I have had a sublime day. In fact truly sublime.
I started off with my lovely group from Alabama who I met off the bus in St Andrews at 11am. I had showed them around Edinburgh two days ago and we really clicked. They were such an amazing set of characters and so easy going and fun and actually laughed at some of my jokes. What a joy for me to show them around St Andrews as well. We were lucky with the weather too and everything went swimmingly. I really hope I see these lovely people again. One lady, Cath I think, was very inspiring. She had had several careers and ended up qualifying as a nurse at the age of 60 and won the Nightingale prize out of a class of 300 plus people. But what a person. And what a nurse she surely would have been. Her husband too was lovely and gentle, as were the rest of the group. All of them actually. What a delight. Bill did a wonderful job putting this tour together.
I rushed off afterwards to meet Kevin, one of the Fried Egg podcasters, better known as KVV, who wanted me with my pencil bag and on my bike in front of the Royal and Ancient to do a wee interview and give some local insights into the Auld Toon. Now I think it went ok but was maybe a bit too risque for them, although I’m really not sure to be honest. The starter was ‘Keith what did you study at St Andrews? I thought why not and gave them ‘GGE’ At which point there was this slight pause and quizzical look from Kevin and then I expanded ‘girls, golf and economics’ Then another slight pause and a very hard to discern look from Kevin when I then concluded ‘A bit like PPE at Oxford but more high-browed’. The next question from Kevin followed rather quickly may I add.
Anyway we shall see what results. It was fun and it was kind of just me which is ok by me but certainly not for everyone. It’s all I can do though. We will see if they broadcast it or not. I hay me doobts. But I hope they do because I really liked Kevin and I like what Fried Egg are about. They are a sound bunch of pretty cool guys.
And that is a rare thing nowadays in the media world. I mean we have people like Nick Faldo and Ian Carter and that Dougherty chappy who are as dull as a ditch can be and then you have clowns like Ant and Dec and what can I say about people like that? but OMG ‘get me a train and get me to Grantchester again’.
I finished off my day by going down the range as I had had a very indifferent round the day after my medal victory last Thursday when I went to play in Edinburgh. I watched a McIlroy video this morning and this takeaway drill. And I have just got back from trying this out and boy did it work! I have now kind of ditched the Tiger post second car crash tip. Sorry Tiger.
But as some of you are aware I do change my swing about once a week. And who knows what or indeed who will pitch up next week. Anyway, on today’s form may I add say that this Rory insight is going to be well more expensive. I was bombing it. I know that Rory should own it but I am kind of crusading it and I will give him a cut. So long as he gives me a game one day. I will even use my points and get him a cheap game on the Old Lady.
Anyway we shall see tomorrow in Edinburgh as I am playing at 1pm with some friends and then coming back in the evening to go to dinner with 8 Americans who want a bit of golf history chat over their dinner at Forgans, courtesy of Celtic Golf.
And I will of course oblige as it would be rude not to.
Fare forward passengers.