The 2020 European Tour season was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic but still provided welcome playing opportunities, including some success for Scottish players.Simply scroll down and click through the pages to see how the main Saltire bearers fared.
9. Confidence boost for Howie
Craig Howie, the 26-year-old Peebles man, possibly gained more confidence this year than any of his compatriots. He’d only played in one European Tour event prior to this season and grabbed some unexpected opportunities with both hands. A closing 65 saw him finish joint-fifth in the UK Championship at The Belfry and there were a few other occasions, including the recent Golf in Dubai Championship, when the University of Stirling graduate looked very much at home in the company of more experienced players on the top tour. Photo: Ross Kinnaird
10. Ferguson to the fore
Another Challenge Tour card holder who used this season to gain valuable experience on the main circuit. Ewen Ferguson kick-started his campaign with a top-20 finish in English Championship before claiming a top-25 spot in Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters at Valderrama then a top 15 in Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. Growing in confidence, the 25-year-old then tied for 30th in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and was joint-16th in AXA Scottish Championship before undoing some of that good work by missing the cut in both events in Cyprus. Photo: Richard Heathcote
11. Tough year for Gallacher
Not the season that Stephen Gallacher was looking for after his return to winning ways in the Hero Indian Open in 2019, but it was a tough year for him. Sparked by a closing 66 in the Saudi International in February, he was just starting to see his swing click when the season went into lockdown. He then suffered the loss of his dad, Jim, in the summer and only produced occasional glimpses of his best stuff but the 46-year-old will have been encouraged that he ended his 22nd consecutive year on the circuit with a 66 and two 69s in the Golf in Dubai Championship. Photo: Brendan Moran
12. Mixed bag for Law
David Law put in the miles as he teed up in 22 events, but his best effort was a tie for 25th in the last of those - the South African Open. It was one of those years when the 2019 Vic Open winner was unable to string four rounds together in the one week. As an example, he started the Betfred British Masters with rounds of 64 and 69 to sit handily-placed at Close House before slipping to 38th following closing efforts of 76 and 72. It was the same story for the 29-year-old in the Irish Open at Galgorm Castle, where opening rounds of 69-69 were followed with 76-70. Photo: Richard Heathcote