Yes I was out on the Old for a walk and I’d heard that Cologne Tom was out caddying for the legend that is Gary Player.
I caught up with them on the 14th tee and had a wee chat with Tom. They all tee’d off and I just had to say a few words to Gary and told him that he still looked in great shape (which he certainly does).
He retorted that he was 90 and asked me how old I was. I said 62 which can’t have impressed him overly as he didn’t really fall over in surprise or indeed say anything.
Anyway I immediately googled him and it turns out he is 88 and a half. So I guess my first thought was that I was glad I wasn’t marking his scorecard. Still he seems a nice chap and is very impressive for his age and has won 9 majors.
One of his playing partners, I think some football chap from Rangers called King, looked awfully bored though. I ventured something along the lines that Gary may have bogeyed 13 but at least he had got one of the best and most eccentric caddies at the links in Tom Stevenson. However this was met by a blank stare from this chappy. Maybe he was too focused on his game or perhaps Rangers had been beaten in a pre-season friendly. But he-ho never mind.
It was great to see Xander win The Open. He does seem to be a very decent chap indeed, as far as I can tell by looks and all that. I think you can tell a lot by looks and all that. I mean take one look at Donald Trump’s visage and you know that’s one nasty, self-centred egomaniac if ever there was one. But Xander looks fun and down to earth and decent.
I had the privilege of playing with my mate Azzie in the Autumn Prizes on the Old last Saturday and we had a wonderful day of it. Azzie is so relaxed and modest and easy going. He got to 4 under after 14 holes and it was like he was out for a bounce game. He was as relaxed as could be. And when he did slightly mess up on 17 by taking a double-bogey there was no blaming or excuses or annoyance or petulance. He just carried on like nothing untoward had happened.
And this is marvelous to be honest. So many people could learn a lot by playing with Azzie Paton (including myself all said!).
They say that, Alan Robertson, the champion golfer of Scotland pre-1860 was like that. He was really the first golf professional ever and was the mentor to Old Tom Morris. People often walk past his gravestone in the cemetery when going to visit Old and Young Tom’s graves. And that is a great shame.
For it is one thing being a great golfer for sure. But being a great person is a whole lot better. And if you are a great golfer and a great person then that is beyond words.
And of course few of us are.
Fare forward passengers.