EDINBURGH-BORN Sally Watson already has a stack of happy memories from the Old Course at St Andrews, and she is ready to pile on a few more when she lines up for Great Britain and Ireland against the US in this week's Curtis Cup.
It was when she starred alongside the very best woman golfers in the world at last year's Ricoh Women's British Open at St Andrews – world No.1 Lorena Ochoa won the title – that a 15-year-old Watson proved that she has the talent to reach the very t
op of the women's game.
She was the youngest-ever player to qualify and the complete all four rounds in the women's major. Now, as one of four Scots in the three-day Curtis Cup that starts tomorrow, she has another chance to take a huge stride towards her dream of becoming a top-class professional.
"To play in my first professional event at St Andrews was a once- in-a-lifetime experience," said Sally, who has spent the last two years at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida.
"Now I just can't wait for the Curtis Cup. It's going to be a wonderful week. I am a little apprehensive, but I'm determined to enjoy every single moment."
Sally joins Carly Booth, Krystle Caithness and the new Scottish Amateur Champion, Michele Thomson, as the tartan Curtis Cup contingent, and she has already enjoyed one special experience – a trip to Buckingham Palace to receive a message of good luck from golf fanatic, Prince Andrew.
The only slight disappointment for Sally this week is that dad Graham will not be by her side on the golf course. "He usually caddies for me and I love having him on the bag, but it's not allowed," she explained. "He knows my game so well and helps me deal with the stress. But, this week, there is a pool of 16 local caddies, and we get one each."
However, Dad, Mum, (Maggie) and big sister Rebecca, who is home from her first year on a golf scholarship at the University of Tennessee, will all be providing plenty of support from the sidelines.
"I'm going to have so many friends and family in the crowd, and it's going to be a super atmosphere," continued Sally, who joined up with her seven GB and I colleagues at St Andrews on Sunday. "With four Scots in the team, it's sure to be special. It's also a really young team and there is going to be a great team spirit."
Sally, who will be 17 in July, spent some of her early golfing years in San Francisco, but she laid down an early maker in Edinburgh when, at the age of 12, she became the youngest ever winner of the Murrayfield Club Championship. She then went on to represent the Midlothian county team.
The family now lives in Elie, but for Sally, a former pupil at the Mary Erskine School in Edinburgh, her golfing future lies in America.
"My goal is to join the LPGA Tour," she said. "Next year, when I'm 18, I want to go to university in America and benefit from the college golf circuit, which is really competitive. Eventually, I want to become one of the best professionals – but I need to make sure I am really ready before joining the Tour."
Sally has already taken some welcome advice from Scotland's most successful female professional North Berwick's Catriona Matthew. "I've played with Catriona in Scotland, and I also see her in Florida because her coach (Dave Whelan) is based at the Leadbetter Academy. She's a great role model," said the youngster.
Matthew played in three Curtis Cups – in 1990, 1992 and 1994 – with a loss, a win and then a halved match.
The full article contains 639 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
