Sweden’s Peter Hedblom in 2009; Edoardo Molinari in 2010 and Thomas Björn in 2011.

The prize fund is £1.4 million with the winner receiving a cheque for £233,330
The 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will again be broadcast on Sky Sports and will be played at Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course from August 23-26.

For the second successive year in a row the Championship organisers have set the Friday ticket price to just £5. Once again Gleneagles will donate all the revenue from on-the-day ticket sales to ClubGolf – Scotland’s junior golf development programme.

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Stage Set for an Enthralling Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
21 August, 2012

Gleneagles plays host to the14th instalment of the Johnnie Walker Championship this week, with the 156 man field all eager to take on the new challenge offered by a remodelled PGA Centenary Course and a £1.4 million prize fund at Gleneagles, Scotland, August 23-26, 2012.

In an all star cast, twenty-six nationalities are represented in a field that includes a 24-man strong Scottish contingent for home fans to follow. The 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship field has amassed a remarkable 260 European Tour titles between them, including seven Majors. Joining defending Champion Thomas Björn and his fellow 2012 European Ryder Cup Vice Captains, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley are Paul Lawrie, Francesco Molinari, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Nicolas Colsaerts amongst others, who will all be looking to take the title off Björn’s hands.

Björn, who European Ryder Cup Captain, José María Olazábal named as one of his four Vice Captains last Thursday, is looking forward to defending his title at Gleneagles, a course that has undergone significant changes ahead of hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup. “Winning the 2011 Johnnie Walker Championship was one of the highlights of last season,” said Björn. “To come back as Champion is very special and I’m raring to get going and see the new alterations first hand, especially the 18th green. Gleneagles and Diageo treat the player’s very well and I always enjoy coming back to this part of Scotland” he added.

Whilst eyes will be on Björn and whether he can defend his title, the Johnnie Walker Championship is also in the limelight due to the year-long race for European Ryder Cup places reaching its climax this week. Whilst Sergio Garcia confirmed his spot with a convincing win at the Wyndham Championship yesterday, Ryder Cup hopefuls Rafael Cabrera- Bello, Nicolas Colsaerts and US PGA Championship runner-up David Lynn are all hoping they can do enough to be in Jose Maria Olazabal’s team come Sunday. All three can oust the player in the last automatic spot, German Martin Kaymer, out of the side. Captain Olazábal will name his two wild card picks the following day and a good performance may be enough to convince the Spaniard they should be on that plane to Medinah in just over a month’s time.

One man who has his seat booked already is home favourite and former Open Champion, Paul Lawrie. Lawrie qualifies fourth on the European points table and the Scot, who ends a 13-year European team appearance drought, is keen to put on a good display at Gleneagles. “I’m thrilled to know that my place in the 2012 Ryder Cup team is now secure” said the Aberdonian. “My focus is on the here and now though and that continues with playing well here at Gleneagles. This is my twelfth Johnnie Walker Championship and it’s a tournament I really enjoy. I really hope the Scottish golf fans are out in force and enjoy the golf on show.”

Other Scots who will be gunning for the Johnnie Walker Championship trophy and £233,330 winner’s purse include former Ryder Cup Captain and Championship Chairman Colin Montgomerie, West Lothian’s Stephen Gallacher, who has a history of playing well at Gleneagles, 2007 Champion Marc Warren, Glaswegian Alastair Forsyth and Gleneagles Scottish PGA Champion Graham Fox, amongst others.

Championship Director, Graeme Marchbank of Diageo, official partners of The 2014 Ryder Cup commented, “It’s great to see that is so much to play for here at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles this week. There is a real buzz about this year’s Championship and we are looking forward to hosting our defending Champion Thomas Björn and the rest of the field here in Perthshire. Being host to the 2014 Ryder Cup, Gleneagles is a fitting stage for the 2012 Ryder Cup race to go right down to the wire, so let battle commence.”

The prize fund is £1.4 million with the winner receiving a cheque for £233,330

The 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will again be broadcast on Sky Sports and will be played at Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course from August 23-26.

Further information:
European Tour Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 840400
Email: media@europeantour.com

IMG
Robin Spring
Tel : +44 (0) 208 2336038
Fax: +44 (0)2082335268
Email: robin.spring@imgworld.com
Johnnie Walker Championship
Elaine Howie PR Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 6839 or +44 (0) 7720 442 881
Email: elaine@elainehowiepr.co.uk

About Diageo

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan’s and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com

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About IMG
IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at www.imgworld.com. Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/IMG_Worldwide and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IMGWorldwide

About The European Tour
The European Tour is committed to celebrating the game of golf from the origins of the professional game, building a proud history of achievement, sportsmanship and integrity as well as showcasing our diverse global talent and rich landscapes. The European Tour's innovative approach enables us to embrace the world, combining championships of tradition with new tournaments in the cities and countries of the future. The European Tour International Schedule, which from 2009 has incorporated The Race to Dubai, is a thriving global brand which, in 2012, will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments spread across all five continents of the world; the European Challenge Tour focuses on the up and coming players of the future; while the European Senior Tour provides a new start for champions celebrating their 50th birthday. The European Tour’s corporate identity features the iconic silhouette image of six-time Open Champion Harry Vardon who gives his name to The Harry Vardon Trophy, presented to the player who is crowned European Tour Number One and winner of The Race to Dubai at the end of the season.

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Spotlight turns to the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
16 August, 2012

Having hosted some of the highest profile global events, Gleneagles is used to being in the spotlight. However, when the first players tee-off in the Johnnie Walker Championship on 23rd August, it will be the focus of attention for the golfing world. Not only will be the 156-man field be vying for a share of the £1.4million prize fund, but it is also the last counting event in the race for European Ryder Cup points, for some players, it will be their most important tournament of the year.

With over 300 European Tour titles between them the field is as strong as ever, lead by event Chairman Colin Montgomerie, European Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal and his newly announced Vice Captains, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and defending Champion Thomas Björn. The field also includes Paul Casey, Ross Fisher, Simon Dyson and home favourites Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher.

With just over a month to go until The Ryder Cup, match play exponent Ian Poulter moved into an automatic qualifying spot, at the expense of Sergio Garcia, after the Englishman’s joint third place in the US PGA Championship last weekend. If most people expected Poulter’s name to be in the frame, one name they will be surprised to see featuring is his fellow countryman David Lynn.

In what was Lynn’s first Major Championship in the USA, the 38 year-old carded a final round 68 to climb up the leaderboard to finish second. Lynn’s remarkable performance lifted him from 28th to 13th on the Ryder Cup standings and a strong showing next week over The PGA Centenary Course, venue of The 2014 Ryder Cup, could see him move into the top ten.

“Jumping 15 places in The Ryder Cup standings was just fantastic,” said Lynn. “Last year I missed the cut at the Johnnie Walker Championship but I’m feeling much more positive this year. If I can play like I did last weekend, who knows what will happen, I suppose if I did win at Gleneagles and was 11th or something on the rankings I would have a chance of a wild card. I'm just glad to be part of the conversation, to be honest."

One player who knows just how crucial a week Gleneagles can be is Edoardo Molinari. Two years ago the Italian, unable to earn enough points to qualify automatically, knew that nothing more than a win would be enough to convince Captain Colin Montgomerie that he deserved one of his precious wild card picks for The 2010 Ryder Cup team. Molinari duly delivered, making birdies on his last three holes to snatch a one-shot victory.

Unfortunately Edoardo’s challenge this year has been thwarted by a wrist injury but his younger brother, Francesco, looks certain to make it onto that plane to Medinah, currently lying fifth on the European Points List. The ten automatic qualification spots will be filled firstly by the players in the top five positions in the European Points List with the remaining five being taken from the World Points List. Captain Olazábal will then name his two wild card picks the following day.

“Although I’m sad not to be part of it this year, it’s great to see my brother has almost made it into the team, hopefully he can put in a good performance at the Johnnie Walker Championship to cement his place,” said Edoardo. “When I was given a wild card into Colin’s team it was one of the best weeks of my life and for those guys challenging for qualification, and in good form, winning the Johnnie Walker Championship may just do it for them too.”

Along with David Lynn, two players who will be looking to do just that are 12th placed Nicolas Colsaerts and 14th placed Rafael Cabrera-Bello. Both will be in the Johnnie Walker Championship field and there could be enough points on offer for one of them to make the side. The stakes are high with just two wild card picks available rather than the three Colin Montgomerie had last time round.

Championship Director, Graeme Marchbank of Diageo, official partners of The 2014 Ryder Cup commented, “The Ryder Cup race has gone right down to the wire and it will be fascinating to see who has it in their locker to put in a good performance at Gleneagles. We are looking forward to crowning the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship winner and seeing the final European Ryder Cup team sheet. It will be interesting to see who makes José María’s two wildcard picks.”

The prize fund is £1.4 million with the winner receiving a cheque for £233,330

The 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will again be broadcast on Sky Sports and will be played at Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course from August 23-26.

Scott Jamieson day a big hit with competition winners at Gleneagles
August, 2012

European Tour golfer, Scott Jamieson keeps his eye on 18 media competition winners at Gleneagles

THE Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course is the picturesque setting for The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles from August 23-26.

The venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup has hosted the European Tour event for more than 10 years. Many of Europe’s top professionals will tee-off at the Gleneagles, all hoping to lift the trophy and take home a share of the £1.4m prize fund. If that wasn’t enough it is also the last counting event for Ryder Cup points, so there is plenty to play for.

The field will include Scotland’s own Scott Jamieson, who is now a regular on the European Tour and was a member of the winning Seve Trophy team in 2011. Impressive finishes last year saw him finish in the top 60 in the Race to Dubai and play in the Open Championship.

To mark the occasion, the Johnnie Walker Championship offered 18 Scottish golfers the chance to play the new-look PGA Centenary Course with Scott on Wednesday, August 1. The memorable day also included a coaching clinic with Scott and lunch in The Dormy Clubhouse complete with a prize-giving.

‘I have enjoyed meeting everyone, it’s been a great day and lots of fun. I really like the changes made to the course. The new 18th is going to make for an exciting finish to the tournament,’ said Scott.

Gleneagles Scottish PGA Champion Graham Fox books his place at the Johnnie Walker Championship
2 August, 2012

A fantastic performance from Graham Fox, culminating in a gutsy two-under-par 69 on the final day of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship last week booked the Rowallan Castle player a spot in the coveted Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, 23-26 August, 2012.

With calm weather making for good conditions on the King’s Course at Gleneagles, Fox finished on a 15-under aggregate of 269 and won by two strokes from the dominant Greig Hutcheon, with popular Aberdonian Scott Henderson a stroke further back in third to take the £8900 first prize.

If that wasn’t good enough, as winner of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship, Fox secured the final place in the Johnnie Walker Championship. The 35-year old from West Kilbride last played in the event in 2002 and is looking forward to playing alongside many of his friends.

Fox said, “The opportunity to secure a place in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles was a huge incentive not just to play well, to win, the Tartan Tour’s flagship event. It is always great to be able to play the King’s Course and to enjoy all the history and tradition it represents, however The PGA Centenary Course is definitely one of the toughest.

“This year’s event has the added focus of Ryder Cup points for some players. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to go back to Gleneagles, the challenges of playing in this event and renewing old friendships.”

Fox, who finished 8th in last year’s Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship will line up against some of the biggest names in golf when the Championship gets underway on August the 23rd. As the last counting event for Ryder Cup points, players on the cusp of qualification will be battling it out over the recently modified PGA Centenary Course, which will play host to the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Bernard Murphy, General Manager of Gleneagles, said: ‘To have the opportunity to offer the winner of our Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship a place in the Johnnie Walker Championship here next month is particularly special for us. Graham played well last week to win the title and secure his place in the event. He is very familiar with all the courses here having taken part in a variety of events since he was a teenager; I’m sure he’ll enjoy the challenges of The PGA Centenary Course and we wish him well.”

Fox, who became a father 10 weeks ago, experienced one full season on the European Tour back in 2002 and he has not given up hope of returning next season. The former Scotland amateur cap will have another attempt at the qualifying school later this year.

"I've been playing well for the last couple of months and it's great to get some vindication of all the hard work by winning this championship. I think I'm going back to tour school at the end of this year far better prepared for it than I was last year and the Johnnie Walker Championship will be the icing on the cake" said Fox.

The 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will again be broadcast on Sky Sports and will be played at Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course from August 23-26. Jose Maria Olazábal's 2012 European Ryder Cup team will be announced on the Monday (August 27th) following the Championship.

For the second successive year in a row the Championship organisers have set the Friday ticket price to just £5. Once again Gleneagles will donate all the revenue from on-the-day ticket sales to clubgolf – Scotland’s junior golf development programme.

Further information:
Johnnie Walker Championship
Elaine Howie PR Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 6839 or +44 (0) 7720 442 881
Email: elaine@elainehowiepr.co.uk

IMG
Robin Spring and Michele Mair
Tel : +44 (0) 208 2336038
Fax: +44 (0)2082335268
Email: michele.mair@imgworld.com

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Anticipation Builds Ahead of Ryder Cup Showdown at the Johnnie Walker Championship
11 July, 2012

With just under two months of the 2012 Ryder Cup race to go, 3 European Tour winners join defending Champion, Thomas Bjorn, in looking ahead to what should be a thrilling climax at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, home of the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie currently lies in an automatic qualification spot to make Jose Maria Olazabal’s 2012 team. Image © Getty Images / IMG Golf

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts have all notched up a victory on the European Tour this season, with all three hoping to secure their place in Jose Maria Olazábal's 2012 European Ryder Cup team to be announced on the Monday (August 27th) following the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Lawrie, who won the Qatar Masters earlier this year, has seen his ranking rocket up to 30th in the World, gaining 242 places in just 15 months. The Scot is almost guaranteed his second Ryder Cup appearance, lying 3rd on the European points list, with just six counting events to go.

However, the former Open Champion isn’t getting ahead of himself just yet, he said, "I think almost there is correct, but when you're there is when the team sheet comes out on the Monday after the Johnnie Walker Championship, so I’m looking forward to that.”

"You can go from third to sixth in a couple of weeks if you have a bad spell and other people make a lot of money so there’s a small bit of work to be done” said Lawrie.

2012 Dubai Desert Classic winner, Rafael Cabrera-Bello strengthened his case for his first Ryder Cup cap with a tied second place finish at the Irish Open at the beginning of the month, leaving the 28 year-old just one spot away from the final qualifying position on the World points list.

“It’s looking like the race to get into Jose’s team will go right down to the wire so I’m getting ready for what will be one of the most important run of tournaments in my life, culminating at the Johnnie Walker Championship. Fingers crossed I will be in a qualifying position and can put in a good final performance at the 2014 Ryder Cup venue,” said Cabrera-Bello.

Nicolas Colsaerts proved his Ryder Cup pedigree after a convincing victory at the Volvo World Match Play in May. The big hitting 29 year-old is just two positions away from a Ryder Cup spot on the World points list and is hoping to become the first Belgian to play in the biennial match.

“It's always been a dream of mine as a kid to play in The Ryder Cup. I’m in a healthy position but there's still a long way to go. We still have six tournaments and there are a lot of candidates. Hopefully I can have a good run and make it into the team after The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles” said Colsaerts.

The trio will be joined by a whole host of players looking to impress Jose Maria Olazábal at Gleneagles who will be casting a keen eye over his potential heroes. The Ryder Cup captain will announce his two picks (on August 27) at The Gleneagles Hotel to complete the 12-man European Ryder Cup team who will travel to Medinah Country Club to defend the trophy against the United States from September 28-30.

“It’s great for me to have final chance to look at who is really on top of their game at Gleneagles” said Olazábal. “Time is flying, there are less than 3 months until the Ryder Cup tees off and the team is really starting to shape up. Announcing my wildcard picks on the Monday allows me to see who’s hot at the Johnnie Walker Championship but also anyone playing in the States. I know it will be a very tough decision to make.”

Since the last thrilling climax to Ryder Cup qualification in 2010, Gleneagles has embarked on a series of enhancements to the course in preparation for the 2014 Ryder Cup under the guidance of the layout's original designer, Jack Nicklaus.

With the Perthshire course recently reopened, the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship will provide the first insight into how the world's leading professionals respond to the remodelling.

“The 18th hole was the biggest change. We dropped the green five or six metres and created a tremendous amphitheatre” said Nicklaus. “It’s exciting, there will be birdies, eagles and bogeys on it and you’re going to get shots that change hands. I think they will enjoy it.”

The 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will again be broadcast on Sky Sports and will be played at Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course from August 23-26.

For the second successive year in a row the Championship organisers have set the Friday ticket price to just £5. Once again Gleneagles will donate all the revenue from on-the-day ticket sales to clubgolf – Scotland’s junior golf development programme.

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Johnnie Walker Championship Hole In One Weekend

The summer months see keen club golfers across Scotland take to the fairways at their local courses. Many will achieve a personal best and reduce their handicap while returning a winning score and perhaps even a hole in one

Organisers of the Johnnie Walker Championship are, once again, offering each club golfer in Scotland who achieves that elusive hole in one over the weekend of The Open Championship the opportunity to celebrate. Each player who submits a scorecard verified by the Club Secretary will receive four complementary season tickets for the winner and three friends to visit the European Tour event at Gleneagles at the end of August (23-26).

Victorious Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie is the Championship Chairman, he will lead a field which also includes Ryder Cup player and defending Champion Thomas Bjorn and the tournament Ambassador, Scott Jamieson.

See www.johnniewalkerchampionship.com for full Terms and Conditions – entrants must be 18 or over.

Championship Director, Graeme Marchbank, said: “Johnnie Walker has long been a supporter of both golf and Scotland. The weekend of The Open Championship is one of the most exciting for professional golfers and we’re adding this incentive for club players in a year when it is not taking place here in Scotland.

“You may not play like Monty or Bjorn, however scoring a hole-in-one is a great achievement for any golfer and one that deserves to be celebrated. What better way to do just that than with a group of friends while enjoying the opportunity to see some of the world’s leading golfers here in Scotland as they tackle the challenges of The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, the host venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup.”

One of the leading Scottish players who will tee-off at Gleneagles is Scott Jamieson who is also an Ambassador for the event. He added: “The Gleneagles setting for the Johnnie Walker Championship is one of the most picturesque we enjoy as professionals, this is a great opportunity for spectators to enjoy the views without having to focus on their own score! I wish every golfer playing in their own Club competition on July 21/22 good luck. I look forward to all the hole in one winners joining the galleries in August.’

Send confirmation to mail@elainehowiepr.co.uk

Further information:
Elaine Howie PR Ltd
0131-225 6839 07720 442 881
elaine@elainehowiepr.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Travel to/from Gleneagles is not provided.
Ample parking is available and is free to spectators
Prize is for four season tickets only and is available to each club golfer in Scotland who meets the criteria
No cash alternative is available
Tickets offer entry to the course between Thursday 23th August - Sunday 26th August, 2012 inclusive

Terms and Conditions

A player must card a Hole-in-One in a recognised club Medal or Stableford tournament on the weekend of The Open Championship – 21/22 July 2012
Entrants must be over 18 years of age on 21 July 2012
Scorecards must be verified by the Club Secretary
Entry method – send your name, address, date of birth and contact details and your signed Scorecard to Elaine Howie Public Relations Ltd, Suite 2, 24 Douglas Crescent, Edinburgh. EH12 5BA - entries must be received by 10 August 2012
The Prize is 4 tickets to the Johnnie Walker Championship between Thursday 23th August - Sunday 26th August, 2012 inclusive. No cash alternative
The Promoter is Diageo Great Britain Limited, Lakeside Drive, London NW10 7HQ

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Thomas Björn Relishing Johnnie Walker Championship Defence

Having enjoyed one of the most successful years of his European Tour career in 2011, Denmark's Thomas Björn is fired up to defend his title at the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, being staged from August 23-26

For the World Number 37 it will be a welcome return to the 2014 Ryder Cup venue, Gleneagles, where he recorded his second victory of the 2011 European Tour season after prevailing in a thrilling five-man play-off at the expense of George Coetzee, Bernd Wiesberger, Pablo Larrazábal and Mark Foster.

Having made his way back into the winners circle with an early season victory at the Qatar Masters, Björn went on to clinch back-to-back titles with victory at the European Masters in Switzerland a week later, finishing the season ranked ninth on Tour. It was the first time in the 41 year-olds career that he had collected 3 trophies in one season.

"Gleneagles was a real highlight for me as it proved my win in Qatar wasn’t just a flash in the pan. I was delighted with the week and glad to stay cool, calm and collected in that tense play-off. Winning the week after made it a really special fortnight” said Björn whose best finish this season came at the recent Wales Open where he finished tied second.

This year the Championship takes on an even bigger significance with it being the final qualifying event for The 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah with the leading five players on The Ryder Cup European Points List at the conclusion on Sunday automatically making the team.

European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will also announce his two captains’ picks on the Monday following the Championship so there will be plenty to play for over what is surely to be four memorable days.

Björn who will be vying to become the first man to successfully defend the Johnnie Walker championship knows just how important a good finish at Gleneagles will be.

"Jose’s side is going to be so hard to make. The strength in depth of our players is unbelievable and to have any chance you have got to play fantastic golf for a full year. If I am still in with a chance of making it when the Championship gets underway you can be assured I will be doing everything I can to make that team” said Björn who currently lies 15th on the European Ryder Cup points list.

Championship Director, Graeme Marchbank of Diageo, official partners of the 2014 Ryder Cup, is looking forward to the Championship field taking shape.

"It's always a pleasure to welcome back our defending champion to Gleneagles, we have a great roster of winners and we look forward to announcing more world-class players as we countdown to the event itself"

“Being a Ryder Cup year we are confident that the final field will include many of the biggest names in the world of golf, including many candidates all looking to secure their spot on the plane to Medinah” said Marchbank.

Gleneagles recently reopened its PGA Centenary Course following extensive alterations to a number of holes. The modifications were devised in consultation with course designer Jack Nicklaus with the most dramatic alterations apparent on the 9th and 18th.

Richard Hills, the European Tour’s Ryder Cup director, said: “I am sure the course changes will help deliver a truly memorable occasion when The Ryder Cup comes to Gleneagles in two years’ time.”

The 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will again be broadcast on Sky Sports and will be played at Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course from August 23-26.

Tickets are available at the course and at www.europeantourtickets.com Parking is free. For full details on the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles visit www.johnniewalkerchampionship.com; for further details on The Gleneagles Hotel, visit www.gleneagles.com

Image: please credit Getty Images / IMG Golf and this may only be used in conjunction with editorial pertaining to the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles

Further information:
Johnnie Walker Championship
Elaine Howie PR Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 6839 or +44 (0) 7720 442 881
Email: elaine@elainehowiepr.co.uk

IMG
Robin Spring and Michele Mair
Tel : +44 (0) 208 2336038
Fax: +44 (0)2082335268
Email: michele.mair@imgworld.com

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Diageo named Official Partner of 2014 Ryder Cup

Johnnie Walker becomes first Scottish brand with Official Partner status

Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business and producer of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, was today named as an Official Partner of The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

The agreement will see Diageo use its portfolio of premium beverage alcohol brands to promote The 2014 Ryder Cup around the globe in partnership with Ryder Cup Europe. Central to the partnership will be Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch whisky and the first Scottish brand to enjoy Official Partner status for the tournament.

Diageo owns The Gleneagles Hotel, the host venue for the 40th staging of the biennial contest, which will take place from Friday September 26 to Sunday September 28, 2014. The Official Partner agreement builds on Diageo’s long-standing association with The Ryder Cup which stretches back to the 1980s when Johnnie Walker was a presenting sponsor of The Ryder Cup in Europe in 1989, 1993 and 1997.

Diageo will work closely with Ryder Cup Europe in the build-up to The 2014 Ryder Cup to maximise the opportunity which the Official Partnership creates to promote the tournament and Scotland in more than 180 countries around the world where the company markets its products. They will also work together to ensure those coming to Scotland for The 2014 Ryder Cup enjoy the best possible visitor experience at The Gleneagles Hotel.

Announcing the sponsorship at Gleneagles on behalf of Diageo, Peter Lederer, Chairman of Gleneagles Hotel, said: “We are already tremendously excited to be hosting The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014 and we are determined to make this event a major success for the whole of Scotland. Adding Johnnie Walker as a global brand which is exported to over 180 markets around the world, can only help us achieve that goal.

“Diageo, Johnnie Walker and Gleneagles Hotel have a long and proud history of supporting golf in Scotland and there couldn’t be a stronger team than the world’s number one Scotch whisky, the world’s number one team golf event, The Ryder Cup, and Scotland’s finest hotel golf resort, Gleneagles.”

As part of its role as Official Partner, Diageo has also committed to working with Clubgolf – the Scottish junior golf development agency – at corporate level to help promote participation in golf across Scotland, with numerous initiatives planned for the build up to 2014.

“Gleneagles and Diageo have a strong record in supporting youth golf development in Scotland and we are determined to use this sponsorship to contribute to the long-term positive legacy The Ryder Cup generates for Scotland and Scottish golf,” added Lederer.

Scottish First Minister, The Rt Hon Alex Salmond, who was at Gleneagles for the launch of the Official Partnership, said: "The Ryder Cup is set to bring immense benefits to Scotland, both in terms of the economic boost from the many thousands of visitors and the lasting sporting legacy the golf's premier team competition will leave on the country's golfers - both young and old.

"Plans for the tournament are progressing well, but the support from sponsors will ensure that the event is able to maximise the benefits to Scotland, be that through increasing visitor numbers or ensuring the tournament is the most spectacular Ryder Cup ever.

"That is why I am delighted to welcome Diageo on board as a major backer for The 2014 Ryder Cup. Their welcome support underlines the huge popularity of The Ryder Cup and shows the willingness of the Scottish business community to support major events right here on their doorstep.

"It is also exciting to see Diageo's pledge to work with the Scottish Government's innovative Clubgolf initiative, with a commitment to help promote participation in youth golf in the run up to the 2014 event.

"Clubgolf gives thousands of children in Scotland the chance to play golf, putting a club in the hands of every nine-year-old in the country, and the Scottish Government recently announced a £2million investment in the programme to build on the legacy opportunity The Ryder Cup offers."

Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, added: “We are delighted that Diageo and Johnnie Walker are making a welcome return to The Ryder Cup at the highest level, playing an active role in helping Ryder Cup Europe to put on a world class event in 2014 at Gleneagles, the course owned by Diageo.

“It is important to have a strong Scottish brand on board for The Ryder Cup in 2014 and Diageo recognises the importance the event will have on Scotland and Scottish golf and will work with us to provide a lasting legacy.

“As Diageo are owners of host venue Gleneagles, we look forward to working with them to help them maximise the opportunities of bringing The Ryder Cup to Gleneagles.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Diageo
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan’s and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

About Diageo in Scotland

Scotland is one of Diageo’s largest spirit supply centres responsible for producing nearly 50 million cases of leading brands of Scotch whisky and white spirits and over four million cases of Ready To Drink brands annually.
Around 85% of Diageo’s brands produced in Scotland are sold overseas.
Diageo in Scotland currently employs around 4,000 people.
Diageo currently operates 28 malt distilleries, one grain distillery and has a 50 per cent share in the North British grain distillery in Edinburgh. As well as engineering and technical support functions, there are extensive warehousing operations in Scotland, which store up to 7 million casks of maturing spirit, and the company’s Scottish headquarters are in Edinburgh.

For enquiries in relation to Diageo’s sponsorship, contact:

Ian Smith
Diageo Corporate Relations
Tel: 0131 519 2045
Mobile: 07736 786 888
ian.smith@diageo.com

About The Ryder Cup 2014

Golf fans can already pre-register their interest for tickets for The 2014 Ryder Cup via The European Tour’s official website, www.europeantour.com. If you already have a ‘My European Tour’ account, you simply need to tick The 2014 Ryder Cup ticket box in your profile to register your interest. If you don’t have an existing ‘My European Tour’ account, you will need to register before ticking the box.

Picture: (l-r) Peter Lederer, Diageo Scotland, The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, Scotland’s First Minister, Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, and Patrick Elsmie, Managing Director of the Gleneagles Hotel © Rob McDougall.

For further information, contact:
The European Tour Communications Division
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 840400
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 840444
Email: media@europeantour.com

Bjorn takes Johnnie Walker Championship title
after five-man play-off

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn won a five-man, five-hole play-off in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today.

The 40-year-old Dane beat South African George Coetzee when it came down to the two of them after Mark Foster, who went into the round as joint leader, with Ignacio Garrido, took a bogey six on the final hole of regulation play whilst one ahead of the field.

That dropped him alongside Bjorn, Coetzee, Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger on the 11-under-par mark of 277. So back to the 18th they went as a five ball play-off.

Wiesberger was the first to drop out, running up a six on the first extra hole after driving into a bush and taking a penalty drop, we were down to four. Larrazabal went next, he also took six after his chip for birdie from over the green hit the hole, but went nearly five feet past.

Bjorn, Coetzee and Foster then entertained the Gleneagles crowd with three like for like birdies in the first five man play-off on the European Tour since 1992 at the BMW International Open. Foster then took six again on the fourth extra hole and, as Bjorn and Coetzee continued, he was left to reflect on what could have been.

The 37-year-old had led by three with eight holes to play, but was caught after he bogeyed the 12th and Bjorn, fourth in The Open last month, birdied both the 13th and long 16th. Bjorn the three-putted the par 3, 17th, giving Foster the chance to close out the title.

Foster, who has led three of his last four events at some stage then drove his 18th tee shot into the trees, his second shot found the rough and the Worksop man could not make the green in three leaving him a 20 foot putt from the rough. His putt left him short and the two man play-off commenced.

After Foster's exit it was finally decided after Bjorn pitched to within three feet for a third successive birdie, Coetzee could only manage a par and the celebrations could begin in what was the Dane’s 12th European Tour victory. A delighted Bjorn said, “The way I played the last three playoff holes, I can't be more proud of what I did. Everything was pretty spot on and those wedges I hit in on the playoff holes three and four were special, but that 7‑iron on the fifth playoff hole was probably one of the best golf shots I've ever hit.”

Joint sixth, but only one stroke back, were Scotland's Stephen Gallacher and Swede Joel Sjoholm, both of whom had failed to birdie the last.

It was a disappointing end to Foster’s week, “In the end, it was all down to Mark's mistake really on the last, but that happens in golf,” said Bjorn. “We have all been there when you had the chance to win and you don't. You've just got to draw on all the good things. He played wonderful golf this week and he's had a great year, and he's got to draw on that. Getting himself into positions, one will go your way and then once you start winning it becomes easier to win. He's got a hurdle there he's got to get over, but he's playing the golf and he's a brilliant guy and he'll get there.”

Reflecting on his 18th tee shot, Foster said, “Just couldn't get it to the fairway. Couldn't get a lie to get the third shot.”

“The leader board, that's how it is. You wait all day, you make a birdie in a playoff and two other people make one. It's the game. It will come. But I've just got to keep playing the same,” said Foster.

With this win moves up seven places to 8th in the Race To Dubai and along with picking up the £233,330 winners cheque is the proud new owner of the Johnnie Walker Championship trophy.

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Behind the scenes

Want to know what effort really goes into mounting a tournament like this Johnnie Walker Championship?

Then think iceberg. What you see all around you, the course, the hotel, the tented village represents about one tenth of the activity involved in mounting such a prestigious event.

Around 100 people are directly concerned with the setting up and maintenance of this championship, but add on the hotel staff and others who contribute to its smooth running and the total number comes to well over 600.

Heading up this team in Graeme Marchbank, Events and Sponsorship Manager, Diageo. For four years now Marchbank has been officially connected to this grand estate, but really Gleneagles has been embroidered into his life – his father Ian was the golf professional for 30 years.

‘I couldn't work at a better place or with a better team,’ he says. ‘The Johnnie Walker Championship lasts a week but the planning of it, the worrying about it, covers at least 10 months a year.

‘But it's fun and hugely satisfying. It’s no problem motivating people to work very hard to put on a good show. Everyone, no matter what their involvement, enjoys the 'hit' we all get from staging it and seeing it grow more successful each year.

‘If there is a problem, it is the days immediately after the championship that can be hard for those of us who have been running off adrenalin and working 25 hours a day leading up to it. That's the really difficult bit.’

And then there is the occasional drama. Like the night the big wind blew in, smacked the doors open on all the marquees and threatened to lift the hospitality units into a leaden sky.

The weather is a worry because in Scotland, as you may have noticed, spring sometimes doesn't arrive until what is technically mid-summer and even then it occasionally comes with a hint of winter about it.

The problem here is encouraging the sort of growth in the ground that allows Gleneagles’ expert greenkeeping staff to prepare a course worthy of some of Europe's finest golfers. Somehow, no matter what perverse nature decides, they manage this trick wonderfully well.

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