This weekend, 18 Scottish golfers will be teeing off at 4 different venues as they all look to find some winning form on the highest stage. The Madeira Islands, Portugal, will stage the European Tour as 13 Scots will be trying to vie for the title and pick up a €116,660 cheque and win exemption for all of the 2009 European Tour tournaments. Leading the Scottish charge at the tournament will be former Open winner Paul Lawrie, Alastair Forsyth, Andrew Oldcorn and Andrew Coltart. Most of the rest of the Scottish players are from the Challenge Tour but are able to play at the tournament because the top European Tour players taking part in the CA Championship in Doral, Florida.
One of those players who is competing in CA Championship in Florida is Colin Montgomerie. The 44-year old needs a fourth placed finish or higher if he is to qualify for the first Major of the season – The Masters at Augusta. The CA Championship is part of the World Golf Championship series as they bid to pull in the world’s top golfers in an attempt to increase global competition. Monty missed the cut last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida, and will be looking to get back to form, although he will have to compete with the world’s best and may need to beat the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mikelson, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh if he wants to participate at The Masters.
Also in Florida this week is the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open. One Scotsman who is a unknown figure in Scotland is Martin Laird. Glasgow born Laird graduated from the Nationwide Tour last year after finishing in 13th place on the money rank list and he is now bidding to consolidate his place on the PGA Tour so he can continue his career on its upward trend. Most of the PGA Tour’s top players are at the CA Championshipso it is seen as a chance for all the players playing at the Puerto Rico Open to get a victory and keep their place on the PGA Tour for the 2009 season.
Finally, there is 3 Scots competing in the Asian TourInternational in Thailand. Dubai based Ross Bain, Simon Dunn and former Walker Cup player Lloyd Saltman are competing to win the tournament and collect their first win of the season on the Asian Tour. Special attention will be paid to Saltman after he put in a brilliant performance for the Walker Cup team and then turned professional in 2007. After missing out on European Tour qualification, he turned to the Asian Tour for the 2008 season in aim to establish himself in professional golf.
World Golf Championships – CA Championship
European Tour – Maderia Islands Open
PGA Tour – Puerto Rico Open
Asian Tour – Asian Tour International
Lion Rampant Sports 
