The latest golf world rankings certainly make grim reading for Scottish golf fans. For the first time since the standings were introduced in 1986, there is no-one from the home of golf in the world’s top 100.

Alistair Forsyth has dropped to 102nd and with Colin Montgomerie languishing in 114th place, Scotland, according to the rankings at least, has become a golfing backwater at the top of the game.

Yet which country currently holds the World Cup? Which country now holds the world amateur championship – the Eisenhower Trophy? Scotland.

So perhaps the home of golf should not despair just yet, the state of golf in the country that gave the game to the world is not quite as bad as the rankings suggest.

It’s also worth remembering that it is not so long ago that the upper echelons of the world rankings were bereft of English talent. Now there are five Englishmen in the top 50. Lee Westwood is England’s highest placed player, currently residing in 11th.

Irish golf has enjoyed a stellar year at every level of the game in 2009. This is reflected in the fact that there are a record seven Irishmen in the elite field at Valderrama and the country has celebrated eight wins on Tour this year.

Let’s just hope 2009 shines on England and Scotland, because let’s be honest, Ireland don’t have much to worry about with Padraig at the helm!