Golf world applauds 'good guy' Scott Jamieson and rightly so

Admittedly not on the same level as either of those triumphs, Scott Jamieson’s success on home soil in the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire on Sunday was another such example and, though I know that lots of people share that sentiment, I am happy to explain why.

First and foremost, the Glaswegian is one of the nicest human beings you are ever likely to come across. From his days as an amateur - his title triumphs included winning the Scottish Boys’ Stroke-Play Championship at Lanark in 2001 - all the way through to what is now his 16th season as a DP World Tour card holder, Jamieson has been a credit to himself, his family, Cathkin Braes Golf Club, Scottish Golf and his country in general.

Not once in all those years have I heard a single bad word about him, hence why so many people were quick to express delight on social media on Sunday night after the 42-year-old landed his second DP World Tour victory after producing a mighty impressive final-round display on Donald Trump’s fearsome Old Course at Balmedie.

“One for the good guys,” wrote Tony Johnstone, a six-time DP World Tour winner and now a brilliant commentator for Sky Sports, while PGA Tour player Billy Horschel simply posted “LFG!”, which I am led to believe in American parlance translates to “let’s freaking go”.

Jamieson won twice on the now defunct PGA EuroPro Tour in 2009 as he topped its Order of Merit. He then wasted no time graduating from what was the Challenge Tour to the European Tour - now, of course, the HotelPlanner Tour and DP World Tour - before landing a breakthrough win in the 2012 ISPS HANDA Nelson Mandela Championship in South Africa.

That success came in just his 65th start on the main tour and, with a swing to die for and a fabulous temperament to boot, it seemed certain that a few more titles would fall to Jamieson. He had chances. Leading going into the final round of the 2018 Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek, for example, at a venue where he’d done well in the past.

Bigger mental challenge than technical

Getting over the line, though, is the most difficult thing in golf and the longer Jamieson’s wait for a second success went on, there was absolutely no denying that he was starting to face a bigger mental challenge than a technical one.

The Florida-based player - his wife Natalie is American and Jamieson is one of those rare Scots who looks very much at home living in the sunshine - started working with Jamie Gough earlier in the year and that looks to have been a very shrewd move, indeed. As was the case with both Ewen Ferguson and Connor Syme in recent years, the Fife-based swing guru has helped Jamieson find that winning formula.

His final-round performance on Sunday was a thing of beauty. He’d seen two or three birdie attempts shave the hole early on before making his move with a burst of four birdies in five holes around the turn. From three ahead with eight to play, his lead was back to one a couple of holes later. Was he about to falter and come up short again?

The answer was an emphatic ‘no’ as Jamieson played the final five holes exactly how he’d have wanted to, emulating Grant Forrest by landing this particular title on Scottish soil and becoming a DP World Tour winner again nearly 14 years and 356 events after that first triumph.

“None that really scream at me,” admitted the 42-year-old in reply to being asked if there had been a particular disappointment over the years that had stung and might not any more. “Golf is such a weird game. You don’t have to do too much wrong and then momentum can swing the other way. That’s what I was really proud of today. I stuck to my gameplan.

“This golf course gives you a lot of shots you are really uncomfortable with. But I just said f*** it! (laughing). I was like ‘just stand up and commit to the shot as what is the worst thing that can happen? I win or don’t win. Am I going to play next week or go home and see my family?’ Maybe that’s the plan going forward.”

Jamieson left it until the last event three years ago before hanging on to his card. He was facing another battle in the final few events this season to do likewise but not any more. His seat at the top table has been secured for a couple of seasons.

He’s up to 42nd in the Race to Dubai and now has his sights set on making the Play-Offs in November. He picked up around £370,000 for his win and another £150,000 for winning the Closing Swing, which also gets him into all the Back 9 events. No wonder he was smiling after he’d grabbed a quick chat with the aforementioned Natalie back home in the States after the trophy presentation and a FaceTime call with Trump on Sunday evening.

“That’s what it is all about,” he said, smiling. “There were a few times on the back nine when I found my family creeping into my mind and you are like ‘no, focus’. When you start out in this game, you are doing it for yourself and trying to be as good as you can be. But, when you have family, you become the provider and that’s all you want to do. So delighted.”

He’ll have a sore hand by the time he tees up in this week’s Husqvarna British Masters because it had already been shaken a lot by the time he left Aberdeenshire and it will be more of the same at The Belfry. Deservedly so, too.