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MARC WARREN WINS THE JOHNNIE WALKER CHAMPIONSHIP
Marc Warren birdied the second play-off hole to beat England’s
Simon Wakefield and give the Scottish public the home victory they
craved in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Warren two-putted from 90 feet for a four after the pair had
parred the 18th first time around. To scenes of wild enthusiasm,
the Scot claimed his second European Tour success and his first
on home soil after he and Wakefield had finished tied on 280, 12
under par.
His 69 to Wakefield’s 70 saw them finish one stroke ahead of Denmark’s
Søren Hansen and Martin Erlandsson of Sweden at the end of a thrilling
final day in front of record crowds amid the rolling Perthshire hills.
Warren was forced to hole a testing eight footer for a birdie
in regulation play to get into the play-off, having dropped a shot
at the 17th. Wakefield was unable to get down in two from the front
of the green and the stage was set for a sudden-death play-off.
After two regulation fives, it was Warren who seized the initiative
second time around, booming a huge three wood second onto the front
edge of the green. His 30 yard putt finished up three feet away
and with Wakefield safely down in five, the Scot rapped in his
winning putt to set up a massive roar followed by the skirl of
the bagpipes as he was piped onto the green to receive his trophy.
Victory - the first by a Scot in the event - carried Warren past the €1
million mark in prizemoney in just his 69th start on The European Tour and his
win was his second after a play-off. Just over 12 months ago, he defeated Robert
Karlsson in Sweden to win the Scandinavian Masters.
On that occasion, Karlsson carried the home support. This time
there was no doubting who the galleries wanted to win. He admitted: “It doesn’t get any
better. It’s a dream come true. To win in Scotland is overwhelming. Victories
don’t sink in very quickly and I think this one will take a bit of time
to register.”
Warren admitted that he may have repaid the sponsor, Diageo,
who had helped him with invitations to the Johnnie Walker Championship
at Gleneagles when he was a rookie professional on the European
Challenge Tour.
“Hopefully I’ve been able to pay them back for that support” he
said. “There’s not doubt it helped me massively. I was able to come
back again this year and knew the course well and with more experience behind
me.”
The win moved Warren to 34th on the Order of Merit and left Wakefield
disappointed but not deflated. The long-time leader played solidly
all day and barely put a foot wrong. In the final analysis, Warren’s two birdies at the 18th in
regulation play and in the play-off proved the deciding factors.
“I felt comfortable all day” he said. “I don’t remember
any really bad shots. I took the advice of my manager, Chubby Chandler, and played
for the middle of the greens and let other make mistakes. I didn’t change
that game plan all day and I feel quite proud of how I played all week.”
Hansen had a five footer to get to 12 under par but saw his effort
slip past while Erlandsson’s closing 66 took him agonisingly close to the play-off
as well.
Lee Westwood and Paul McGinley sign up for
Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
Top European golfers, Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood have confirmed
their entries for this year’s Johnnie Walker Championship
at Gleneagles (August 30-September 2). The inclusion of these
players provides further endorsement for the Championship now in
it’s ninth year.
Westwood and McGinley are currently standing at 30 and 67 respectively
in the European Tour rankings and will be looking to improve on
this with a great performance at this year’s tournament.
Westwood has already had success on this year’s tour by winning
the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia whilst McGinley finished inside
the top 20 at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie.
Both players have featured strongly in recent Ryder Cup teams
and will relish the challenge of The PGA Centenary Course, which
will host the 2014 Ryder Cup matches.
Lee Westwood said, “It is always special to play in Scotland,
the home of golf, in front of Scottish crowds. They are probably
the most knowledgeable in the world. Having enjoyed success
on the tour this year I am looking forward to building on this
at the 2007 Johnnie Walker Championship and playing on The PGA
Centenary Course at Gleneagles.”
Paul McGinley added, “Having a Scottish coach makes me feel
a great affinity with Scotland. This event is one of the
highlights on the European Tour and always enjoyed by players and
their families. The Perthshire setting is one of the most
picturesque on the tour. Hopefully we will have some good
weather to enjoy the challenges of the course!”
Since its inaugural tournament in 1999, the Johnnie Walker Championship
has continued to develop into one of the most popular golfing events
and has had winners including Adam Scott and Pierre Fulke. Along
with Championship Chairman, Colin Montgomerie, last year’s
winner Paul Casey has already confirmed his intention to defend
his title.
Tickets are priced at £18 for a daily adult ticket (£15
concession) and £35 for an adult season ticket (£25
concession). These are available in advance at The Golf Shop at
Gleneagles or by calling 01764 694361. Alternatively tickets will
be available at the gate during the tournament
-ends-
Further information:
Elaine Howie PR
0131 622 3113
13 LUCKY FOR SOME
When the players tee-off in this year’s Johnnie Walker Championship
at Gleneagles (August 30-September 2) on The PGA Centenary Course,
they will find some changes on the 13th.
Gleneagles Head Professional, Russell Smith, said: ‘The
original 13th hole was a left to right dogleg measuring just over
400 yards. Following some changes last year, the new 13th hole
now plays 481 yards from the back tees and has changed to a right
to left dogleg.
‘The newly designed 13th hole requires an accurate drive,
which ideally should skirt the bunker on the right side of the
fairway. The big hitters can carry the bunker on the left hand
side but the tee shot position is crucial to leave the best possible
angle to the green. Even after a good drive it is still leaves
a demanding second shot which is played to a slightly raised, undulating
green. It is important to take enough club for the approach shot
as the bunker on the left hand side and the swale on the right
side await any mistakes.
‘It is vital that we keep looking at ways to improve and
develop the playing experience of The PGA Centenary Course for
all levels of golfers. The changes that we have implemented this
year are part of the long-term plan to ensure the course is in
perfect condition for the 2014 Ryder Cup.’
Originally the 13th was a relatively short part 4 with a left
to right ‘dog leg’. Completing last year’s
changes to the 14th hole now plays as a longer par 4 with a right
to left ‘dog leg’.
Colin Montgomerie, Championship Chairman, said: ‘Gleneagles
is a favourite place with the players and their families and they
all look forward to returning to play in this Johnnie Walker Championship. The
PGA Centenary Course always offers real challenges and this year
will be no different. The team at Gleneagles
always delivers a course with a few surprises and I’m sure
this new 13th will be lucky for some.’
The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles offers a prize fund
of £1.4m with the winner lifting £233,330. Defending
Champion Paul Casey has already indicated that he will compete.
-ends-
Further information:
Elaine Howie
Elaine Howie PR Ltd.,
0131-622 3113
07720 442 881
Paul Casey to return to Gleneagles for 2007 Johnnie Walker Championship
at Gleneagles
European Tour Player of the Year and world number 15, Paul Casey,
has announced his intention to defend his Johnnie Walker Championship
title in August.
Paul Casey’s golfing career has progressed with pace to
become one of the world’s outstanding players. After an exceptional
season in 2006, during which he became World Match Play Champion
and only the fifth golfer in history to have a hole in one during
a Ryder Cup match, Casey will return to Gleneagles where he has
won twice before. He joins a field, which includes Scottish legend
and chairman of the championship Colin Montgomerie, to compete
for the £1.4 million prize fund from the 30th August- 2nd
September.
The tournament will be played over The PGA Centenary Course, which
will also host the 2014 Ryder Cup matches.
Championship Chairman Colin Montgomerie said ‘I am delighted
that Paul plans to return to Scotland for this year’s tournament. The
support of a world class player like Paul makes The Johnnie Walker
Championship one of the best golfing events on the European Tour
and we are thrilled to welcome him again for 2007.’
Paul Casey said, “I am looking forward to playing the Johnnie
Walker Championship this year. Having won here twice now
I’m really looking forward to playing again”.
Casey is one of a number of exceptional winners the championship
has produced since its inception in 1999. Adam Scott, Pierre Fulke,
and Emanuelle Canonica are but a few of the distinguished golfers
who have claimed victory at Gleneagles.
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Notes to Editors:
JOHNNIE WALKER(r) is the world's number-one whisky brand, representing
the concept of personal progress for the many people who enjoy
it in nearly 200 countries worldwide, just as it did to John
Walker when he founded the business in 1820. A combination
of consumer insight, determination and commercial astuteness
enabled three pioneering generations of Walkers to grow a small
grocery store into an international whisky business selling stylish,
globally recognised brands.
Today this progressive and innovative approach continues. In
2005 JOHNNIE WALKER(r) announced a partnering agreement with one
of the world's most successful Formula One racing teams, Team McLaren
Mercedes.
The sport provides a unique international platform for engaging
with today's consumer.
Throughout almost 200 years of trading, John Walker's original
values of quality and consistency have been rigorously applied
to the blending process. Like John's grandson, Alexander,
a master of the art of blending, today's specialists combine a
first-class training, a natural talent and a Master Blender's perceptive
nose; all crucial when creating complex blends.
In 1908 "Born 1820 - Still Going Strong" appeared on
JOHNNIE WALKER(r) advertising material. Nearly a hundred
years later JOHNNIE WALKER(r) continues to produce successful leading-edge
brands. The range of stylish, award-winning whiskies now
includes RED LABEL, BLACK LABEL, GREEN LABEL, GOLD LABEL, and BLUE
LABEL. Together they account for 13.6 million
cases annually, making JOHNNIE WALKER(r) the most popular whisky
in the world.
JOHNNIE WALKER, the Striding Figure device and associated logos
are trademarks.
For further information please contact:
Elaine Howie PR
0131 622 3113
Email: Lucy@elainehowiepr.co.uk
The winners of the Volunteers prize draw
- 1st prize Golf membership at The Gleneagles
Hotel commencing 1st July 2006 to 31st December 2007
Bob Tolson from Milnathort
- 2nd prize 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast at The Gleneagles
Hotel including 2 rounds of golf per person
Allan Munro from Tillicoultry
- 3rd prize Tuition package at Gleneagles Golf Academy including
lessons and a playing round with golf professional
Andrzej Krwawicz from Dunbar
- 4th prize Bottle of Johnnie Walker Gold
Richard Harbinson from Muthill
- 5th prize Bottle
of Johnnie Walker Green
Daniel Currie from Ballingry
- 6th prize Bottle
of Johnnie Walker Black
William Russell from Airdrie
All prize winners will be contact week commencing 26th
June to arrange collection of prizes
Paul Casey wins Johnnie Walker Championship
at Gleneagles
At the end of a week which saw nearly all four seasons weatherwise,
Paul Casey held off Colin Montgomerie and the rest of the field
on the closing day to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
The Englishman is the first player to win the event twice and
survived a ‘nerve-wracking’ closing few holes when
it looked at one stage as though he might lose a four-stroke lead.
Ultimately, the player’s 72 proved good enough for a one
stroke victory over fellow Englishman Andrew Marshall and Denmark’s
Soren Hansen. Colin Montgomerie bogeyed the short 17th and shared
fourth spot with Dane Thomas Bjorn.
With this win Paul Casey secured his sixth European tour International
Schedule victory in his 115th European Tour event as a professional.
It was also his sixth victory as a professional and his second
victory on the 2006 European Tour International Schedule, following
the Volvo China Open.
This victory also lifts him to fifth place in the Ryder Cup race.
He said: ‘It feels fantastic, more so because I had a couple
of great players chasing me.
‘To play with Colin Montgomerie in Scotland in the final
group is a treat, very special, and it’s difficult when you
have a guy like him breathing down your neck. But I had a great
start and battled through.’
Tournament Director Graeme Marchbank, said: ‘It was certainly
an interesting and entertaining week for players and spectators
alike. The strong winds played a part in the scores at the start
of the tournament. The sun shone for the final two days and we
were delighted to welcome record crowds both for the final day
and the tournament this year.
‘Paul Casey is a worthy winner and we were delighted that
our Championship Chairman Colin Montgomerie was on the leader board
all week too.’
In addition to the specially commission trophy and a bottle of
Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Paul Casey won £235,632 (341,667
euros)
Behind the scenes
Want to know what effort really goes into mounting a tournament
like this Johnnie Walker Championship?
Then think iceberg. What you see all around you, the course, the
hotel, the tented village represents about one tenth of the activity
involved in mounting such a prestigious event.
Around 100 people are directly concerned with the setting up and
maintenance of this championship, but add on the hotel staff and
others who contribute to its smooth running and the total number
comes to well over 600.
Heading up this team in Graeme Marchbank, Events and Sponsorship
Manager, Diageo. For four years now Marchbank has been officially
connected to this grand estate, but really Gleneagles has been
embroidered into his life – his father Ian was the golf professional
for 30 years.
‘I couldn't work at a better place or with a better team,’ he
says. ‘The Johnnie Walker Championship lasts a week but the
planning of it, the worrying about it, covers at least 10 months
a year.
‘But it's fun and hugely satisfying. It’s no problem
motivating people to work very hard to put on a good show. Everyone,
no matter what their involvement, enjoys the 'hit' we all get from
staging it and seeing it grow more successful each year.
‘If there is a problem, it is the days immediately after
the championship that can be hard for those of us who have been
running off adrenalin and working 25 hours a day leading up to
it. That's the really difficult bit.’
And then there is the occasional drama. Like the night the big
wind blew in, smacked the doors open on all the marquees and threatened
to lift the hospitality units into a leaden sky.
The weather is a worry because in Scotland, as you may have noticed,
spring sometimes doesn't arrive until what is technically mid-summer
and even then it occasionally comes with a hint of winter about
it.
The problem here is encouraging the sort of growth in the ground
that allows Gleneagles’ expert greenkeeping staff to prepare
a course worthy of some of Europe's finest golfers. Somehow, no
matter what perverse nature decides, they manage this trick wonderfully
well.
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