Platt back at Archerfield Links

WHILE numerous football players have become hooked on golf after hanging up their boots, few are like David Platt in being able to say they've done something tangible to help young professionals cut their competitive teeth.

Next week, the former England international is bringing his 'Major Golf Tour' back to Archerfield Links, where almost 30 fledgling professionals will compete alongside amateurs in a 36-hole event.

Platt, who played for Aston Villa and had spells at Bari, Juventus and Sampdoria before joining Arsenal, has been involved in organising prestige amateur events at some of the leading clubs in Britain in recent years.

His first venture into professional golf was an event at Archerfield Links last October and the success of that has encouraged him to return with The Major Golf Championship, which is being played on Monday and Tuesday.

The event is open to professionals aged 26 and under and

Lloyd Saltman and his younger brother, Zack, are among those set to compete for a 7,000 prize fund, as are Kevin McAlpine, a former Scottish Amateur champion, and Greg McBain, a past Scottish Young Professionals' champion and winner of the event in October.

"The event (last year] was a pilot one to see if there was a market for it and we believe that it was a success," said Platt, who plays off six himself. "The numbers for this one are marginally up and it will be the same format with professionals and amateurs playing in the same field but for different prizes."