Scotland's Martin Laird watches his approach shot to the 18th green during the second round of the Scottish Open golf tournament at Loch Lomond near Glasgow, Scotland July 10, 2009. Laird is currently the highest-ranked Scottish golfer, at 106. (David Moir/Reuters)

Golf's homeland laments its decline

For Scotland, the ascendancy of Scandinavian golfers was a wake-up call.

By William Echikson - GlobalPost
Published: November 2, 2009 06:58 ET
Updated: November 2, 2009 07:05 ET

LADYBANK, Scotland — For Bill Miller, the Scottish Golf Union’s Director of Youth Development, it was understandable that the Spaniards would challenge his nation’s golf supremacy. But when golfers from Denmark and Sweden began walloping Scotland’s national team, he knew something had to change.

“It’s one thing for warm-weather countries to give us...

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