Feherty Wins Scottish Open, Loses Trophy
David Feherty won the "Battle of the Future Network Stars" at the Scottish Open, then loses trophy while celebrating with the road manager of Led Zeppelin
Our journey through the past features a battle of the future network stars, a Led Zeppelin tie-in, a lost trophy, and a sudden death playoff. You’re invited to explore the 1986 Bell’s Scottish Open where David Feherty beat out fellow future television analysts Frank Nobilo and Ian Baker-Finch. Then a mystery that has still not been solved occurred. Scroll down to learn more.
We have some exciting news about the progress being made on the documentary movie based on my book about Tony Lema. We’ll be updating the news in upcoming editions of Tour Backspin. We now have a website that features a trailer. Check it out by clicking on the clip below.
Davis Thompson put together rounds of 63-67-62-64 at TPC Deere Run in the John Deere Classic to win his first tournament as a pro. Scoring was low all week as Hayden Springer shot a 59 in the first round. It was the second 59 in three weeks on the tour this year. C.T. Pan finished with a round of 64 and punched his ticket to Troon for the Open Championship. Scroll down for a tournament wrap-up, a few thoughts from me, and the Clips You Might Have Missed.
We want to hear from you in the Tour Backspin Poll, and this week’s Music Clip features Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers doing “Just Like a Woman” live in 1986. Scroll down to listen. We’ve got a very different, and off the wall, Swing Like a Pro feature for you and Tony Lema gives you some advice for your game in the Swing Like a Pro feature. This week’s WHAT HOLE IS IT? Presented by Rota Golf is pretty easy so give it a shot and you may just win a golf swag prize pack. Rota Golf has a cool way to map out your bucket list journey of playing the top 100 courses in the U.S. We’ve got some links for you in the Check it Out section, a family affair in the What is Hip? and an ad that features some beautiful clubs in this week’s Vintage Ad from 1986. Scroll down to view.
The latest episode of The Tour Backspin Show has dropped on YouTube for all subscribers. Our annual paid subscribers have had access to this podcast that features Lee Trevino receiving the Legacy Award from the Robert Trent Jones Society, and discussing his illustrious career. Early access to The Tour Backspin Show is one of the benefits of being a paid subscriber to Tour Backspin. Feel free to share this with your golf buddies.
We understand if you can’t pay for a premium subscription and we’re happy to have you here however you’ve arrived. You can sign up for a free subscription so you’ll never miss the newsletter. It will arrive in your inbox every Thursday.
In last week’s Tour Backspin Poll we asked if you thought that Akshay Bhatia would win a tour event this year. An overwhelming 100% of respondents have confidence that Bhatia will be in the winner’s circle before the end of the year.
The Open Championship tees off in seven days! It’s time to play “Who Ya Got?” in this week’s Tour Backspin Poll. Show us your best prognosticator skills.
Tour Backspin Poll
Do you know what happened today in golf history? Or which famous golfer has a birthday today? Me, neither. But I do know where to go to find out. Check out the Your Golfer’s Almanac podcast. Host Michael Duranko celebrates birthdays, milestones, and other accomplishments that occurred on this day in golf history. Listen HERE.
We’re playing Scottish Open Trivia in this week’s Tour Backspin Quiz. Scroll down to play.
Did you miss a previous newsletter? You can view it HERE. Help us grow Tour Backspin! Please forward this email to a friend. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? You can sign up HERE.
Okay, we're on the tee, let's get going.
Enjoy!
Larry Baush
Feherty Wins “Battle of the Future Network Stars” at the Scottish Open
It is Wednesday, August 20th, 1986, and an article written by Renton Laidlaw in London’s The Evening Standard under the headline, “Lyle Plays The Name Game,” previews the Scottish Open that tees off the next day in Glasgow, Scotland. The event, originally known as the Glasgow Golf Classic, was played in 1983 when Bernhard Langer won at Haggs Castle Golf Club. The next year the name was changed to the Glasgow Open and was won by Ken Brown and the following year, Howard Clark took the title.
In 1986, the tournament again changed its name to the Bell’s Scottish Open and remained at the Haggs Castle Golf Club on the Southwest side of Glasgow. It had been 12 years since a Scottish Open was on the European Tour schedule. The 1972 event, held at Downfield Golf Club in Dundee, was won by Neil Coles in a playoff with Brian Huggett and the 1973 event at the Old Course at St. Andrews was won by Graham Marsh.
Many credited Lyle and his decision as a factor that saved the event from extinction.
The Bell’s Scottish Open took over the spot on the European Tour schedule originally occupied by the Glasgow Open, five weeks after The Open Championship and two weeks after the American PGA Championship. The purse for the Bell’s Scottish Open was £130,000, equal to about $125,00.
Laidlaw reported on how Sandy Lyle, winner of the Greater Greensboro Open on the American PGA TOUR, had not won an event on the European Tour in 1986 and languished outside the top 10 on the Merit of Order list. Lyle’s family was from Glasgow, and this would be a most opportune time to score a victory that would also help him secure a place on the six-man Nissan Cup team that would compete with teams from America, Japan, and Australia/New Zealand later in the year. There were also places at stake in the Dunhill Cup, a four-man team event conducted at St. Andrews the month after the Scottish Open.
As an Open champion, Lyle was exempt into the PGA Championship, played at the Inverness Club in Toledo, OH, 14 days before the Scottish Open. Instead, he opted to stay in Europe and play in the Scottish Open. Many credited Lyle and his decision as a factor that saved the event from extinction.
After the first round on Thursday, Laidlaw reported to the readers of the Evening Standard that Frank Nobilo, a 26-year-old New Zealander, set a new course record at the recently altered Haggs Castle, now a 6,605-yard, par-71 layout, with a round of 65 and enjoyed a one-shot lead over Roger Chapman. Both Nobilo and Chapman completed their rounds before the rain started that came down relentlessly for the rest of the day.
Ian Baker-Finch, playing in the damp conditions of the afternoon, birdied four out of five holes starting at the 13th on his way to matching Chapman’s 66. Christy O’Conner Jr. was a great foul weather player, much like his more celebrated uncle who he was named after, shot a very respectable 67 and was tied with Brian Waites and Derrick Cooper. Philip Walton, Jimmy Heggarty, and Hugh Baiocchi, who lost in a playoff at the Benson and Hedges International Open the week prior, all had 68. David Feherty shot a 69 and was tied with 11 other players.
Baker-Finch and O’Conner both finished their rounds in near darkness.
“I never hit the ball all that close, but I holed a lot of putts.”
Sandy Lyle began his round by birdieing three of the first four holes but then dropped four shots in a six-hole span starting at the sixth hole. His score of 70 included nine one-putt greens underscoring his lack of ball striking sharpness.
Nobilo birdied the first hole, two-putting the par 5, and added an eagle after sinking a 30-foot putt at the fourth hole. He then strung together four birdies on the back nine before dropping a shot at the final hole after hitting his approach into a bunker.
“I never hit the ball all that close, but I holed a lot of putts,” Nobilo explained after his round.
In the second round the putts didn’t fall and Nobilo skied to a 76 for a 141 total while Chapman shot a 74 to come in at 140. It was Ian Baker-Finch, exhibiting a lot of confidence, who grabbed the lead after a second-straight round of 66.
“I am harder and more experienced than when I led at halfway in the 1984 Open Championship and shared the lead with Tom Watson going into the final round.”
Christy O’Conner Jr. matched Baker-Finch’s 66 and stood at 133 followed by Cooper who matched his first-round 67. At 136 were Baiocchi and Waites while Feherty added a second-round 68 for a 137 total, five shots off Baker-Finch’s lead. Sandy Lyle added a 69 to his first-round 70 for a total of 139.
Baker-Finch was convinced that he was ready to win the tournament.
“I am harder and more experienced than when I led at halfway in the 1984 Open Championship and shared the lead with Tom Watson going into the final round,” he claimed. “I just wish I could have another shot at it now.”
Baker-Finch played brilliantly, scoring five birdies with the longest birdie putt a six-footer and the next longest being less than a yard.
He continued to cruise down his own private route 66 adding his third-in-a-row in Saturday's third round and continued to lead, stretching it to four shots. Christy O’Connor, Jr, continued to dog Baker-Finch’s heels with a round of 69 and was at 202. Feherty put together a round of 66 and sat another stroke back tied with Baiocchi who had a round of 67.
“I wouldn’t even have minded if Christy had birdied them as well. I know how well I’m playing and would have been quite happy to take him on level terms tomorrow.
Lyle made a move getting himself into contention after shooting a 66 to get to 205.
“I know I’ve a few shots to make up but a 64 in the final round could put the others under pressure,” Lyle said after his round.
Baker-Finch and O’Conner played together in the final group. Baker-Finch made seven birdies in his round including three in a row starting at the 15th hole that allowed him to pull away from O’Conner.
“I wouldn’t even have minded if Christy had birdied them as well,” Baker-Finch said after the round. “I know how well I’m playing and would have been quite happy to take him on level terms tomorrow. Of course, I’m happier still to be four ahead.”
The weather was beautiful for Sunday’s final round with placid sunny skies. Baker-Finch might have been willing to take on O’Conner on level terms the night before, but things changed during the fourth round. Baker-Finch saw his four-stroke lead evaporate over the course of the front nine before struggling home with a round of 72.
The two Irishmen took advantage of Baker-Finch’s troubles with Feherty coming in with a 67 and O’Conner shooting a final round 68 resulting in a three-way tie at 270. On the first playoff hole, a 483-yard, par 5, all three players hit a safe cut off the tee and all three balls “could have been covered by a large blanket,” according to John Campbell of The Daily Telegraph.
All three players used a wood for their second shot and Feherty came up just short of the green while O’Conner hooked his ball into trampled rough near the green. Baker-Finch hit what originally looked like the best shot, but it landed on the green and took a hard bounce to the right and into a bunker. He had short-sided himself and his lie in the bunker was so close to the lip that he couldn’t take a stance with his feet in the bunker. He left his first attempt in the bunker and put his second attempt to five feet to save par.
O’Conner did well to get his tricky chip shot from the rough to 12-feet from the hole for his birdie. Feherty was too aggressive with his chip shot which he ran six feet past the hole. O’Conner putted first and missed his birdie try. Feherty also missed giving Baker-Finch a lifeline—if he could make his 5-foot putt for par. He missed and the other two players headed to the second playoff hole, the 18th hole at Haggs Castle.
“I hardly dared look. All I remember was the ring in my ears.”
Both O’Conner and Feherty hit the green in regulation with Feherty facing a 30-foot putt and O’Conner faced one half as long. Feherty rapped his putt into the back of the cup for a birdie and then stepped back to see if O’Conner could match him.
He could not and Feherty had his second European Tour victory having won the Italian Open back in May. Both wins came via a playoff.
Feherty spoke about O’Conner’s putt saying, “I hardly dared look. All I remember was the ring in my ears.”
Feherty was awarded a check for £21,600, equal to $32,490 and a very nice trophy which he almost immediately lost. Not to another player in competition, but while celebrating his victory (see the Bonus Story). But that week in Scotland, Feherty won the “Battle of the Future Network Stars” defeating Ian Baker-Finch and Frank Nobilo. All three would transition to the role of television golf analyst.
An exciting playoff finish helped cement the position of the Scottish Open rebrand and the move on the schedule to the week before the Open Championship in 1987 solidified its importance. It was also in 1987 that the BBC began to broadcast the event live. The event is now an important links warm-up for the top players preparing to play in The Open Championship.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Threads.
BONUS STORY
David Feherty has been very open about his struggles with alcohol and drugs and in 1986 his substance abuse was in ascension. After accepting the winner’s check and the trophy for winning the Scottish Open, he headed into Glasgow to attend a concert. He doesn’t remember what happened next other than waking up next to Peter Grant, the famous tour manager for Led Zeppelin, two days later—in Gleneagles, which is 150 miles away from Glasgow. And his new, flashy trophy was nowhere to be seen.
“Peter was poking me with a stick like a dead stag,” Feherty recalled to Rolling Stone in 2015. “I had half of a train ticket to London that I hadn’t used. So, I came to London and got back to Scotland—but I had no idea how. It’s still confusing to this day. Oh, and the Scottish Open trophy is still lost. God only knows where the hell it is.”
Tom Watson, and his second wife, Anita, helped Feherty find the help he needed to overcome his addictions and he now works as an analyst for LIV Golf.
What Hole is It? powered by Rota Golf. Doesn’t your bucket list journey deserve one of these?
WHAT HOLE IS IT?
Are you on the leader board?
Congratulations to John Lewis III, who correctly identified #16 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, IL, in last week’s WHAT HOLE IS IT? contest. John beat out seven other correct answers in the random drawing. We’re sending a prize pack of golf swag, including new stickers, to John. Submit your answer for this week and get yourself into the race for the Herbert C. Leeds Trophy, our new perpetual trophy for the annual winner.
PGA TOUR Wrap-Up | John Deere Classic
After two runner-up finishes in his last six starts, including last week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Davis Thompson got his first PGA TOUR title at the John Deere Classic. Scores were very low at the TPC Deere Run course in Silvis, IL, and Thompson shot rounds of 63-67-62-64 while Hayden Springer recorded the second 59 in three weeks.
Thompson punched his ticket to The Open Championship with the win as did C.T. Pan who shot a final round 64 to get into a tie for second and earned the second spot up for grabs.
“It’s going to be a great trip,” Pan said. “Honestly going to be hectic to arrange all the travel details last minute, but it will be a good problem to have and my wife and I will be looking forward to our trip there.”
For the third straight year, the winner of the John Deere Classic has stayed at the same rental house. J.T. Poston won in 2022 staying at the house while Sepp Straka, the champion in 2023, was in the group that rented the house last year. Thompson even stayed in the same room that Straka used last year.
There is one rule for the winner, though.
“I think I have to pay for the whole house now, which is unfortunate, but I’ll gladly write the check for that,” Thompson said.
Straka wasn’t part of the group that bunked there this year. He had a new baby, and his wife along, which doesn’t really work that well at a house full of guys.
The 20-year-old amateur, Luke Clanton, finished in a tie for second and became the first amateur since Billy Joe Patton to finish in the top-10 in back-to-back PGA TOUR starts. Patton did it in the 1957 U.S. Open and the 1958 Masters. Clanton has a chance to make it three in a row at this week’s ISCO Championship where he is the betting favorite. 😮
Watch the top ten shots here:
Read a recap of the tournament by Cameron Jourdan of Golfweek HERE.
Clips You Might Have Missed
Birdie from the bunker for Davis Thompson.
Nice Saturday round for Jordan Spieth. Rounding into form for The Open Championship?
These things happen on your way to a 59.
Pan hole out for eagle. Go DAWGS!
More Springer magic.
Something waiting for Rory in Scotland this week.
Tour Backspin Quiz | Scottish Open Trivia
Who has won the most Scottish Open titles? What years did he win?
Scroll down for answer
Swing Like a Pro
If you don’t have this shot in your arsenal, Feherty is here to help.
Audio excerpts from the book Champagne Tony’s Golf Tips by Tony Lema with Bud Harvey.
(Click on player and scroll down when page opens)
There are other unique features to my own swing which we'll develop in a mechanical breakdown of the golf swing. For instance, my left arm remains inordinately firm and extended throughout the back swing. My wrists don't cock fully until the hands start dragging the club back into the down swing. There's more than the normal amount of knee action in my body pivot, and my head and shoulders recoil like a battery of deck cannons when I hit the ball.
*AI generated voice
Blind Shot
Click for something fun. 👀
Tour Backspin Music Clip
Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers do “Just Like a Woman” in 1986.
Uncorked, The Life and Times of Champagne Tony Lema tells the story of one of the tour’s biggest stars in the mid-1960s. A fascinating glimpse into the traveling caravan that was the PGA TOUR during an era where the fields were full of “Mad Men” era personalities. From a hardscrabble youth spent on the “wrong side of the tracks” in the Oakland suburb of San Leandro, to the temptations of Elko, Nevada, to the bright lights of the PGA TOUR, Uncorked tells a story of determination, redemption and, above all else, a love story that documents how Betty, Tony’s new wife, provided the direction and motivation for him to become a top star. Order on Amazon.
WHAT IS HIP?
It’s very hip when it is a family affair.
Tour Backspin Quiz Answer:
Ian Woosnam won the Scottish Open in 1987, 1990, and 1996.
Thank you for reading this far, I know your time is valuable and choosing to spend some of it on what I’ve created is gratifying. If you want to help support the work we’re doing, please consider upgrading. It’s just $36 a year and you’ll be helping to tell the stories from one of golf’s golden ages.
Vintage Ad
Final Thoughts
How cool is that Jim Nantz backyard 13th hole at Augusta National replica?
How many 59s are we going to see this year on the PGA TOUR?
There will be three former University of Washington players in the Olympics. C.T. Pan (Chinese Taipei), Nick Taylor (Canada), and Carl Yuan (China). Pretty Cool.
Let’s put all the Tour Backspin detectives on the case to find that Scottish Open trophy that David Feherty lost somewhere in 1986. Rewards may be offered!