After Louise Duncan did it for Scotland on home turf yesterday, the eyes of a nation turn to another local hero ahead of the Men’s British Amateur Championship, which gets under way at 7am tomorrow near Inverness.
Starting his challenge just over seven hours later will be the world No 7 Sandy Scott, who will face the added pressure of favouritism with favouritism on his home course (Nairn GC). Covid has reduced the field and removed the continental challenge from the equation. The smaller numbers has also meant Nairn Dunbar GC won’t be utilised.
The 22-year-old (pictured above) has just completed his fourth year at Texas State, where he has compiled a hugely impressive golfing CV.
And while the new British Women’s Amateur champion stayed in the UK to further her golfing education (at Stirling University), Scott took the now favoured route of honing his skills on the more competitive collegiate circuit and his efforts earned him a place in the 2019 Walker Cup team.
The Nairn player has more than held his own against the world’s best amateurs and the disappointment of missing out on a second Walker Cup appearance last month because of a wrist injury, is certain to fire his ambitions still further.
Scott, who played in last year’s US Open, narrowly failing to make the cut at Winged Foot after rounds of 75 and 74, will play both strokeplay qualifying rounds with Ireland’s Mark Power – the top 64 make it through to Wednesday’s first round of the matchplay stages.
The Kilkenny player was a revelation in defeat at the Walker Cup at Semihole and on paper is the standout second favourite.
Power reached the semi-finals at Birkdale last year and also 12 months ago made the cut at the Irish Open when he received an invitation from the European Tour. Rounds of 74, 71, 73 and 72 saw him finish 60th.
With champion Joe Long not back to defend his title, a trio of his county colleagues lead the English challenge. The 2020 beaten finalist Joe Harvey (The Kendleshire) will be desperate to go one step further while the in-form Jack Cope (The Players Club) travels north fresh off a superb win at the St Andrews Old Links Trophy. England international and World No 74 Haider Hussain (The Kendleshire) also has to be a huge threat.
Others who will have big ambitions include the hugely-talented Lytham player Callan Barrow, the supremely-consistent left handed Yorkshireman Sam Bairstow (Hallowes) while Scott’s Texas teammate Markus Braadlie (Norway) probably represents the best hope of a non GB&I winner.
However it would not be massively surprising if Scott’s biggest challenge comes from his own family. Calum Scott, who is in the first group at 7am tomorrow, might be only 17 but has shown enough game in major events during the last 18 months to suggest he could challenge.
Calum will be following in his brother’s footsteps in going to Texas Tech later this year and with home advantage could shock a few of the more established contenders.
The winner of the 36-hole final on Saturday will secure a spot in this year’s Open and next year’s Masters.