IT was quite a picture.
A tumbling riot of ginger hair cascading down over a perfectly-honed figure, while a tightly fitting mini-kilt covered the various particulars ? It was more like something from a backstreet burlesque show . . . or a leaked photograph from Herald Sport's Christmas knees-up.
In this instantaneous era of click-click, tap-tap gadgetry, it doesn't take long for this, that and the other to be whizzed around the button-pushing planet. By the time you could say 'does my bum look big in this?' images of Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson revelling in the high jinks of the Ryder Cup after-show party, decked out in those aforementioned wigs and tartan trappings, had been absorbed by an online world.
Even Stephen Gallacher was captured on camera amid this scantily-clad merriment although the Scot did remain fully clothed.
"If I had a body like Rory's, I wouldn't have a top on . . . I needed a T-shirt and a jumper," said the 39-year-old with a wry grin.
Both Gallacher and McIlroy are getting ready to flex their muscles in this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns although the lingering effects from the Ryder Cup might curtail their efforts at a full-blown workout. "I've been lying in my bed for two days," added a weary Gallacher.
After the high-octane, high-pressure environment of Gleneagles, the opportunity to amble around three of the game's finest links courses in the largely care-free company of amateur partners in this lucrative pro-am contest is one that is being eagerly anticipated.
McIlroy will be joined on the fairways by his dad, Gerry, and the world No.1 is hoping this father and son alliance can forge a profitable partnership. "It's my dad's 55th birthday on Sunday," reported the youngest McIlroy. "Hopefully we can make the team event and be able to walk around St Andrews with me still in with a chance of winning the tournament. That would be special."
It is the Ryder Cup players who remain the talk of the Auld Grey Toon this week. McIlroy, the reigning Open and US PGA champion, is the star attraction in a celebrity-infused smile-fest that resembles a walking, talking golfing version of Hello magazine.
McIlroy has plenty of happy memories of this event, of course. "Back in 2007, this was the tournament that I got my European Tour card in," recalled the 25-year-old as he reflected on a third-place finish that fast-tracked him on to the main European circuit. "It was a life-changing week for me: a young, 18-year-old just starting out in his professional career and making enough money to earn my card for the next season."
Since then, McIlroy's star has soared into a different stratosphere. Yesterday, he was named as the PGA Tour's Player of the Year for the second time in the past three seasons and this week's affair on Scottish soil gives him another opportunity to strengthen his fortified position at the top of the Race to Dubai rankings. The prizes and the plaudits keep piling in for this young Northern Irishman. "It's always nice, being appreciated by the guys you are trying to beat week-in, week-out," he said. "I've realised that even if last year wasn't the year I wanted, the last three or four years, on the whole, have been very, very good. That gives me the extra motivation to work harder and to win more tournaments, more majors and more Ryder Cups."
Sunday's Ryder Cup success was the third of McIlroy's career. From his tentative rookie experience at Celtic Manor in 2010 to leading from the front at Gleneagles in 2014, his majesty continues to blossom. "I felt the difference last week," said McIlroy, who reiterated his belief that his compatriot Darren Clarke would be the "perfect man" to captain Europe in the 2016 match.
"I said before the Ryder Cup that I felt it was my time to step up and be one of the leaders of the team, especially after the season I've had. I had to go out there and lead by example and, thankfully, I was able to do that on Sunday."
Before his first taste of the Ryder Cup four years ago, McIlroy, somewhat naively, suggested that the biennial get-together was merely an "exhibition". These days, it's a highlight of his cv. "Personally, my record in the Ryder Cup is very important to me," he added. "I haven't been beaten in the singles and I'd love to keep that going and emulate Monty. I'd love to be captain, too, one day. It might be 20, 25 years away from now but it would be a great honour."
Playing in his first Ryder Cup was certainly an honour for Gallacher. It also provided him with plenty of food for thought moving forward.
"I made a few mistakes scheduling-wise this year so I'm going to watch that next year," said the 2004 Dunhill Links champion. "I spoke to a few boys last week about peaking at the right times. I felt by the time I got to the US PGA I was running on empty."
Gallacher is already priming himself for another assault on the Ryder Cup in 2016.
"I'll work even harder now," he said. "I'm nearing 40 and the muscles start to deteriorate so I need to try and build the gym work up. The next picture of me with a kilt on, I'll probably have my top off."
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