Faxon keen to broaden experience overseas

As compelling in conversation as he is over a 15-foot putt, Brad Faxon will tee up at Loch Lomond for the £2.2 million Barclay’s Scottish Open on Thursday after reminding a new generation of American golfers who prefer to stay at home what they’re missing by not sampling life on the European Tour.

With 19 years service under his belt on the US Tour and career earnings approaching $12 million, the world’s best putter makes his debut on the bonnie banks this week. Tom Lehman, Jeff Maggert, Matt Kuchar, Stewart Cink and Fred Funk will also swell the scene, but the Stars and Stripes presence at the Scottish Open is the exception which proves the rule in Europe.

Apart from Tiger Woods, who sees himself as a world player and reaps the reward for his travels in seven-figure appearance fees, the majority of today’s PGA Tour members are content to regard themselves as American golfers.

"I think there are a number of explanations as to why you’re not seeing American golfers abroad as often as you used to do," explained the two-time Ryder Cup player and winner of eight US Tour events. "Firstly, there’s so much money to play for on the PGA Tour and the competition is so tough, a lot of guys are concerned that if they leave their own Tour for a couple of weeks it can set them back a bit.

"But I also think the mind-set of a lot of today’s players is different. I would call it ‘snobby’. They don’t appreciate the history and the traditions of the game. I don’t think that’s just a problem which is peculiar to golf. It’s the way of the world today.

"I do feel as if our guys are doing themselves a disservice by not coming over to Europe and playing here more often. As well as the Open, I’ve come over a few times and played in Germany, Sweden and France for the Lancome. My general impression was that the atmosphere was a little more relaxed. Don’t get me wrong - the golf over here was every bit as competitive as it is in the States. But the guys seem to enjoy themselves that bit more."

At 40, the native of Rhode Island possesses one of the game’s most civilised and articulate voices. Known in the US as the thinking-man’s tour pro, Faxon has made a crusade of turning up to qualify for the Open when he’s not been exempt and once remarked that it was a "disgrace" when Scott Hoch, Kenny Perry and Jim Gallagher opted out of the championship at Troon five years ago.

Faxon later insisted he was talking about the players’ actions rather than how he saw them as human beings. But in a magazine interview earlier this year he didn’t back down. "I get upset with guys who don’t go [to the Open] because it’s too far or it’s too cold or it’s not the kind of game they like. I respect guys not having the same opinion as I do, but I think they’re really missing out."

Remembering watching the Open on TV as a youngster and being impressed by Jack Nicklaus wearing a blue argyle sweater in July (the summer temperature at home in New England is usually around 95 degrees), Faxon has enjoyed a love affair with Britain’s seaside courses since he first played at Hoylake in the 1983 Walker Cup. He’s also been coming to Scotland for 13 years and is fond of the home of golf.

"Scotland is steeped in tradition and I’ve always enjoyed playing golf here," he says. "I remember when I played in the Open at Turnberry I flew into Glasgow early and drove to Machrahanish. I was exempt that year and after reading the book To The Linksland I knew it was somewhere I wanted to go. I recall driving past Loch Lomond and thinking it was one of the most beautiful places I’d ever seen.

"When I got to Machrahanish it was a sunny morning, the temperature was 65 degrees and there wasn’t a breath of wind. I remember playing with a kid who was the club champion - the people there thought I was just another American who had come over to watch the Open."

Relishing the week ahead at Loch Lomond, Faxon also has one eye on preparing for Muirfield. "My plan this week is to play a couple of practice rounds here, but I’m one of those crazy guys who, if I have an early tee-time on Thursday, might drive to a links afterwards and go play. My caddie is also a keen golfer, so hopefully we’ll be able to find somewhere. One day I’d really love to play Dornoch and I also want to come back and see Nairn and Cruden Bay."

Faxon’s record in the Open suggests an aptitude for links golf. He has finished in the top 20 five times and was seventh at Turnberry in 1994. "I grew up in New England and played on old Donald Ross-style courses where you could play shots which ran up to the hole. My first taste of a true links at the Walker Cup really opened my eyes about the game.

"Since then I’ve read a lot about the history of golf in Scotland and believe that when Arnold Palmer came over to play in the championship at Troon in 1962 and won the Open that his involvement helped to resurrect the significance of the competition.

"What I particularly enjoy when I play here is the knowledge of the crowds. That’s unmatched anywhere else in the world. The politeness and the understanding of etiquette which the crowds have here are just wonderful to me. And when you recall the way the crowd behaved in an event like the US Open at Bethpage, that makes it even more special."

It’s safe to assume Faxon will not treasure the week on Long Island as one of the game’s memories. Apart from the heckling, the course itself was set up in such a brutal fashion that only the longest of long hitters stood any chance of success.

"If you look at what’s happening with the United States Golf Association and even the people at the Masters - and this is not meant as a criticism of Tiger Woods or to take anything away from him - but I believe there’s been a huge over-reaction to his win in 1997 at Augusta. They’ve been changing golf courses for one man, but those changes only help one man.

"It doesn’t matter which golf course we play, there’s no question Tiger will start as the best in the field. If we went to a 6,300-yard course instead of one that’s 7,300 he’d still be favourite. But the way they’re setting up some of the courses eliminates more and more guys, and I hate to see that. I keep telling people who think that adding length is the only answer that if you set up narrow fairways, there’s choice off the tee and hard greens, then the advantage isn’t just to Tiger."

Having already earned more than $1.6 million this season - he was runner-up in both the Nissan Open and the Honda Classic as well as third in the Accenture Match Play - Faxon brings some decent form to Scotland as well as the smoothest putting stroke in golf. He gets asked about his putting more than anything and says on his best days he doesn’t care if he misses. "I try to hit every putt as if I’ve just made a million in a row."

It’s a philosophy which pays dividends anywhere, as the galleries at Loch Lomond are about to discover.

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