John Huggan: Their cards are marked

It all starts again as soon as 5 January. So we better get a move on if we are to make some sense of how Scotland’s professionals did on the European Tour this year. It wasn’t great in terms of victories – only the one from Paul Lawrie in Spain. But here and there our lads definitely had their moments in the sun. More than one made great strides up what is an ever-steeper mountain, including the gifted Marc Warren, who will make a welcome return to full-time status in 2012.

Anyway, here is your correspondent’s verdict on how all 12 of our proud nation’s finest performed over the past 11-and-a-bit months.

Paul Lawrie – 18th place in the Race to Dubai, €1,142,012 (£958,147)

Grade A-

The former Open champion deserves much kudos for his long-awaited and overdue return to the winner’s circle and for his magnificent performance in the recent Dubai World Championship. So, when he was good, he was very, very good. But when he wasn’t he was pretty ropey. Only two top-tens other than the win in Spain and the second in Dubai tells a story of much plodding to no great effect. Still, armed with the boost in confidence his sterling play in the desert will no doubt bring, look for bigger things – and maybe even a second Ryder Cup appearance – for the 42-year old Aberdonian in 2012.

Richie Ramsay – 28th place, €904,002 (£758,457)

Grade A-

Perhaps the only thing missing from the 28-year-old Aberdonian’s season was a victory. In every significant statistical category – stroke average, driving accuracy, driving distance, greens in regulation, putts per round – the former US Amateur champion showed improvement over 2010. Not insignificantly, he won more money too, the end result of six top tens and five more entries in the top 20. He may not be the easiest guy to read or sometimes talk to, but Ramsay is very definitely doing something right. Look for further advances from him in the year ahead.

Scott Jamieson – 59th, €523,754 (£439,429)

Grade B+

In what was overall a splendid rookie season on the European Tour, the former Eisenhower Trophy player overcame a distinctly undistinguished start – nine missed cuts in his first 11 events – to not only keep his card but to qualify for last week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship. He also had the added bonus of making a sound debut for Great Britain & Ireland in the Seve Trophy. After all that, any criticism seems harsh, but as many 15 missed cuts in 31 appearances needs looking at.

Stephen Gallacher – 61st, €499,387 (£418,985)

Grade C

As usual, the amiable Gallacher distinguished himself tee-to-green during 2011, but all of his fine ball striking was let down by work on and around the greens that ranged from mediocre to miserable. An average of 30.66 putts per round is at least two, maybe three, too high for a man who should have higher ambitions than scrambling around at the last minute trying (unsuccessfully) to make the top-60 on the money list. All in all, a disappointing season.

Peter Whiteford – 63rd, €478,674 (£401,607)

Grade B

After what was something of a breakthrough season in 2010, the 31-year-old Fifer made further positive strides this year. Other than an insignificant fall in driving accuracy (down less than three per cent) Whiteford improved in all categories, including money. Still, 13 missed cuts – against five top-tens – in 31 starts does speak to a slightly unacceptable level of inconsistency, one that will need to get better in 2012 if this likeable lad is to progress further.

George Murray – 81st, €386,710 (£324,449)

Grade B+

Murray’s was perhaps the most heart-warming Scottish tale from the 2011 European Tour season. Having missed 13 cuts and boasting a highest finish of 19th in 24 starts prior to the Dunhill Links Championship, the former Scottish Amateur champion finished third in a very high-quality field. With all card-keeping pressure taken care of, he followed up with a runners-up spot at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa. Great stuff – and what should be plenty of momentum heading into 2012.

Colin Montgomerie – 102nd, €300,287 (£251,940)

Grade E

It’s hard to know what else to say about a man who, in his pomp, was forever reminding us all that, “as soon as I can’t win any more, I’ll be gone”. Well, that last win was back in 2007 and this year the best that the eight-time European No.1 could muster was a seventh-place finish in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Nine times he missed the cut. On seven other occasions he was lower than 30th – all in only 23 starts. At the age of 48 it may be time to take a wee break until the senior tour beckons. Oh wait, he said he’d never play there either.

David Drysdale – 104th, €292,750 (£245,617)

Grade C-

After a couple of seasons where real and significant progress was being made, this was a disappointing year for the 36-year-old Borderer. Certainly, just hanging on to his exempt status wouldn’t have been what he had in mind when he embarked on what was a long and arduous 35-event campaign. Too many cuts were missed, however – 13 in all. And only two top-tens were the downbeat highlights. Still, tour card safely in hand, Drysdale is capable of coming again in 2012.

Steven O’Hara – 131st, €198,148 (£166,246)

Grade D

After battling long and hard to retain his tour card a year ago, this was a disappointing follow-up for the 31-year-old former Scottish Amateur champion. Despite brief bursts of brilliance – including a fourth-place finish at his first event of 2011 – O’Hara had way too many weekends off. In 34 events he missed as many as 20 cuts, golfing suicide at this exalted level. Still, there is always hope for anyone who hits the ball as well as O’Hara routinely does, and he proved his worth again last week by winning back his tour card when he finish tied fifth at the qualifying school final stage in Spain. But an average of almost 31.5 putts per round gives too many of his fellow competitors too big a start.

Lloyd Saltman – 133rd, €195,965 (£164,414)

Grade E

At the end of what was a trying season for the 26-year-old former Walker Cup player, the statistics nevertheless told an encouraging story. In almost every category other than stroke average – 71.57 – Saltman plays the game at a level that should not only keep him on tour but also regularly propel him into contention. He doesn’t miss that many cuts either – only eight in 26 starts. So the problem, if there is one, must be between the ears. The talent and physical ability are certainly there. He’ll be back.

Gary Orr – 137th, €187,909 (£157,655)

Grade E

Given a season-long medical exemption after an injury-blighted 2010 season, the big man from Helensburgh sadly failed to take advantage, making only nine cuts in 22 starts. Other than a fourth-place finish at the KLM Open, in fact, it was disappointing stuff from one of the most likeable individuals on tour. That his next-highest finish was 26th only begins to tell the story of Orr’s year. That he hit almost 70 per cent of greens in regulation points to the bigger problem – his putting. Happily, like his fellow Scot Steven O’Hara, Orr did enough at qualifying school to regain his tour card for 2012.

Elliot Saltman – 203rd, €55,776 (£46,796)

Grade Z-

Earlier this year, Saltman served a three-month ban for cheating. Best we leave any analysis of his performance at that.