Switch on the television, tune in the radio, log on to social media, gaze at some wood carvings or decipher a flag semaphore and what do you see or hear on the various platforms of communication? That’s right. England. And maybe a bit of Brexit and Love Island. But mostly England.
The unbridled cooing and mooing on Radio 5 Live, for instance, has already reached a level of such panting pandemonium, the station just about possesses the same mental nourishment of a baby’s rattle.
Having plucked our neighbours out of the bunnet in the office World Cup sweep, this correspondent has not joined in the tartan-tinged harrumphing yet. There’s time, of course.
Having missed England’s rout of Panama, I watched the highlights of England’s rout of Panama, which was followed by more highlights of England’s rout of Panama on the end credits before a complete re-run of England’s rout of Panama came on. By the time I gazed wearily at myself brushing my teeth in the bathroom mirror, I was convinced my reflection had turned into highlights of England’s rout of Panama.
Thank goodness we have the escapism of golf to get us through this mouth-frothing fervour. And when a bit of Scottish success comes along, we should savour it like an England rout of . . . steady now.
David Law’s victory in the Scottish Hydro Challenge on Sunday was particularly sweet for him and all those close to him. The cycle of golfing life can take funny birls. Just a day after Law’s breakthrough win on the Challenge Tour, his mentor, Paul Lawrie, finally confirmed what most folk were anticipating; that the 1999 Open champion wouldn’t be playing competitively again in 2018 due to injury.
It’s been hard to watch Lawrie struggle over the past wee while. Even at his own Par-3 Championship recently, he was hirpling and grimacing through the pain but ploughed on with that unwavering sense of duty.
The teeth-grinding frustration that comes when a true competitor is able to fire on all cylinders merely added to the aches and pains. The win of his protégé, Law, would perhaps have numbed some of those sair bits.
Law had been chipping away at the coalface of the Challenge Tour for five years but for various reasons, including personal grief, it has taken him until now to get that maiden success on the second-tier.
Like many before him, and after him, much was expected of Law after wins in both the Scottish boys’ and men’s amateur championships during a fine career in the unpaid ranks – but amateur baubles count for little in the professional game.
Lawrie didn’t do anything as an amateur and went on to win the Open, play in two Ryder Cups and rack up multiple tour titles. At 27, Law has time on his side. A new posse on the Challenge Tour, including the likes of Grant Forrest, Ewen Ferguson, Liam Johnston and Robert MacIntyre, is one of the better bunches we’ve had in recent years but the only thing certain in this game is the uncertainty.
At all levels of the pro game, the standard is quite daunting and the formidable strength in depth is deeper than a burial at sea. Those of us who have followed and covered the amateur game down the seasons have glimpsed many Scots who we thought were can’t-fails or at least would become regular touring players. They never got close to making it.
In this nation’s esteemed position as the cradle of the game, we have no right to success. We have been spoiled by the exploits of Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance or Lawrie who were all successful for very different reasons. In this very individual game, there is certainly no one-size-fits-all model.
Law has put in the hard yards and has finally made a breakthrough. But the hard work continues. Asked if he sees Law kicking on, Lawrie said simply: “That’s up to him.”
You can talk and argue about development programmes here or pathways there but there is no support system which can burnish natural talent with the necessary drive and discipline. That only comes from within.
Lawrie had those required attributes in spades. And he remains a shimmering example to all of the merits of dedication.
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