The diarist was suited, booted and really looked quite dapper in my bright, iridescent plumage the other night.
The reason for the finery, of course, was the Association of Golf Writers’ dinner, a lavish annual feast that would make the Regent’s Banquet look like the media centre’s grab-and-go lunch option.
Rory McIlroy couldn’t make it this time, but he was awarded the Golf Writers’ Trophy for his sterling endeavours last year while the presence of other recipients of gongs, like Aaron Rai, Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington, brought gravitas to the top table.
The droothy diarist, meanwhile, brought a sneaky half bottle for under the table.
*The aforementioned Mr Rai seemed to enjoy his night as this year’s US PGA champion was recognised with the Presidents’ Quaich.
The mild-mannered Rai is not one for histrionics or great outpourings of emotion but in a quick Q&A with compere, Iain Carter of the BBC, the Wolverhampton man revealed that he did allow himself a spontaneous moment of jubilation in the aftermath of his Aronomink conquest.
“It was when I was in the car with (wife) Gaurika as we were heading back from the course,” said Rai. “I rolled down the window and just shouted out loud when we were on the highway.”
Funnily enough, the diarist heard a roar emanating from a rolled down window in the media car park. “Look, there’s that bastion of The Herald,” came the holler. Well, it sounded like bastion?
*Sustainability is the name of the game at The Open these days, with the R&A’s Greenlinks initiative now 10-years-old.
A whole host of environmental improvements continue to be made at the championship. According to the official bumf, for instance, on-site emissions have been reduced by 93 per cent.
"Can't you reduce your emissions in this ruddy diary?," grumbled a weary sports editor. It's becoming unsustainable, isn't it?
