Forsyth forges ahead as top Scot after ninth-place finish in US PGA

Published on Monday 11 August 2008 23:53

THE outstanding performance by far of Alastair Forsyth's career in the majors at the US PGA on Sunday yesterday elevated the Paisley golfer to 83rd in the world rankings and reclaimed, on merit, his right to be regarded this season as Scotland's foremost professional.

Only the fourth Scot since 1998 to record a top-ten finish in one of the four elite championships – Raymond Russell, Paul Lawrie and Colin Montgomerie, four times, were the others during this period – Forsyth's share of ninth place at Oakland Hills was accomplished thanks to an outstanding ball-striking performance on a fiercely demanding lay-out.

Having indicated how much he's matured as a competitor by playing all four rounds at the US Open at Torrey Pines in June, Forsyth demonstrated in only his seventh appearance at the majors in Detroit how he's learned to play with discipline and shrewdness.

Prior to Oakland Hills, the Scot had only twice previously teed up in American majors, at the 2003 US PGA at Oak Hill, when he missed the cut, as well as in this year's US Open. His appearances on home turf in the Open have scarcely been more prolific – he failed to qualify for Birkdale last month and his best finish in four previous appearances at the oldest major was 47th in 2004 at Troon.

If he can get over the hurdle of qualifying for the majors on a more regular basis – he is already exempt for next year's US PGA – Forsyth's ball-striking skills are sound enough to impress on the toughest of courses.

Like Padraig Harrington, Forsyth, 32, is coached by Bob Torrance. After performing poorly at Loch Lomond, Forsyth took three weeks off from tournaments and, with help from the sage of Largs, rediscovered the sharpness which helped him to win the Madeira Islands Open earlier this season.

The Scot grew in stature as the tournament developed and twice matched the par of 70 on the weekend to record the five-over-total of 285.

"I was very pleased with the fact that my ball-striking got better every day on a golf course which required all the shots," said Forsyth yesterday. "To finish in the top ten at an American major, after winning on the European Tour in March, shows my game has come on quite a bit."

Meanwhile, Forsyth's chances of qualifying for the Ryder Cup remain slender. Having missed a connecting transatlantic flight home on Sunday evening, the Scot won't arrive in Glasgow until later today and has pulled out of the SAS Masters in Sweden. He would need to win either the KLM Open next week or the Johnnie Walker at Gleneagles to make an 11th hour case for inclusion.

Colin Montgomerie's hopes of receiving a wild card from Nick Faldo have all but gone after he failed to make the cut.

FACT BOX

Scots with top ten finishes in the majors since 1998

1998 Colin Montgomerie, joint eighth at the Masters

1998 Raymond Russell, joint fourth at the Open

1999 Montgomerie, joint sixth at the US PGA

1999 Paul Lawrie, winner of the Open

2005 Montgomerie, second at the Open

2006 Montgomerie, second at the US Open

2008 Alastair Forsyth, joint ninth at the US PGA