Golf Events / Bill Elliott / 09 July 2008 / 1

Single malt socialist Bill Elliot aniticipates the drams and drama of this weekend's Scottish Open.

The last time I visited the Loch Lomond Club, site this week of course for the Scottish Open, it wasn't finished. The fairways had just been seeded and the greens were devoid of grass. Still it looked sensational from where I sat.

And where I sat was next to the man who designed it all, Tom Weiskopf, as we swooped hither and thither in a helicopter over this wonderful layout, the former Open champ unable to contain his enthusiasm at what he had built in this wondrous part of bonny Scotland. It's really no wonder either, because the tall American damn near died in the doing of it.

He told me a story that evening as we sat by a crackling fire while lighting another one in our bellies via a succession of extremely fine malts. It turns out he lived on site for several months, camping out in a wee caravan. Now Tom likes a dram and so most evenings he would make the long walk across fields to the nearest pub where he would set up court before returning.

One night following a particularly enjoyable time he was walking home by moonlight when he fell into a deep ditch. Worse, this ditch had deeper mud at the bottom. He tried to clamber back out but failed over and over again, his strength gradually ebbing away. There was no-one able to hear his cries for help.

"I really thought I was going to die but after half an hour I gave it one last go. I wasn't going to die before I saw this place completed because no-one ever again is going to be handed a piece of land like this for a golf course, " he said shortly before I slid to the floor for a quick nap. Having made it out, what annoyed Tom was that there now wasn't a pub open for him to buy a celebratory drink or five.

I'm glad he made it, not just because he is a top bloke but because Loch Lomond is a genuine masterpiece of the designer's art. So why haven't I been back since? Well, it's a personal thing. I just don't like seeing a beautiful part of a country I admire being annexed and gated and barred to everyone except the rich and their friends. It's a Gucci-Socialist thing I suppose, maybe even an affectation, but it's how I feel.

It won't, however, prevent me watching every minute of play from tomorrow on my TV at home. At least, in between previewing next week's Open for The Observer I'll watch it. Hopefully, you will too and now you know a bit more about this course maybe you'll even enjoy it a tad more. I certainly hope so.

There will be much to enjoy. Apart from the scenery the field gathered for this one is the galaxy side of impressive. Headed by Phil Mickelson this field includes the likes of Adam Scott, surely the most under-achieving world class player around at present, as well as a phalanx of Euro stars led by Lee Westwood who, rightly, sees this as ideal preparation for next week's Big One.

Mickelson, meanwhile, remains an enigma. Arguably, even more naturally talented than Tiger, he sometimes fails to match his great rival as a competitor. Traditionally, he does all his good work in the first half of the year and he is up to speed with this in 2008 having won twice on the US Tour. He almost always plays exceptionally well at Loch Lomond but his mind will be on Birkdale this time more than most because with Woods away convalescing the stage is now free for Leftie to strut his stuff.

Will he? Who knows. I don't and, most likely, he doesn't either. This is the way it is with Phil and it is what helps to make him one of the most watchable golfers in the world. Away ye go laddie but mind those bloody ditches...

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1. £10 Punter | 09 July 2008

   Great 'mad eyes' pick of Phil there...

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