It's been a tough year for golf, but sports correspondent and weekly columnist Nick Rodger says Scotland is very much still in the game.
We caught up with Nick to ask all things sport, and got his thoughts on the years to come.
Make sure you subscribe to The Herald to catch Nick's column every Tuesday.
What’s been the highlight of your career?
I’ve been pretty fortunate to cover some memorable golfing occasions down the years but the Miracle of Medinah in the 2012 Ryder Cup remains seared on the mind. The rousing European comeback on a final Sunday of compelling twists and turns in Chicago was jaw-dropping sporting theatre.
I can still see the UK clock ticking towards 11:20pm as Martin Kaymer stood over the decisive putt. It was 10 minutes before my deadline. He holed it and I had just enough time, amid a gasping, brow-mopping frenzy, to conjure an introduction to my rolling copy, make sure it all made some kind of sense and file. It was thrilling, terrifying, triumphant pandemonium.
What’s your favourite part of Scotland and why?
Being from the Muckle Toon of Langholm, the quiet, rolling hills of Eskdale in which it dwells remains a spot supremely blessed. I’ve been in the big smoke of Glasgow for some 20 years but Langholm will, forever, be my home.
What do you write about for The Herald? Give us a brief description
I was the full-time golf correspondent for many a season, while also dabbling in football, rugby, athletics … in fact anything that was thrust into my lap. It's amazing how you get into the nuances of weightlifting if you're plunged into it.
These days, I make guest appearances with my weekly golf column and a couple of features on the game’s wide and varied tapestry. Less is more, as they say.
What will be the biggest golf stories of 2021 and the next decade?
Keeping the various tours and major events going throughout the pandemic has been a significant story in itself and will continue to be in these uncertain, unpredictable times. The ongoing Distance Insights Project, meanwhile, may sound about as sexy as a parsnip to the casual observer but it’s a complex, contentious topic of discussion with potentially seismic consequences for equipment regulations at the very top level and it will rumble along for months, if not years.
As ever, the movements, and the painful hirples, of Tiger Woods will generate fevered scrutiny as he recovers from yet another operation on his gammy back. And what of his talented 11-year-old son, Charlie? A golfing star by 2031? Watch this space …
Covid-permitting, how do you think Scottish players will fare at the Ryder/Solheim Cups?
Getting any representation will require a mighty effort. Robert MacIntyre, the brilliant young talent from Oban, is a genuine contender for the Ryder Cup and now that he is the top-50 of the world, the opportunity to make great strides in the qualifying race has been significantly bolstered. The Solheim Cup, meanwhile, will be a tough nut to crack for the home hopefuls, particularly as the Ladies European Tour season doesn’t start until May.
In non-playing team captain, Catriona Matthew, Europe has one of Scotland’s greatest golfers at the helm again. She will have six picks this year so there’s plenty of incentive for the Scots to make a big push over the summer and impress the skipper.
Who is your favourite golfer of all time?
A tricky question as there are so many, past and present, who have enriched this game with their performances, presence and personalities.
But it’s impossible not to treasure the late, great Seve Ballesteros who engaged and enthralled with his swashbuckling charisma, consummate talent and magnetic majesty. Seve transcended golf. And he was my dear mam’s favourite too.
What other sports do you like to watch?
I’ve always been a football man, while I do have a penchant for delving into the archives and watching motor racing from the 1970s and 80s. There was always intrigue and enjoyment, meanwhile, from those sporting oddities and curiosities they used to show on Trans World Sport, whether it was the ancient absurdities of Kabbadi or engrossing elasticity of Sepak Takraw.
Every sport can tickle the fancy and stir the senses in some way or another if you give it a watch.
Why should Scots sign up for a Herald subscription?
In a modern world of here today, gone tomorrow fads, The Herald has stood the test of time. Yes, things have changed a bit since it first emerged on the scene back in 1783 but it is Scottish institution with a history and longevity that should be cherished and safeguarded. Oh, and you get to read my weekly haverings on a Tuesday…
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