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Forging stronger golf links between Scotland and the US
03/04/2008
The drive to forge stronger golfing links between Scotland and America was centre stage in Alex Salmond's Scotland Week programme in Washington today.
The First Minister was on the steps of Capitol Hill to present a gift from the Home of Golf to the organisers of one of the US PGA Tour's leading events, South Carolina's Verizon Heritage Classic, a tournament with strong Scottish connections.
The First Minister presented the Heritage Classic Foundation - the charity who are the tournament's general sponsor - with a hickory shafted driving iron made in St Andrew's in the 19th century.
The club, gifted by the St Andrews Links Trust, will be used at the ceremonial tee-off by defending champion, Boo Weekley, at this year's event which begins on April 9.
Picture shows (l;-r) - US Congressman Jack Kingston, Bill Miles, Mr Salmond, John Curry, US Congressman Joe Wilson.
Mr Salmond said:
"There are few things that link Scotland with America as strongly as the sport of golf. And there are few States with stronger links to Scotland than South Carolina, the home of the Verizon Heritage Classic PGA event.
"When local Congressman Joe Wilson was in Scotland last year, he told me of the tournament's strong Scottish heritage - including the award of a Tartan Jacket to the winner each April - so I am delighted to further cement the Scottish-American relationship by awarding the Heritage Classic foundation this original hickory shafted driving iron made in St Andrews in the 19th century.
"The roll of honour for this top PGA event is a who's who of golfing legends. Previous winners include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo and Bernard Langer. It's an event which brings a little bit of Scotland to the American golfing public each April.
"And we're starting to reach out to that same American golfing public as we start the build up to the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles - a great year for Scottish sport."
The First Minister presented the hickory shafted driving iron to John Curry and William Miles of the Heritage Classic Foundation and Congressman John Wilson on the steps of the Capitol Hill in Washington.
The Heritage Classic Foundation is the general sponsor of the Verizon Heritage Classic - South Carolina's only full PGA event. The tournament, established in 1969, takes place at the Harbour Town Golf Links, a course styled like a traditional Scottish links course.