This year the British Open was in Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, and was won by Scottie Scheffler. I have never seen a golfer play “pin high” more consistently. A most deserved champion and world No. 1.
Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre did braw! He finished in tied 6th place.
I should say: I reckon that golf is a rather silly sport which increasingly involves obscene amounts of money. I also do not like the idea, let alone the reality, of what some have described as “green concrete”. So why my interest? And how can I explain my spectacular hypocrisy!
As a young boy, my uncle, John Gibson Scott, when home from Africa, used to take me with him to the British Open when it was played in Scotland. My father also took me to watch golfing events. It was at the Scottish Open at Gleneagles [I forget the year but I was still a child] that a ball dropped from over the brow at my feet. I was standing in the rough. From over ‘that’ brow came Seve Ballesteros. Yes, it was his ball! I pointed it out to him and he gave me a friendly pat on my head!
There can be no doubt that these memories have stayed with me and explain why I still enjoy watching golf: the British Open, the USA Masters and the Ryder Cup.
In 2018, I was there on the final day of the British Open at Carnoustie [my favourite course]. It was a scorcher of a day. I was in my kilt. Everybody was friendly. The craic spontaneous. I made this film:
To play this short film please click here or on the image above