The From the Locker Room team barely had the time to unpack after their trip to Perth and Kinross for the Anstruther Medal and the Tour was back on the Road again.

This time we joined the players at Lochgelly Golf Club for the venues debut on the Tour.

The Forrester Open, previously held at Forrester Park, Cairneyhill, moved in 2022 and was held at the gem of a parkland course, nestled in the heart of Fife. The players were met with a course in a firm and fiery mood, but in impeccable condition.

It resulted in a tightly fought event that saw a number of players get into red numbers but in the end one player stood above them all – for the fourth time this year.

Welcome to FTLR’s Champion’s interview and welcome once again, David McColgan.

“Hi guys – great to see you all again.”

You’ve now won four out of six events this year, what does that mean to you?

“I think it sounds pretty ridiculous really. When you look at the field event by event, I would have been happy with one of these interviews, never mind my fourth.”

2022 has seen you win on both Links and Parkland courses, what’s the difference from 2021?

“I am not sure to be honest. I’ll admit I was disappointed with my performance at the Dodhead Invitational in 2021, I felt that was an event I could have won, but when Stuart Allan turns up and rips a 7-under par round you just get back in your box.

I do think I had to win an event at one of the Parkland courses in 2022. It’s great to be labeled ‘Lord of the Links’ but I don’t want to be seen as a one trick pony, so I am happy to have lifted the Dodhead Invitational and the Forrester Open @ Lochgelly.”

Let’s focus on today’s round and let’s start at the beginning.

There was a lot of attention given to your right forearm – you appeared on the practice green with it heavily strapped – what was going on there?

“Well, there was a lot of comments made – probably not safe for typing – but I suffered a bit of a strain or tear a day or two before the competition. It was non-golf related so I wasn’t sure at all how it would hold up.”

From the practice green to the 1st tee you went, and your first tee shots was less than the norm what happened there?

“I had hoped you guys were still in the bar when that happened!

It wasn’t the best, was it? I think I was apprehensive about my arm, and it was straight into a strong wind…which I hate at the best of times.

My fundamentals just went, and I came in over the top with a closed club face and drilled it straight into a tree about 15 yards off the tee. None of us actually saw where it went after that, so had to re-tee with a provisional.

I have to thank Stuart Sutherland who spotted it 150 yards up the fairway on the 2nd.
Not the start anyone wants.”

You’d hit a 2-iron – 9-iron to place you on the green and a 2 putt would let you walk off the first still level par, that must have felt good?

“Not sure good is the right word, relieved for sure!”

You’d birdie the 2nd – only the 3rd birdie of the day – but let’s jump to 5. You are sitting at 1-under par, 1 behind the lead. Talk us through the 112-yard par 3.

“Well firstly, what a hole that is. Short, into the wind, and a green that slopes back to front on a ridiculous gradient.

I tried to play a nice soft wedge in and hung on to it a bit and blocked it left, above the hole and over the water.

I was faced with a 15-yard chip, that had to carry the water and then land on a steep downslope. At that point I was staring at a 4 and run out of there.

The ball was sitting down in the rough, so I opted for a 60-degree wedge and had a landing area of no more than a golf towel. I got such a clean connection and the ball landed so softly and rolled out and hit the hole dead center and dropped for a birdie.

It was one of those moments that your round is 2 or 3 shots better off in the space of 30 seconds.”

You’d follow the chip in with a birdie on 6 and 8 and reach the turn at 4-under par and at that point looked like you’d never be caught. How did you feel at that point?

“My golf was in good shape, and my arm wasn’t hurting too much, but the truth is I had earmarked 9 thru 15 as the toughest period on the course.

So, I was glad I had made good work of the first 8 holes and it was time to dig in.”

You played 9 thru 15 in level par how did that make you feel?

“I was happy to be honest. I don’t find it an easy stretch at all, and there is trouble at every turn.

The birdie on 13 was good, and with about 6 feet more conviction could easily have been an eagle. The bogey on 15 was a bit disappointing but I knew there was one in that stretch so dusted myself off and headed down 16.”

Your tee shot on 16 was launched all the way down the fairway leaving you 140 in, however we noticed you and Andy Love had a few words as he walked up 17, what was said?

“Just a bit of good old-fashioned gamesmanship.

Andy was sitting on 1-under at the time, 2 behind me, and he had worked out that a couple of birdies on the way home – a very achievable target – and he’d be tied with me.

He was 3-under on the back 9 to that point so I knew he was on a hot streak.”

And what was your reply?

“Just a smile and a reminder I just needed to par my way home; he had all the work to do.”

You came to the 18th tee 2 shots in the lead knowing a par would see you over the line what was the plan then?

“I am not going to lie guys; I didn’t even look at the top end of my bag.

I went straight for the 5-iron. And stripped it straight down there, leaving me with 75 yards to the green. It was a formality after that.”

Your 3-under 65 is the best performance you’ve had on Tour how does this set you up going into the Tour Championships?

“It gives me a lot of confidence of course, but the pressure is all on me come the Tour Championships."
Why is that?

"In the five previous events on Links courses I haven’t lost one. At some point someone is going to win for sure, but I am not sure if I want that to be in 2022.”

Let’s look at the Order of Merit standings. You have an 1850-point lead going into Craigielaw, and many people are predicting the James Braid Quaich will be staying with you, but there are 6 players within 1,600 points vying for the final 3 prize spots. How do you think the chips will fall at Craigielaw?

“Firstly, as much as I appreciate the predictions of the race being over, I am not interested in anything till I have my hands on that quaich.

As for the other spots, it’s going to be an exciting day. Craigielaw is full of holes that can turn the ranking son their head very quickly.

It’s great to see Stuart Allan, Denis Duncan and Andy Love in the hunt – their 2021 experience undoubtedly contributing to that.

But what about the rookies, Gowens, Peck and McNeill. They’ve taken to the OoM like ducks on water and they’ll not go away quietly.

Game on, for the final two rounds of the year.”

Well, there we have it folks. McColgan has made history winning four events in one Order of Merit season – and it doesn’t look like he is finished there.

Be sure to joining us on Friday 26th August for the Tour Championships and the end of the Race to Craigielaw 2022.