By Jonathan Brazeau
Scottish skip Ross Whyte gets goosebumps when he looks back at his team’s first Grand Slam of Curling title victory at the Masters last season.
His squad capped an incredible week in Guelph, Ont., with a 5-4 victory over Canada’s Team Jacobs in the men's final.
With the AMJ Masters shifting to the start of the Grand Slam of Curling season, running Sept. 23-28 at the Western Fair Sports Centre in London, Ont., Whyte reflected on his breakthrough win in the series.
“It was very special,” Whyte said earlier this month during the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard in Oakville, Ont. “I've got goosebumps thinking about it now. The way that we managed to get a chance to celebrate and really enjoy the moment on the ice together was something that only comes every so often.
"Only one winner each week, it’s a long schedule, it’s a long year on tour, and to finally get wins is something you dream of, and hopefully you can get more out there.”
Whyte never held the lead in the game until it was over.
Trailing by one point coming home, Whyte owned the all-important hammer for the eighth end. Brad Jacobs sat shot rock at the back of the four-foot circle and with guards covering the direct path, Whyte was forced to draw around and bump it out for the winning two points.
Whyte knew the path was good, having seen third Robin Brydone throw one similar in an end or two previously. Still, it’s different when the pressure is ramped up, and Whyte credits lead Euan Kyle and second Duncan McFadzean for sweeping it to perfection.
“Thankfully, I threw it well and it was guided down there nicely,” Whyte said. “When I’ve got the two sweepers that I’ve got, I need to throw it half close and they’ll make it for me. I’m grateful for them and grateful we made the shot.”
From reaching his first Grand Slam final at the Masters in 2023 — finishing runner-up to Team Retornaz — to capturing his first Grand Slam title in the event last season, now comes another first for Whyte: defending a Grand Slam title.
“We’ve had a lot of good times at the Masters in the last couple of years, losing the final and then winning it, so we’re excited to get back there and try and do our business really,” Whyte said. “The Slams are the pinnacle for us, and we’re going to go out there and try and win it, but (there are) a lot of good teams. We just have to try to be the best in the week.”
Whyte’s lineup will look a little different as Craig Waddell has joined as a full-time fifth player this season. Waddell is filling in at second while McFadzean recovers from knee surgery.
“It’s great that Craig’s come on board with us,” Whyte said. “We’ve had a bit of an interesting start to the season with Duncan having to get surgery, but we’re very pleased to have Craig on board.
“He’s going to contribute a lot. He brings different things than Duncan brings. Both are great at what they do. It’s a different dynamic, but we’re definitely getting used to it.”
Tickets are now available for the AMJ Masters. Visit GSOCtickets.com to purchase yours today.
Can't make it to London? Live streaming for all AMJ Masters Tier 1 games, plus the Tier 2 finals and GSOC Wheelchair Curling Invitational medal games, will be available for free here on thegrandslamofcurling.com.
