It takes either a special player or a special person to bring Scots around the world together in grief. In the case of Colin Gillies, who passed away this week at the age of 58, he did both a testament to the impact he had on the game and those who knew him.

When I first began covering the Tartan Tour, the circuit run by the PGA in Scotland, in the mid-1980s, the likes of Russell Weir, John Chillas, Craig Maltman, Iain Collins, Kevin Stables, and Alastair Webster were among the leading figures.

However, it quickly became clear that two young Scottish professionals were on the rise, ready to challenge the old guard. Before long, they did just that.

One of them was Colin Brooks. As a member of Glencorse, just outside Edinburgh, Brooks won the Scottish Amateur Championship before a certain Colin Montgomerie, defeating Ayr Belleisle’s Allan Thomson in the 1986 final at Monifieth.

After turning professional, Brooks claimed back-to-back Northern Open titles in 1989 and 1990 and also won the British Assistants’ Championship in 1989.

I recall being at Hillside for that event, and if my memory serves me correctly, Brooks emerged victorious in a thrilling duel with Englishman Paul Eales.

The other player who caught my eye was Gillies. A Falkirk member, he won the Scottish Boys’ Championship at Dunbar in 1983, overcoming West Kilbride’s Calum Innes in a dramatic 38-hole final.

Both Brooks and Gillies were slightly older than Paul Lawrie, who began making a name for himself in 1990 by winning the Scottish Assistants’ Championship and Scottish Under-25 Championship. The rest, as they say, is history for the Aberdonian.

In contrast, Brooks and Gillies had relatively modest European Tour careers. Yet, their contributions to golf prove that success in the sport isn’t solely measured by playing or winning at the highest level.

While Brooks transitioned into coaching and has spent the past two decades helping others improve, Gillies remained dedicated to playing—especially in his beloved Scotland.

Alan Tait once described Gillies as “arguably the best player to play in the PGA Scottish Region.” Excluding players like Lawrie, that statement might very well be true.

During a time when the Tartan Tour was both thriving and financially rewarding, Gillies was the dominant force.

He became the first player to surpass £500,000 in career earnings on the tour and remains its all-time leading money winner with £513,747 a record that, despite Paul O’Hara’s brilliance in recent years, is unlikely to be broken.

The overwhelming response to his passing speaks volumes. Almost everyone who has paid tribute has called Gillies a “great,” “fantastic,” or “incredible” player words that Scottish people don’t use lightly unless truly deserved.

Many have also described him as a “brilliant” and “good” man, and there is no doubt that tears have been shed while remembering him.

As I read through the countless tributes, my laptop constantly pinged with notifications—proof that Scots at home and abroad were united in mourning.

PGA professionals, including many who have long retired, shared their condolences on social media.

Messages poured in from all over the world from Gary Weir and Tony Marshall in the US to Stephen Dundas in Spain and Calum Innes, now based in Germany.

These days, the word “legend” is thrown around far too easily. But when it comes to the Tartan Tour, there is only one true legend.

Thank you for the memories, Colin Gillies. And if you can, say “hello” up there to Russell Weir and Jim Farmer.

The inaugural TGL season wrapped up in dramatic fashion, solidifying its place in the golfing world.

Despite initial skepticism surrounding the arena-based simulator tournament, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods pushed forward with their vision.

The format, backed by the PGA Tour, has now won over fans if the excitement of Tuesday’s finale is any indication.

After winning Monday night’s opener, Atlanta Drive GC staged an incredible comeback to take Match 2 of the final series, securing a 4-3 victory over New York Golf Club and claiming a 2-0 series win.

With the victory, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas, and Lucas Glover split the $9 million prize, becoming the first-ever TGL champions.

A viral moment from the final saw Horschel sinking a crucial putt before celebrating with an X-rated club toss, sparking widespread reaction online.

Mickelson’s Surprising Take on TGL’s Success

Golf podcaster Dan Rapaport shared a clip of Horschel’s celebration along with his thoughts on the tournament’s impact.

“TGL a huge success in Year 1. Plain and simple,” he posted on X. “So many viral moments.

“Additive to the current landscape without taking anything away. Enjoyed it way more than I thought I would and I think a tonnnnn of people feel the same way.”

One of the unexpected voices in agreement was Phil Mickelson, who was barred from participating due to his move to LIV Golf.

“That’s great news! It would be great for golf if this were to succeed,” Mickelson commented.

“The golf fan is the most loyal fan in sports. Buy a ticket, walk miles and see a fraction of the action, but this could allow the golf fan to buy a ticket, sit down and watch the action just like other sports.

“It could really be good for the game if it’s compelling.”

With speculation growing, fans have expressed hope that Mickelson, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau could participate in future editions.

This may become possible if discussions aimed at uniting the PGA Tour and LIV Golf prove successful.

Atlanta Drive’s Dramatic Comeback

After losing 6-5 in the opener, New York Golf Club seemed poised to force a decider as Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, and Cameron Young raced to a 3-0 lead.

However, Atlanta Drive responded, winning back-to-back holes before Horschel delivered a game-changing moment.

On the penultimate hole, he activated the hammer, doubling the available points, before draining a brilliant 18-foot birdie to put his team ahead.

New York’s four-man squad, which included Matt Fitzpatrick, took home $4.5 million for finishing second.

The decisive moment came when Cantlay chipped his ball to three feet, matching Young’s birdie and sealing Atlanta’s championship victory.

Reflecting on the tournament, Horschel shared his excitement.

“I think we all have had a lot of fun,” he said.

“Obviously, it is a little bit of a challenge with everything we’ve got going through the year with our own schedules, but I don’t think anyone has ever walked away and said this felt like a burden.

“It’s just something new and exciting and we all enjoyed it. To walk away as champions with these guys is pretty cool.”

Schauffele also praised Horschel’s energy and clutch performance.

“I figured Billy Ho [Horschel] has got a lot of energy, but anyone running around that much is going to run out of steam,” he joked.

“Billy is a dog. He made some really big putts when he needed to.”

With TGL’s first season proving to be a success, the future looks promising for the innovative tournament format.

Tiger Woods has officially confirmed his relationship with Vanessa Trump, the former daughter-in-law of Donald Trump, by sharing two photos on social media with the caption: “Love is in the air.”

Vanessa, who was previously married to Donald Trump Jr. for 12 years, was seen alongside Woods and her daughter, Kai, at Torrey Pines in San Diego, where the golf legend hosted the Genesis Invitational.

Seventeen-year-old Kai attends The Benjamin School, the same institution as Woods’s children, Sam and Charlie. She recently participated in a high-profile junior golf event alongside Charlie.

Woods expressed his happiness in his social media post, writing:

“Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together.”

He also requested privacy, adding:

“At this time, we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts.”

One of the images posted shows the couple posing together, while another captures a relaxed moment in a hammock, with Vanessa’s arm draped over Woods.

Relationship Rumors Confirmed

Speculation about their relationship had been circulating for weeks, but Woods, known for keeping his personal life private, had not addressed it until now.

His decision to go public is similar to his 2013 announcement with Lindsey Vonn when the couple shared their own photos to counter intrusive media attention.

At the time, Woods explained that doing so would “limit the ‘stalkarazzi’ and all those sleazy websites that are out there following us.”

He also previously expressed concerns about paparazzi creating unsafe situations for his children, believing that sharing his own images would reduce the demand for unauthorized photos.

Woods’s Private Dating History

Woods, who shares two children with ex-wife Elin Nordegren, has generally kept his romantic relationships out of the spotlight.

His most recent public relationship with Erica Herman ended in 2022. Their breakup was contentious, but Herman later dropped the lawsuits she had filed against Woods and the trust that owned his South Florida home, where she had been living.

Vanessa, 47, was married to Donald Trump Jr. from 2005 to 2018. The former couple shares five children: Kai, Donald III, Tristan, Spencer, and Chloe.

Woods, 49, has a long-standing relationship with former President Donald Trump, having played golf with him multiple times.

In 2019, Trump awarded Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing his achievements in golf.

Earlier this year, Woods also visited the White House to discuss the future of professional golf, including the impact of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour.

Injury Setback

Woods’s announcement about his relationship comes shortly after he revealed that he ruptured his left Achilles tendon, an injury that will rule him out of the Masters and likely keep him sidelined for the remainder of the year.