Jamieson keen for Tartan Army effect at Gleneagles

SCOTT Jamieson is hoping to have a Tartan Army cheering him to victory at Gleneagles this weekend after being part of the one that converged on London last week for the friendly football international at Wembley.

Jamieson, a big football fan, attended the first England versus Scotland game in 14 years along with fellow European Tour players Marc Warren and Scott Henry, the trio being part of the same management company.

“It was something we had planned for a while and it was great fun,” said Jamieson, who recorded his breakthrough success on the European Tour when winning the Nelson Mandela Championship at the start of this season. “We had myself, Marc and Scott along with five English guys. It was nice to see the boys play well and at least we got to jump up a couple of times.

“I wasn’t in Trafalgar Square so it definitely wasn’t me streaking in the fountain – I was in the nicer part of the town.”

Having turned his attention back to a small white ball again, Jamieson lines up in the £1.4 million Johnnie Walker Championship starting tomorrow determined to build on his top-30 finish in the USPGA Championship at Oak Hill a fortnight ago.

“I’ve definitely gained confidence from knowing that I can play in that environment against the best players in the world so, hopefully, I can pick up where I left off,” he said of his first US major.

“I definitely played well over there, but there is also room for improvement. I find it encouraging that I can finish in the top 30 of a major and still feel like I wasn’t really firing on all cylinders.”

Beyond this week’s event, Jamieson’s short-term goals include securing a return to the Seve Trophy in Paris in October as that would be the perfect springboard in his bid to be back at Gleneagles in 13 months as part of the European team defending the Ryder Cup. “My goals now are just to finish as high up the Race to Dubai as I can – the higher you finish, the more doors open for you,” said the 29-year-old, who is among a 25-strong Scottish contingent in action in Perthshire.

“I want to maybe squeeze another win in and aim for the Seve Trophy, too. The Ryder Cup points race starts next week [in Wales], which is another factor. “I hadn’t really thought about playing here this week and imagining returning next year – maybe I will now! Obviously it would be a dream to play in any Ryder Cup.

“A lot depends on how I play for the remainder of this year. If you are not in the top 50 come the turn of the year, you’re not getting to play in the big events. I’m ranked just around 100 at the moment, so a win would help.”