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Forget the referendum, Scotland says yes to Gleneagles and the Ryder Cup Forget the referendum, Scotland says yes to Gleneagles and the Ryder Cup
(35 minutes later)
In the rolling Perthshire hills that surround golf’s sacred ground of Gleneagles, the landscape is marked by relics of the constitutional battle just gone and pointers to the stirring sporting contest to come.In the rolling Perthshire hills that surround golf’s sacred ground of Gleneagles, the landscape is marked by relics of the constitutional battle just gone and pointers to the stirring sporting contest to come.
Huge “No Thanks” banners, defaced by independence campaigners after last week’s referendum, are sprinkled among the park and ride signs and sprawling temporary car parks that ring the 90-year-old course.Huge “No Thanks” banners, defaced by independence campaigners after last week’s referendum, are sprinkled among the park and ride signs and sprawling temporary car parks that ring the 90-year-old course.
Inside the gates, excitement is building towards the third act in an extraordinary three months for Scotland, following the polarising vote and the summer’s Commonwealth Games. The Ryder Cup, which has grown into one of the world’s biggest sporting events, returns to the so-called “home of golf” for just the second time.Inside the gates, excitement is building towards the third act in an extraordinary three months for Scotland, following the polarising vote and the summer’s Commonwealth Games. The Ryder Cup, which has grown into one of the world’s biggest sporting events, returns to the so-called “home of golf” for just the second time.
The 2014 Ryder Cup, which will be attended by 45,000 full-throated fans a day from Friday, is being hailed by Scottish politicians and tourism executives both for the economic fillip it will provide and an estimated £40m in free advertising for the nation’s natural charms.The 2014 Ryder Cup, which will be attended by 45,000 full-throated fans a day from Friday, is being hailed by Scottish politicians and tourism executives both for the economic fillip it will provide and an estimated £40m in free advertising for the nation’s natural charms.
Edinburgh airport has reported a total of 150 private jets flying in to watch the three-day event, which has spread across more than a week with its practice days and endless build up, while hotel bookings, tour operators and golf courses claim an uplift of 50% in bookings. Edinburgh airport has reported a total of 150 private jets flying in to watch the three-day event, which has spread across more than a week with its practice days and endless build up, while hotels, tour operators and golf courses claim an uplift of 50% in bookings.
“This is us at the top of the mountain when it comes to major sporting events,” said Visit Scotland chairman Mike Cantlay. “But you have to fit it into an overall gameplan. We’re a very small country and we have to hit big and play one thing off another.“This is us at the top of the mountain when it comes to major sporting events,” said Visit Scotland chairman Mike Cantlay. “But you have to fit it into an overall gameplan. We’re a very small country and we have to hit big and play one thing off another.
“Tourism is a huge cake: it’s transport, it’s leisure, it’s food and drink.”“Tourism is a huge cake: it’s transport, it’s leisure, it’s food and drink.”
For some fans variously wrapped in saltires, the European flag and the stars and stripes (though conspicuously few union jacks), the epic sporting clash between Tom Watson’s American team and Paul McGinley’s Europeans has also come at the best possible time to heal any divisions caused by the independence vote.For some fans variously wrapped in saltires, the European flag and the stars and stripes (though conspicuously few union jacks), the epic sporting clash between Tom Watson’s American team and Paul McGinley’s Europeans has also come at the best possible time to heal any divisions caused by the independence vote.
“There was a time and a place. People voted and everything will go back to normal,” said Tony Irvine from Glasgow, standing by the driving range watching Justin Rose practice his swing and wrapped in a saltire.“There was a time and a place. People voted and everything will go back to normal,” said Tony Irvine from Glasgow, standing by the driving range watching Justin Rose practice his swing and wrapped in a saltire.
“You move on and make the best of what you’ve got. It’s great medicine to have this so soon afterwards. This will galvanise everybody.“You move on and make the best of what you’ve got. It’s great medicine to have this so soon afterwards. This will galvanise everybody.
“Both internally and externally, I’ve never seen the country so alive. This year has put us on the map from an international point of view.”“Both internally and externally, I’ve never seen the country so alive. This year has put us on the map from an international point of view.”
Others said that concentrating on the outcome of the Ryder Cup, with the American underdogs attempting to wrest it back by winning on foreign soil for the first time since 1993, was a welcome break from politics.Others said that concentrating on the outcome of the Ryder Cup, with the American underdogs attempting to wrest it back by winning on foreign soil for the first time since 1993, was a welcome break from politics.
“It’s really important to differentiate between sport and politics,” said Russell Gordon, from Edinburgh. “I don’t believe in mixing the two at all. Sport should have nothing to do with politics.”“It’s really important to differentiate between sport and politics,” said Russell Gordon, from Edinburgh. “I don’t believe in mixing the two at all. Sport should have nothing to do with politics.”
His friend Alfonso Degaetano, who had also travelled from the Scottish capital, added: “There will be equal numbers of yes and no voters here this weekend, cheering on Europe.”His friend Alfonso Degaetano, who had also travelled from the Scottish capital, added: “There will be equal numbers of yes and no voters here this weekend, cheering on Europe.”
But the fallout from last week’s referendum was never far away.But the fallout from last week’s referendum was never far away.
As Nicola Sturgeon launched her bid to replace him as leader of the SNP and first minister, a baseball-capped Alex Salmond strode the fairways and posed for pictures with supporters in Gleneagles.As Nicola Sturgeon launched her bid to replace him as leader of the SNP and first minister, a baseball-capped Alex Salmond strode the fairways and posed for pictures with supporters in Gleneagles.
Shona Robeson, the Scottish sports minister, speaking in the shadow of the huge grandstand on the climactic 18th hole, said the event would keep Scotland on the world stage: “ Shona Robison, the Scottish sports minister, speaking in the shadow of the huge grandstand on the climactic 18th hole, said the event would keep Scotland on the world stage: “
“The eyes of the world have been on Scotland, not least through the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and the referendum as well. Our challenge is to make sure that Scotland continues to be talked about. A lot of people now know more about Scotland than they did a year ago. It bodes well for the future.”“The eyes of the world have been on Scotland, not least through the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and the referendum as well. Our challenge is to make sure that Scotland continues to be talked about. A lot of people now know more about Scotland than they did a year ago. It bodes well for the future.”
As Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson and the rest continued their practice rounds and gentle verbal sparring, fans thronging the cavernous onsite shop and food village said they saw no contradiction in backing either Scotland, Great Britain or Europe depending on the sporting event.As Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson and the rest continued their practice rounds and gentle verbal sparring, fans thronging the cavernous onsite shop and food village said they saw no contradiction in backing either Scotland, Great Britain or Europe depending on the sporting event.
“I’m Scottish, I see myself as British. But here you just get behind Europe. I think it goes back to Seve [Ballesteros], the spirit of Europe,” said Stephen Marshall from Linlithgow, who is an official at the Bathgate Club where Stephen Gallacher, the only Scot in the European team, learned to play.“I’m Scottish, I see myself as British. But here you just get behind Europe. I think it goes back to Seve [Ballesteros], the spirit of Europe,” said Stephen Marshall from Linlithgow, who is an official at the Bathgate Club where Stephen Gallacher, the only Scot in the European team, learned to play.
“If you’d been at the Commonwealth Games, some of the loudest cheers were for the England team. When it comes to sport, boundaries are broken down. It’s about the sport.“If you’d been at the Commonwealth Games, some of the loudest cheers were for the England team. When it comes to sport, boundaries are broken down. It’s about the sport.
“We just saw a great chip from [US golfer] Jim Furyk. As long as he saves it for the practice days and doesn’t do it on Friday!”“We just saw a great chip from [US golfer] Jim Furyk. As long as he saves it for the practice days and doesn’t do it on Friday!”
Irvine said that the autumnal natural bowl at Gleneagles would act as the perfect calling card for Scotland – as long as the rain held off.Irvine said that the autumnal natural bowl at Gleneagles would act as the perfect calling card for Scotland – as long as the rain held off.
“Look at the views. You couldn’t pay for the advertising you’ll have in America, Asia, all over. As a Scottish person, I’m so pleased it has helped from a financial and economic point of view. But as a nation it’s been a great year.“Look at the views. You couldn’t pay for the advertising you’ll have in America, Asia, all over. As a Scottish person, I’m so pleased it has helped from a financial and economic point of view. But as a nation it’s been a great year.
“You feel the country has moved up a notch or two in confidence terms.”“You feel the country has moved up a notch or two in confidence terms.”