Two Scottish world hickory champions will be out to show they are just as handy with modern golf equipment when they tee up in the SkyCaddie PGA Fourball Championship supported by Sunderland.
Mark King and Robert Arnott head south to Forest Pines Golf and Country Club in Lincolnshire next week on the back of their respective victories in the World Professional Hickory Championship at Gullane and the World Hickory Open Strokeplay Challenge at Musselburgh.
The long time friends from Kirkintilloch in Glasgow face stiff competition from 60 other pairs from Great Britain and Ireland in the 54-hole final from October 7-9 but while the duo are likely to be the only players in the field with world titles to their name, King admits it will be a relief to be taking them on with the more traditional golfing weaponry of the 21st century.
"The world hickory championship is just a bit of fun but to be honest it's quite difficult to play with those clubs and hats off to those guys who had to play with them all the time, I don't how they managed it," said King, a teaching professional from Kingsfield Golf Range.
The championship carries a £30,000 prize fund and with the successful campaigns on the Tartan Tour behind them, the duo are well placed to stake a claim to the £5,000 winners' cheque.
Arnott from Bishopbriggs Golf Range finish third in Scottish Region Order of Merit to win a place at the end of season PGA Play-Offs while King achieved an 11th placed finish.
They will be aiming for an improved showing on last year in the fourball final where they finished in a share of 12th.
"We did okay last year but didn't make enough birdies. Basically to have any chance you've got to be making plenty of them," said King.
"There's no great master plan, we'll just go out and play our games and see how it goes.
"I've known Rob for years, we get on well and don't blame each for any bad shots so it's a good partnership.
"It will be the first time I've played Forest Pines but I think Rob may have played it before.
"Rob's got the play-offs coming up after that but it will be last event of the year for me so it would be nice to sign off in style with a win."
Also in the final will be Turnhouse pair Scott Grieve and James McGhee who topped the Scottish qualifier at Musselburgh. They will be joined by Andrew Locke and Ryan Fitzpatrick both from Inchmarlo.
06 October, 2009