RELAX AND ENJOY IT - THAT'S THE SECRET
OF HEATHER MACRAE'S NEW SUCCESS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Heather MacRae's weekend success in the Welsh women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Newport has give her confidence a great boost with the Scottish championship due to start at Kilmarnock Barassie next week.
Heather, of course, has won the British women's open amateur title (at Nairn) and the Scottish girls' match-play title (at Glenbervie) - but she has never won the Scottish women's championship.
Miss MacRae played for Great Britain & Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy match in France in 2005 and she was a Curtis Cup team reserve last year.
What's the secret of Heather's good early form this year - she was lying third in the "Helen Holm" with one round to go at Royal Troon?
Could it be because she has adopted a new approach to tournaments this year?
Instead of going out and "busting a gut" to birdie every hole, she is relaxing and letting it happen, rather than trying to make it happen. Sounds easy but we all know that nothing is easy in golf.
Here's what Heather had to say after her Newport triumph:
"It was down to all-round steady play. I am hitting the ball really well just now and my short game has come on a lot. Yes, I am just trying to relax a lot more and enjoy it, so far so good.
"I have been working really hard over the winter, practising at Gleneagles a lot. They have great facilities, even through the winter, and its only 10 minutes up the road for me.
"I've been for a few lessons with Stuart Wilson at Gleneagles too so that's obviously working too. Let's hope it continues."