Former Rebel Golfers Reunite At European Tour Event

PERTHSHIRE, Scotland -- Callum Macaulay and Lucas Boyd were teammates for the Rebel golf team when Boyd transfered to Ole Miss back in the fall of 2002. This week, they are back on the same team, albeit in a different way. Boyd is caddying for Macaulay, who is a rookie on the European Tour, at this week's Johnnie Walker at Gleneagles. The two will be taking turns blogging from the tournament daily.

Wednesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 27

After weeks of anticipation, our round at Muirfield was cancelled due to terrible weather, but, this was probably for the best. Callum and I needed to go to Gleneagles for some more practice prior to the first round on Thursday. So, we went to the putting green, range, then chipping green for roughly two hours in the light rain.

Thursday is now upon us and I woke up with great anticipation. During the full practice round on Monday, I just carried his small walking bag which feels like carrying a backpack; today was another story. We had the full tour bag with umbrellas, extra gloves, sweaters, and rain gear for the both of us. For those that have not carried this style of bag, I'd compare it to carrying 14 small children on your back, and maybe throw in 2-6 bricks and a 12 pound scooby doo bowling ball. Not to sound like a complainer, but I haven't walked a golf course and carried the bag in five years so this is some serious work.

This golf course is around 7,400 yards, and since it hasn't stopped raining in a week, it's really playing like 7800. To say it's a tough driving course wouldn't be accurate, the placement of your tee ball is critical which fits Callum's game very well. Today was a day that had it's ups and downs; bogeys are going to come around this track, the great thing is Callum made 6 birdies to counter the rough spells. He's a crazy plugged bunker shot and a couple lipped putts away from the lead so we are definitely on the right track.

The weather tomorrow looks like it's going to be terrible weather so I'm sure we have another adventure upon us. This round should be a great test to the best golfers in Europe. Callum should be able to handle this with no problem, so expect a good report in the days to come.

Lucas Boyd

Tuesday, August 25

I can't tell you how excited I am to have Lucas here this week. Since I have left Ole Miss, I have kept in touch with most of the guys on the team, but Lucas I have kept in touch with religiously. We chat 3 or 4 times a week on the phone, and when I knew he could get away from his busy job to come and caddy for me for a week in Scotland, (God's country by the way), I was so fired up!!

I can't wait for this week because it is one of the most important weeks of my life. My dad usually caddies for me on tour, and he has been absolutely amazing. We have got along great since I left school, he has caddied for me since I graduated in 2007. We have passed the 'Father and Son' part of our relationship and now we are very close friends. Dad will be on the other side of the ropes this week for the first time in a few years. It will be strange for me, but I am excited about having one of my best friends beside me. Lucas' passion for golf, and my golf career in particular is very inspiring. I know he wants the very best for me and I think his knowledge of the game will be huge for me this week.

We had planned a great day tomorrow (Wednesday), but unfortunately the weather has halted it. I had arranged a game at Muirfield for Lucas and me, but since the weather is supposed to be so bad, we are passing on that. I know we will play it together eventually, he has my word!! We are going to head up to Gleneagles and do a little work on putting for an hour or so. As the Pro-Am is on all day, mediocre golfers like myself don't get to play on a Wednesday.

I cooked Lucas and Clare-Marie (my girl) some dinner tonight. I am trying to improve my cooking skills now that I am living on my own. We relaxed by going bowling and playing pool. Lets just say I am delighted that I can play golf to a reasonable standard, as I am useless at bowling.

I think this week will be a great one. I play my best golf when I am relaxed, and as Lucas and I only joke around all the time, I think I will be the most relaxed guy in God's country this week!!!!.....Can't wait!!!!

Callum Macaulay

Monday, August 24

Callum Macaulay and I have been best buddies since the fall of 2002 when I transfered to Ole Miss. Since those great times we had at the "Harvard of the South," our lives have gone in two totally different directions. Naturally, I used my Sociology degree to get into the insurance business. Callum, on the other hand, has used his amazing ability to take his golf game to the next level, and the next, and the next.

Once he knocked out all three stages of the European Tour Qualifying School, he made me a promise that he'd fly me out, and I could have the bag at any event I chose. Since he comes from an amazing family, I really wanted to pick an event that would be close to his home and his family, so I could see them all. The Johnnie Walker at Gleneagles was the perfect fit, not more than 20 minutes from his parent's home and inside an hour to his flat in Glasgow; the host to the 2014 Ryder Cup would be the ideal venue.

Today is Monday, normally the day the players get into town and checked in. We took the opportunity to get on an empty golf course and see what the week has in store. Since we're playing some other golf courses Tuesday and Wednesday this would be our only full day to get in our practice. This area has gotten lots of rain, so the fairways are really damp. However, the course is very hilly so it should have no problems drying out before Thursday. The fairways and greens are perfect and the rough is vintage Scotland, long and dense. After seeing Callum work his way around the golf course for an entire day, there's no debating why he has status on the tour. The progress he's made on his game is unbelievable; hitting the ball how and where he wants isn't an issue. This isn't quite the competition I play against in the Texas Insurance Agents Amateur Scramble Tour. Hopefully he'll have a nice relaxed feeling this week with me on the loop. If a few putts fall and he hits it like today, the results should be really nice.

After the round, I was introduced to numerous pros and the Titleist staff that take care of Callum on a weekly basis. He took me into the tour van, they worked on some of his clubs, and he got his weekly stash of gloves and balls. "Lucas from America" even got a few things so I can look the part. I haven't bought any new golf stuff since my Ole Miss days, so my attire is a bit out of touch. At this point, the range was packed with pros beating ball after ball (brand new Titleist ProV1s I might add). The field seems pretty strong, Jose Maria Olazabal and Thomas Bjorn were working alongside us. Like any other week I'm sure, Callum has his work cut out for him but with the way the week has started, I think it's going to be a good one!

After a Monday night of video games and Entourage re-runs, we'll be ready to go.

Lucas Boyd

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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