Beware the injured golfer. Craig Lee may be nursing a bout of tennis elbow, but he is still a man on a mission as he looks to bury his hoodoo in the Ramsdens Currency Scottish PGA Championship at Scotscraig.
The 48-year-old has won just about everything there is to win in The PGA scene down the seasons, but his national championship has continued to elude him.
Since being pipped in a play-off to the title by Dean Robertson at Gleneagles back in 2006, Lee has finished second a total of five times.
His most recent runners-up placing came in 2023, when Scotscraig last held the domestic showpiece, and Lee will make the return to the delightful northeast Fife course determined to finally add his name to a shimmering roll of honour.
“It’s been almost too many to count,” said Lee, as he reflected on his various close calls.
“It’s always been the one that’s got away. I’d love to get my name on that trophy. After winning The PGA Professional Championship last year, this would complete the set really in terms of PGA titles.”
Despite his niggling injury, Lee, who won the Northern Open earlier this season, is confident of putting in a stout showing.
“I’ve been getting some acupuncture on my elbow so we are getting on top of it and can manage it but it’s probably a bit like trying to put Humpty Dumpty back together,” chuckled the former Tartan Tour No 1 of the various aches and pains that are par for the course when you’ve spent your life thwacking balls for a living.
His additional exertions away from the golf course, meanwhile, have added to the general wear and tear.
“I’ve been doing a lot of manual labour at my house with renovations, landscaping, laying slabs and building walls, so I’ve probably been overdoing it,” he added. “It’s a knock-on effect, combined with the fact that I’m not 21 anymore.
“But I still have a chance to tick this one off even though it feels like the years are getting away from me. It doesn’t get any easier as the standard in Scotland stays as high as ever.
“It’s been a bit frustrating with the elbow that I’ve not been able to put in as many hours of practice as I would’ve liked. But we’ll give it a good go.”
When Lee won the Northern Open at Royal Dornoch in June, he had his girlfriend, JoAnna Ehret, on his bag.
Ehret is a tournament director with The PGA of America, and she has made the trip back across the Atlantic to aid Lee’s assault on a title double.
“Us golfers will do anything if we think it’s a good omen,” smiled Lee. “We’ll put the partnership to the test again to find out how lucky she actually is.”
Lee finished second to the all-conquering Graeme Robertson two years ago and the 2023 winner would go on to successfully defend the title at Dalmahoy last season.
A wrist injury, however, means Robertson is highly unlikely to be at Scotscraig. He was aiming to become the first player to win three Scottish PGA Championships in a row since the great Eric Brown back in 1958.
Gavin Hay, the current leader of the Arnold Clark Tartan Tour’s Order of Merit, is absent due to his brother’s wedding but former Scottish PGA champions like Paul O’Hara, Alastair Forsyth, Chris Doak and Graham Fox form part of a strong line-up.
They are joined in the field by John Henry, Chris Maclean and Chris Currie, who have all savoured Order of Merit wins on the circuit over the past month. Maclean was runner-up to Robertson in the national championship 12 months ago.
With a new sponsor in Ramsdens Currency on board, David Longmuir, the manager of The PGA in Scotland, is relishing another terrific week of keen competition in the Tartan Tour’s flagship event.
“We are delighted to be coming back to Scotscraig for the highlight of our season,” he said. “The Ramsdens Currency Scottish PGA Championship is one of the most prestigious events, not just in Scottish golf but UK golf too.
“I would like to welcome Ramsdens Currency as headline sponsors for the first time as part of a three-year agreement.
“Ramsdens Currency have been great supporters of The PGA in the past and we look forward to working with them in what is a tremendous partnership.
“The week begins with a Pro-Am on Monday (August 25) before we stage four days of excellent competition for the ultimate prize.”
To follow the live scoring from Scotscraig, click here.
