The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
23rd - 26th August 2012
Diageo named Official Partner of 2014 Ryder Cup
November 29, 2011
Johnnie Walker becomes first Scottish brand with Official Partner status
Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business and producer of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, was today named as an Official Partner of The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
The agreement will see Diageo use its portfolio of premium beverage alcohol brands to promote The 2014 Ryder Cup around the globe in partnership with Ryder Cup Europe. Central to the partnership will be Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch whisky and the first Scottish brand to enjoy Official Partner status for the tournament.
Picture: (l-r) Peter Lederer, Diageo Scotland, The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, Scotland’s First Minister, Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, and Patrick Elsmie, Managing Director of the Gleneagles Hotel © Rob McDougall.
Bjorn takes Johnnie Walker Championship
title
after five-man play-off
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn won a five-man, five-hole play-off in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today.
The 40-year-old Dane beat South African George Coetzee when it came down to the two of them after Mark Foster, who went into the round as joint leader, with Ignacio Garrido, took a bogey six on the final hole of regulation play whilst one ahead of the field.
That dropped him alongside Bjorn, Coetzee, Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger on the 11-under-par mark of 277. So back to the 18th they went as a five ball play-off.
Wiesberger was the first to drop out, running up a six on the first extra hole after driving into a bush and taking a penalty drop, we were down to four. Larrazabal went next, he also took six after his chip for birdie from over the green hit the hole, but went nearly five feet past.
Bjorn, Coetzee and Foster then entertained the Gleneagles crowd with three like for like birdies in the first five man play-off on the European Tour since 1992 at the BMW International Open. Foster then took six again on the fourth extra hole and, as Bjorn and Coetzee continued, he was left to reflect on what could have been.
The 37-year-old had led by three with eight holes to play, but was caught after he bogeyed the 12th and Bjorn, fourth in The Open last month, birdied both the 13th and long 16th. Bjorn the three-putted the par 3, 17th, giving Foster the chance to close out the title.
Foster, who has led three of his last four events at some stage then drove his 18th tee shot into the trees, his second shot found the rough and the Worksop man could not make the green in three leaving him a 20 foot putt from the rough. His putt left him short and the two man play-off commenced.
After Foster's exit it was finally decided after Bjorn pitched to within three feet for a third successive birdie, Coetzee could only manage a par and the celebrations could begin in what was the Dane’s 12th European Tour victory. A delighted Bjorn said, “The way I played the last three playoff holes, I can't be more proud of what I did. Everything was pretty spot on and those wedges I hit in on the playoff holes three and four were special, but that 7‑iron on the fifth playoff hole was probably one of the best golf shots I've ever hit.”
Joint sixth, but only one stroke back, were Scotland's Stephen Gallacher and Swede Joel Sjoholm, both of whom had failed to birdie the last.
It was a disappointing end to Foster’s week, “In the end, it was all down to Mark's mistake really on the last, but that happens in golf,” said Bjorn. “We have all been there when you had the chance to win and you don't. You've just got to draw on all the good things. He played wonderful golf this week and he's had a great year, and he's got to draw on that. Getting himself into positions, one will go your way and then once you start winning it becomes easier to win. He's got a hurdle there he's got to get over, but he's playing the golf and he's a brilliant guy and he'll get there.”
Reflecting on his 18th tee shot, Foster said, “Just couldn't get it to the fairway. Couldn't get a lie to get the third shot.”
“The leader board, that's how it is. You wait all day, you make a birdie in a playoff and two other people make one. It's the game. It will come. But I've just got to keep playing the same,” said Foster.
With this win moves up seven places to 8th in the Race To Dubai and along with picking up the £233,330 winners cheque is the proud new owner of the Johnnie Walker Championship trophy.
Latest News
Foster and Garrido share the lead at the Johnnie Walker
Championship
27th August, 2011
England’s Mark Foster, and overnight leader, Ignacio Garrido of Spain, were forced to share the Johnnie Walker Championship leader board on 11 under after day three at Gleneagles today Full story>>
Mark Foster
Garrido heads a tight leaderboard at Gleneagles
26th August, 2011
Spain’s Ignacio Garrido leads a packed leader board by one shot, after the second round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today.
Ignacio Garrido
Garrido, a two time winner on the European Tour carded a 3 under 69 round
The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, which together with his brilliant
67 in the first round, leaves the Spaniard one shot clear of a pack of
six which includes Thomas Bjorn, Kenneth Ferrie, Lorenzo Gagli, Peter Lawrie
and overnight leader, Mark Foster who are like for like, on 7 under par.
Full story>>
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport celebrates
£5 Friday with clubgolfers at Gleneagles
26th August, 2011
As
the venue for the Johnnie Walker Championship and the Host Venue for the
2014 Ryder Cup, The Gleneagles Hotel is one of the strongest supporters
of golf in Scotland. That support has been increased this year with the
introduction of today’s ‘£5 Friday’.
Gleneagles will donate all the revenue from today’s ticket sales to clubgolf, Scotland’s junior golf development programme which so far this year has introduced 37,790 children to the game through its schools’ introductory programme, firstclubgolf.
Speaking at the clubgolf coaching area today, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison said: "£5 Friday is an excellent initiative which will enable spectators at the Johnnie Walker Championship to play their part in supporting the clubgolf programme."
Foster takes an early lead
A six-under-par 66 on day one of the Johnnie
Walker Championship at Gleneagles was enough to give Mark Foster the clubhouse
lead.
The Englishman leads Spain's Ignacio Garrido and Argentina’s Tano Goya by one stroke midway through round one at Gleneagles, on a day that saw a two and a half hour delay due to morning fog, but perfect golfing conditions thereafter.
Scores Day 1 and Draw for Round 2
Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
25th August, 2011
The draw has been made - download the full list here (pdf) and scores from day1
- Round 2 Draw
- The scores - day 1
- Notes:
Round 2, Game 13: R Kulacz W/D due to a wrist injury
Round 2, Game 7: A Wall W/D due to back injury
Scotsmen keen to get started
23rd August, 2011
Gallacher and Jamieson look forward to the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
Field set for the 2011 Johnnie Walker Championship at
Gleneagles
17th August, 2011
The field boasts over 220 European Tour titles between them and illustrating the international nature of the European Tour, 25 nations are represented. Last year’s champion will be joined by his brother and Ryder Cup team mate, Francesco, who is keen to recreate some of the form his sibling produced in Scotland last year.
Edoardo and Francesco Molinari
2010 European Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie who has been sidelined by an Achilles injury in recent weeks will be looking to find the form that saw him lead early in the final round at the 2011 Scottish Open. Monty said, “I’m eager to get playing again so it’s with great excitement that I look forward to the start of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. I’m currently 92nd in the European Tour Race to Dubai and want to make it into the season-ending event so need a good finish in front of my home fans to move back into the top 60 of the rankings.” Joining the Scot will be two of his victorious vice captains, Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley as well as his successor José María Olazábal, who will be keeping a close eye on the leader board.
Local talent look to make their mark at Gleneagles
Eight of Scotland’s leading PGA professionals will look to hit the headlines later this month when they take part in the £1.4 million, Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles 25-28 August.
Among them will be 33 year old, Chris Doak from Greenock, who was flying high at Gleneagles back in October 2010 as he captured the Scottish PGA Championship in a drama-packed play-off over the King's course. On capturing the title Doak automatically qualified for the Johnnie Walker Championship and will be joined by the leading 7 Scottish Professionals from the 2010 Scottish Region PGA Order of merit; Greig Hutcheon, Craig Lee, Jason McCreadie, Scott Henderson, Paul McKechnie, Gareth Wright and David Patrick.
Chris Doak from Greenock 
2014 Hopefuls Must Step Up At Gleneagles Says Monty
Colin Montgomerie has sent out a message to all golf fans ahead of the 2011 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles 25th - 28th August. The victorious 2010 European Ryder Cup Captain has warned fans to keep a keen eye on any Europeans that prove they have what it takes to conquer the PGA Centenary Course, as the host course for the 2014 Ryder Cup.
Montgomerie hopes that, when the Ryder Cup comes to his homeland, Europe will be defending the trophy won under the captaincy of Jose Maria Olazábal in 2012 and already the 48 year old Scot is thinking about what might be, come 2014.
