Golf

Austrian Bernd Wiesberger is aiming to defend his Scottish Open title in East Lothian next summer as the European No 1 and says he is ready for a tougher test back at The Renaissance Club.

Daniel Young is the closest among five Scots to a card-winning position heading into the sixth and final round in the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Rory McIlroy didn’t need to hear the question in full. The word “frustration” was enough for him to deliver his answer. “No,” he said, smiling, knowing that he was about to be asked how he felt about the fact he is agonisingly out of the reckoning in the battle to be Europe’s No 1 this season.

Tommy Fleetwood, the world No 10, is rooting for Bob 
MacIntyre to be crowned as European Tour Rookie of the Year in Dubai this weekend, claiming the “Class of 2019” is the best standard of newcomers he has seen on the circuit.

Four players are in the race to claim the prize heading into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai this week - here is the lowdown on the contenders...

Ewen Ferguson jumped into a card-winning position with 36 holes to go in the European
Tour Qualifying School after equalling the best score of the day in the fourth round in Spain.

It was one of the best exchanges I can recall reporting on golf because it stemmed from passion and actually left me feeling that my questions were personal rather than posed from a professional standpoint.

Marc Warren stepped up his bid to retain his European Tour status through the Qualifying School for the second year running as the card battle reached the halfway stage in Spain, writes Martin Dempster.

Bob MacIntyre is back in the driving seat in his bid to become the first Scot since Marc Warren in 2006 to be crowned as European Tour Rookie of the Year after finishing with a flourish in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

Bob MacIntyre produced a blistering burst in the third round of the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa to give himself a chance to regain the upper hand in the battle for European Tour Rookie of the Year.

Bob MacIntyre produced a blistering burst in the third round of the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa to give himself a chance to regain the upper hand in the battle for European Tour Rookie of the Year.

Catriona Matthew, Europe’s re-appointed Solheim Cup captain, has thrown down the gauntlet to her fellow Saltire-bearers in the women’s game after this year’s event at Gleneagles was the first without a Scottish player.

South African Zander Lombard will take a two-shot lead into the third round on home soil at the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player.

Rookie pro Euan Walker produced the best start among six Scottish card contenders in the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

Backing from her players more than anything else was behind Catriona Matthew’s decision to go again as Europe’s Solheim Cup captain, even though she concedes that tasting victory first time around on Scottish soil in a sensational finish will probably be impossible to top.

Catriona Matthew has been re-appointed as Europe's Solheim Cup captain, admitting that it would be "even better" than tasting victory at Gleneagles this year if she could repeat the feat on US soil.

A rare occurrence on the PGA Tour sees three Scots in the line up for this week’s Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico.

He’s the “wee man” who has been by far the biggest influence on Richie Ramsay’s career. Ian Rae has coached the Aberdonian since his amateur days and continues to be the “key cog” in one of the longest partnerships in Scottish golf and perhaps even Scottish sport.