Glasgow’s Alastair Forsyth is rapidly rediscovering his love for golf after qualifying for this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.
The two-time European Tour winner missed out on the tournament for the first time in 15 years last summer after failing to qualify for the Gullane event, but the 40-year-old was one of five players to gain a place at this week’s event through qualifying at Moray at the weekend.
Having lost much of his enthusiasm for the game in recent years, Forsyth reckons it is fast returning, and he said: “I’m enjoying my golf the most I have for a long time.
“The last few years I played on the European Tour I was struggling with my game, but I just wasn’t enjoying it the same way I once did.
“The way the game has changed wasn’t suiting my way of playing, with these big massive courses, and younger players who just hit the ball so far.
“I much preferred it when I was playing the older style courses.
“Last year was the first year I’ve missed the Scottish Open since my first year on tour in 2000, when it was still at Loch Lomond.
“The couple of years before that I was fortunate enough to get an invite when I needed it, which was great and I was grateful to receive those invites.
“I tried to qualify last year and I did all right, but I finished tied in eighth and missed out, so it’s great to do it this time.”
Forsyth is currently coaching at Mearns Castle golf academy on the outskirts of Glasgow, but will not ruling out the possibility of trying to regain his European Tour card, although he knows his game must improve.
Forsyth added: “I would only try it if I felt I was playing really well.
“At the moment I’ve been playing all right, but come September if I’m still playing at a similar standard I won’t be going to Tour school.
“I would have to up the standard. There’s no way I could go to Tour school with my short game being the way it is now.
“I’m not playing full-time now so things are maybe not going to be as sharp as they would be if I was full-time on the European Tour.
“I’ve played a few pro-ams and a couple of order of merit events, such as the Northern Open a couple of weeks ago.
“The more I’m playing the sharper I’m getting, definitely, but I’d just like to tidy up the wedge game and the putting a bit.
“It’s really been quite poor and would need to improve.”