Capital Gains Taxing For Some

A week of mixed emotions both at home and abroad.

Just outside Paris, the prospects looked good for several of our players only for a little-known Spaniard to show a few flashes of Seve and record a first European Tour success. Pablo Larrazabal impressed nobody more than our top three contenders, Lee Westwood, Paul McGinley and Charl Schwartzel, in winning the French Open.   Good luck to the youngster because golf needs characters of his kind. The more the merrier as far as I’m concerned.   It’s also interesting to see that America doesn’t have anybody out of a similar mould these days.

In another capital setting just outside London, there were 18 places to be gained from Open Championship international qualifying at Sunningdale. Although there was disappointment for the likes of Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, ISM players did claim three of the places on offer.   Congratulations to Simon Wakefield, Dave Horsey and Simon Dyson who clinched their places at Royal Birkdale the week after next.

Simon came through the hardest way, having to play 36 holes and then three play-off holes as six players played off for the last two spots.   Unfortunately Ross McGowan was one of the four who missed out in extra time. It’s not all over yet though because two places are still available through this week’s tournament at Brands Hatch and next week in Loch Lomond at the Barclays Scottish Open.