PGA Tour winners join Tartan Army, bizarre banner and plan ahead for 2051 - Martin Dempster's US Open diary

PGA Tour winners join Tartan Army

Bob MacIntyre might not have been able to join the Tartan Army in Boston due to his US Open commitments but two other Scots to win on the PGA Tour made it to Foxborough Stadium for Friday’s match with Morocco.

Martin Laird and Russell Knox, both of whom are based in the US, were there to cheer on Steve Clark’s side and enjoyed the experience despite a 1-0 defeat.

“It was incredible to be in Boston the last few days,” said Laird. “I’ve been away from Scotland a long time but am still a massively proud Scot and it was like being back home in Boston.

“I almost needed this experience to feel so connected again to Scotland, and didn’t even know it. The energy and atmosphere in the city was like nothing I’d ever experienced.

“The Tartan Army really did take the city over and they were brilliant. Going into a pub and feeling like you could be in Glasgow and not Boston was surreal and amazing.

“The chants and songs in the lead up to kick off were great. Everyone was buzzing. Having my kids get to experience that alone was worth the trip! Not the result we all wanted but still an experience I got to share with my wife and kids, that I will never forget.”

Bizarre banner up in Shinnecock sky

You won’t have seen it on the TV coverage, but there’s been a small plane flying above Shinnecock Hills all week towing a banner that reads ‘Abortion Pills By Mail’.

“That’s the US to a T,” said the person I mentioned it to as we both gazed up into the sky as it flew overhead for the gazillionth time on Long Island.

The same banner had apparently flown above the Indy 500 last year, but what is it about golf?

Sky Sports regulars, after all, often have to watch adverts about erectile dysfunction in between golf shots being hit around the world!

Fancy being at 2051 US Open?

They like to plan ahead in the US - and the USGA is no different when it comes to the US Open.

As things stand, we only know that The Open, which takes place next month at Royal Birkdale, will be heading to St Andrews next year for its 155th edition then Royal Lytham in 2028.

In contrast, the venues for the US Open have been announced all the way through to 2051!

It will be back at Shinnecock Hills for a sixth time in 2036 and, for anyone who might still be around in 25 years’ time, you’ll have an edition at Oakland Hills in Detroit to look forward to.

Don’t dare say you didn’t have time to save up to be at that one.

Postage Stamp licks pesky hole

It’s been referred to as the “shortest par 5 in golf” due to its difficulty and Bob MacIntyre couldn’t get it out of his head after tackling it on Saturday.

In his post-round chat, the Scot kept harping back to the 11th hole, where the 157-yard par 3 features the smallest green on the course and, on this occasion, the wind was blowing 30mph across it.

“The scoring average there is going to be over 4,” he predicted but, even though it only gave up four birdies, it was actually 3.389 for the day.

The 7th is another testing hole here, but neither comes close to the Postage Stamp at Troon. Just saying!