As we change our calendars over to September, and apparently turn the heating on too, it’s a reminder that the Order of Merit season is in the can.

Like every keen OoM follower we packed up the car and headed over the Forth to Scotland’s Golf Coast and Craigielaw – the home of the Tour Champs. The EuroDov Tour have finished their Order of Merit season here every year since its inception in 2021 with David McColgan, Kevin Brannan and Stuart Allan all boasting success over the challenging links course.

This year we were treated some of the best weather we’ve had the pleasure of reporting in all year and with the plush Locker Room surroundings we were torn between being out on the course or relaxing with our feet up.

The Tour Champs is always a ferocious competition with players battling out over 36 holes for the privilege of etching their name in Tour history. Last year’s runner-up Ally Greenshields staked the earliest claim with a level par round in the morning but as he fell away in the afternoon McColgan’s 3-under par 68 coupled with his 2-over par morning round delivered him the win.

We caught up with some of the field, on what was a day of high emotions, and were very grateful for their insight and honesty.

Good evening gents, that's the Tour Championships in the bag for another year, how did you find it?

Denis Duncan, who lifted himself up the final rankings after a good day out there said, “as always, a good season. The downside is it seemed to go so fast I can’t believe it is over already.”

Joel Morrison said, “I enjoyed it, but I’m not going to lie, I’d like to go to Craigielaw without being in a relegation battle one year.” His first-round performance was just about enough to make the afternoon round comfortable.

Andy Love, who was eventually relegated from the Order of Merit said, “q day of two halves. The morning unravelled pretty quickly but come lunchtime it seemed like I was still in with a shout.

Save for a few holes in the afternoon, I shot a great round and thought I’d done enough.” Love’s day was ying and yang with a 19-over par round in the morning followed by a 3-over in the afternoon.

Paul Gowens said, “It was as tough as expected, a really challenging track fitting for holding the championships.”

We couldn’t agree more Paul.

For once "weather" was a tiny factor in today's proceedings so let's focus on the course, how did you find Craigielaw today?

Graeme Connor, who was also relegated alongside Andy Love said, “the course was immaculate, I wasn’t massively bothered by the wind, a well struck shot isn’t affected by wind, I just didn’t hit very many well struck shots!”

Callum McNeill said, “it was in great condition as usual, it’s a long course from the whites so to play it without rain and too much wind definitely helped some of the scoring.”

It was one of the most high pressured Tour Champs in history with titles, prize money and relegation all to play for, how did you focus out there?

Andy Love said, “I certainly had an eye on the leaderboard in the afternoon, but by that point it was all about shooting the best score I could to see if that gave me a chance. Nothing else for it really. “

Paul Gowens said, “I was lucky having secured an exemption last week (Lochgelly-Forrester Open). So, I just focused on trying to improve on last years score but was only able to equal my best round here previously.”

Denis Duncan said, “I didn’t really think of much else other than my own game I felt I was middle of the league not competing for the top or relegation so just got the head down and try to play my own game.”

Callum McNeill said, “it pretty much just turned it into small match play game for me, in the morning I wanted to finish above two of Joel, Alan and Andy and knew doing that would pretty much keep me safe.”

The morning round was a bit tentative with players edging out in front and then the field bunching up, how impressive was Ally Greenshields level par round, considering he had the weight of a relegation battle on him?

Paul Gowens said, “Yes great morning round from him and quick out of the blocks, always difficult to repeat in the afternoon.”

Graeme Connor said, “Ally is a player whose handicap doesn’t necessarily reflect how good a player he can be, it’s no surprise to see him do well.”

Joel Morrison said, “he’s got great golf in him. He just hides it well sometimes!”

Callum McNeill was having none of it saying, “he’s getting about 25 shots, finishing above par should be instant relegation for a player of his potential.”

As we headed into the afternoon round there were still 7 players in the hunt for the prizes in the Order of Merit and still 6 players who could be sucked in to the relegation battle, how exciting was it to be out there?

Andy Love said, “exciting at the time aye. Not exciting when I got into the clubhouse.”

Paul Gowens said, “it was a great day, and I was aware of others desperate to follow the scores on the leaderboard.”

Graeme Connor said, “it was all very close, Andy was convinced he was safe only to find out he wasn’t when he entered the clubhouse. It definitely added a drama element.”

Denis Duncan said, “it was really exciting I think most people were intrigued in the relegation battle more than the top. I think Q-school has been a great addition to the Tour.”

Callum McNeill said, “there was a lot of talk being talked at lunch. Having the calming influence of Dave in my group probably saved me from getting sucked too deeply into a relegation fight.”

Let's talk about Alan Duncan, very much in the relegation battle at the start of the afternoon, then fired off a single round record of 7-under to escape it, how impressive was that?

Andy Love said, “Alan shot a great round, even when it looked like things were about to fall apart for him, he managed to rally back and played some great golf.”

Denis Duncan said, “having played golf with Alan for years, I know he has a good game in him. He just is not playing as much golf as a lot of others. If only he kept his head on the first 18, he might have got above me in the overall standings.” Nothing like a bit sibling rivalry to spice up the 2025 season.

Joel Morrison said, “a great round from Alan and real box office stuff to watch. 7-under while using a piece of liquorice as a ball marker… very impressive indeed!”

McColgan, who had already won the Order of Merit heading into the afternoon shot a 3-under par to win the Tour Champs and break the tournament record by 1, how good a round was that?

Love said, “it’s no surprise, the level Dave plays at means records are always going be broken.”

Gowens said, “very impressive fitting to break the record with a faultless round of golf.”

Graeme Connor said, “that would have been impressive to see, it’s a shame I never. Conditions certainly favoured low scoring in the afternoon so well done on a great score.”

Callum McNeill, who was playing alongside him said, “I think the most impressive bit of it all was how effortless it looked.”

A huge thank you to all the players for taking time to chat to us today and throughout the season, the From the Locker Room team’s segment is only possible with players participation.

That’s us done for the 2024 Order of Merit season, and as we pack up the beach umbrella, flip flops and towels and get ready to head to the spiritual homeland of the Tour, we hope you’ll join us for all the insight and analysis from the RyDov Cup on September 7th.