In a professional career stretching back to 1969 and covering almost every nook and cranny of the golfing globe, Sam Torrance can pitch up at just about any course and reel off more stories than the Jackanory series.

Last weekend, ahead of a shindig at the Scottish Golf Awards, he was at Dalmahoy, the venue on the outskirts of Edinburgh where he won the 1985 Scottish PGA Championship and the Scottish Senior Open of 2006.

The memories weren't about the wins, though, more about the one that got away. "I had a putt for a Rolls Royce at Dalmahoy once," he recalled with a smile. "That was the prize for making a two on the 18th and in those days, the 17th and 18th at Dalmahoy were driveable, they were great finishing holes. It was a two tier green and I drove it to the front of it and had a putt for an effin' Rolls Royce. I putted it off the back of the green ... there was no way I was going to be short."

A gleaming new Roller would have been motoring perfection. Back at Dalmahoy in 2015, Torrance reflected on golfing perfection. In just a fortnight's time, Rory McIlroy will begin his quest for the career grand slam in the Masters at Augusta.

"It would be an extraordinary achievement," added the 61-year-old Torrance. "I watched him recently and I think he swings the clubs as good as I've ever seen a golf club swung. It was just beautiful and it couldn't be better. I thought Tiger Woods in the '90s is just about as good as it gets, Adam Scott had the same sort of swing and won the Masters, but I think McIlroy has the best swing. My dad (the late Bob) was the coach in our family, but I do watch and I do listen. Butch Harmon did an analysis of McIlroy's swing and every point was perfect. Address, ball position, takeaway, halfway back, top of the swing, downswing, follow through. Every single point was perfect."

The chances of Woods joining McIlroy at Augusta get slimmer by the week, of course. "I'd love him to be there but it's doubtful isn't it?," said Torrance. "If they took away all Tiger's money and possessions, I wonder how quickly his game would come back? I hope to God he isn't burned out, but he's had a hectic career. Tiger is 40 at his next birthday. I can't compare myself with Tiger, but I had my best year when I was 43. So there could be plenty left in Tiger. I'd love to see it."

While Woods continues to creak and groan with various ailments, Torrance has had his own aches and pains to deal with of late. "I had an operation about a month ago, nothing serious, just cleaning out my knee," he reported. "I was always going to get it done. I had a wee slip in Mauritius towards the end of the year after getting a bit exuberant on the dance floor. That didn't do the damage, it just unsettled it. I played a couple of week ago and used a buggy and was fine, but I played last week and had to walk in from the 12th at Sunningdale. I should be fine, though."

Gammy knee permitting, the big highlight of Torrance's year will be the Senior British Open on his doorstep in Sunningdale although the one tinge of disappointment for the former European Ryder Cup captain is that the Scottish Senior Open has moved from the course that bears his name at Fairmont St Andrews and will take place at Archerfield instead.

"Archerfield is magnificent and I've no qualms about going there but it's just a shame we won't be at Fairmont again," he said. "It was my course and it's such a beautiful spot. Then again, I've always played s***e there so maybe I'll have better luck at Archerfield."

He might ... providing he stays off the dance floors.