The From the Locker Room team have been getting themselves hyped up for the end of the season, it’s a busy time with 3 major events in the space of two weeks, but plenty of locker rooms to be mooching around in for news, insight and analysis.

First stop on the road was Lochgelly golf club for the 2023 Forrester-Lochgelly Open, there was a field of 15 scrapping over a series of mini-battles from OoM survival to wining the James Braid Quaich and of course the small matter of picking up the Forrester-Lochgelly Open along the way.

It looked for while like Callum McNeill, inspired by the battle for survival might emerge like a phoenix from the fire and lift the trophy, but as his hopes dwindle many looked to David McColgan, defending his 2022 win, but in the end, it was rookie of the year candidate Richard Mair who after missing a short putt to win on the 18th lifted the trophy on countback.

We caught up with some of the runners and riders to get their thoughts on everything today so let’s head over to the team now.

Well gents that's the 2023 Order of Merit regular season in the bag - how to you feel about your standing heading into the Tour Champs?

2022 Tour Champs winner Kevin Brannan said, “I'm happy to be in the middle of the pack. I'd like to have challenged closer to the top but an honest look back on the season says that where I stand is fair. Not troubling the top in any events will always make it difficult over the course of the season.”

2023 rookie Joel Morrison said, “I am slightly better than I was before today’s round, but not great.”

Ally Greenshields said, “I’m fairly happy with my rookie season, a bit shocked to find out before the Forrester-Lochgelly open, I was in a relegation battle, but was happy to scramble to a mid-table finish today and score some decent points.”

2-time Order of Merit winner David McColgan said, “I am happy with my performance over the regular season. I had an aim to not finish outside the top 5 and have managed 5 top 3 finishes and a 9th, so I have to class that as a success.”

Callum McNeill said, “I think my season can be split into two halves’. Brutal start, decent finish.”

Focussing back on today, it was a relatively bunched field out there, how did you find the course and conditions?

Joel Morrison said, “it was my first time at Lochgelly GC and really enjoyed it. Some tricky holes, but I appreciated the forgiveness of the tees.”

McNeill said, “I thought the course played fair, small but receptive enough greens.”

Brannan said, “that was my first time around Lochgelly and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The course was presented in fine condition, very soft and there to target. However, the dartboard sized greens meant any attempts at the greens with your approach had to be perfect.”

McColgan said, “the course was in great condition again. It probably played about 400 yards longer than last year due to the softness of the fairways and greens. It’s a great tester for the final regular season event.”

Greenshields said, “another interesting course, with tight greens and trees in front of tee boxes adding another challenging dimension to the days golf. Easy to see why there wasn’t many low scores posted.”

So how did they field felt they played?

McColgan said, “it wasn’t the prettiest of rounds, but I took my chances when they were there and took my medicine when I had to.”

McNeill said, “I felt I played pretty well in patches, finished +1 so can’t help but think of a couple of poor shots/putts costing me.”

Morrison said, “overall I was happy with today’s golf. I wanted to do better than at Canmore… not that that was difficult.”

Greenshields said, “I’m not sure I have words to explain how I felt during my round today. From walking off the 4th with a birdie, thinking I had the match locked up. To following with a quad bogey on the 5th and wanting the ground to swallow me up. A real Jekyll and Hyde performance.”

Brannan said, “I struggled a little on the front 9, I hit the ball relatively solid but was playing poor shots.
On the back 9 I started playing a little smarter, avoiding trouble and got a little more reward. It felt good all round, managed to speak to my draw a little more and control that whilst also rolling the ball well with the putter.”

Richard Mair has won his second OoM event in 2023, is it all eyes on him heading into Craigielaw?

Joel Morrison said, “I definitely wouldn’t put it past him adding to his haul. He’s known as “Boring, boring Richard” at the SanWedge tournaments on account of him hitting every fairway… a real rarity on that Tour.”

Ally Greenshields said, “Richard Mair is a lovely man, and a lovely golfer, proving that nice guys don’t finish last, they win on count back! A solid steady golfer, has every chance of coming away with a win at Cragielaw”

Callum McNeill said, “absolutely, his style of boring boring golf will suit the course well.”

Kevin Brannan said, “he's one of the hottest players on Tour, you have to applaud him and respect him with his form. He's definitely one of the steadiest golfers on Tour, and with that it's not a surprise he's been successful so far. There's every chance he could be looking at the top of the leaderboard on Thursday. “

McColgan said, “any player who wins multiple events in a season has to be respected. He’s got a steady game and confidence will be high for Thursday, but there’s a lot of golf to be played before all is said and done.”

It's hard to see past Mair for rookie of the season now, would you argue against it?

Brannan said, “I think it will be pretty unanimous. Sorry to the other rookies.”

McColgan offered, “there’s been a lot of excitement around the 2023 rookie class, but Mair really stands above all others.”

As we head in to Craigielaw the standings are tight, with double points on offer across both rounds, who do you think will finish in the top 4 places?

Greenshields said, “would be good to see the rookies finish high at Craigielaw. But I think we’re likely to see McColgan at the top of the leaderboard and maybe a surprise story from one of the relegation favourites.”

McNeill said, “I think the top 3 are pretty set. Will stick my neck out and say Stuart Allan will take 4th spot.”

Brannan said, “it's tight across the leaderboard and with 2 rounds with double points on the line, it can all change. With so many points on offer, the standings could all change come Thursday. I'm looking forward to the ups and downs that inevitably come with that many points at stake. My top 4 are McColgan, Mair, Love and Cunningham.”

Morrison said, “Dave [McColgan] is a dead cert and I’ve got to put Rich in there too (flying the flag for the SanWedge). I think the rest are fairly up for grabs with the double points on offer.”

Lochgelly saw the race to avoid Q-school really hot up, how do you think this will add drama to the OoM closer at the Tour Champs?

McColgan said, “it’s introduced an exciting wrinkle in the end of season drama for sure. With double points there could be a lot of people looking at their scores come the back nine on Thursday afternoon.”

Greenshields said, “double points, mean double pressure (probably) looking forward to second round at Craigielaw to test the mettle of the boys at the bottom.”

Brannan said, “it's a new dynamic. One which I must admit I’m still getting my head around and the jeopardy it adds. I hope that the guys who are maybe impacted by this are not impacted by this too much on the day, that they can still play and enjoy their golf.”

McNeill offered that, “It’s definitely been a good talking point (particularly now that I’m away from the battle for now).”

Morrison, rather ominously, said, “I’m just going to soak up Craigielaw while I’m still invited.”

There are 4 players within 1000 points from each other (Connor, Peck, Morrison & Harwood) is this the battle for survival, or are Greenshields and McNeill (1300 points off bottom) still in the scrap?

Morrison said, “the double points will definitely keep it wide open. They could yet be dragged in. Will be interesting to see how the table looks at lunchtime.”

Brannan said, “as I said before, with so many points on the line on Thursday, there is lots of opportunity to gain positions in the standings. With that, there are also opportunities to lose places against the field. I think most of us may have a look over our shoulder at one point with the thought of where we finish overall. Obviously, some guys have exemptions and are playing for pride. But that shows you how close it can be.”

Greenshields said, “after Morrisons performance today I see him putting together a solid performance at Craigielaw and securing himself a spot in the OoM next year. Peck on the other hand, seems resigned to his fate, ironically, inviting the players into the OoM, that look set to seal his relegation into Q-school.”

McNeill said, “I think it’d take a poor day from us to get dragged back into it. Double points at Craigielaw means we can’t get too comfortable though.”

McColgan reflected, “it’s a hard sell to say right now that anyone is certain to lose their card for next season as there is so much to play for over the 36 holes. There’s the potential to gain the final exemption of the year, and double points.

I think Greenshields and McNeill have a strong enough game to find themselves at the right end of the leaderboard and therefore bring in points and I was impressed by Morrison’s result at Lochgelly.”

Ok so who are you predicting for the drop?

McColgan said, “if I was a betting man, I’d say Harwood and Peck at the minute.”

Brannan agreed saying, “it looks like it's going to be a tough day for Harwood and Peck.”

Morrison pleaded, “anyone, but me please!”

Greenshields went with the consensus saying, “Peck & Harwood.”

McNeill said, “I fancy Joel for a good day at Craigielaw, he’s settled into the Tour a bit more over the season. I think Harwood and possibly Peck could be in danger. The irony of Peck inviting his friends to the Tour, only to be relegated himself gives me great amusement.”

Well, there we have it folks the final Players’ Reactions from the 2023 OoM regular season. Join us on Thursday 24th August for the Tour Championships and all the news insight and analysis.

Until then, happy golfing!