He started his week back where it all started receiving an award and, typically, ended it with another as Tom Watson offered a reminder of just why he has been so popular in these parts for more than 40 years.

The golfing grandee was only the second man to be given honorary life membership of Monifieth Links, the course at which he qualified for the Open that he was to win on debut in 1975, going on to match the modern day record of five victories in the sport’s most prestigious championship.

At the age of 65 he then played well enough in the course of the ensuing Senior Open to win The Fred Daly Award for the best performance among players over 60-years-old, finishing one-over-par for the event, having registered no fewer than 17 birdies in the course of the event.

“I was happy with that, but my score could have been a little bit better,” he said.

“My ball had missile lock on these little pot bunkers, but I played OK and it was a good week.”

He admitted to some relief that while the Carnoustie course is very similar to what he remembers, it was not as testing as it could have been.

“I’ll always have great memories of playing here in ’75 and ’99 and again here (this week) because we caught this golf course in pristine conditions,” he said.

“The superintendent couldn’t have got it in better condition. It was just marvellous. There are stories of friends of mine coming over here in 45 mph wind and rain and the caddies saying ‘We won’t charge you if you quit.’ There are some days like that over here, but that’s links golf but this week ideal conditions.”

Watson’s appeal, though, goes way beyond golf and, as he reflected on returning to the scene of that first Open triumph, he once again demonstrated why in reciprocating the warmth of the reception he get whenever he visits these parts.

“I was asked what one memory will you always take from the Open Championship and they were thinking about which performance, but it’s not that, it’s the people here, the people who love the game so much, the Scottish people who live and breathe it,” he said.

“It’s part of the fabric of life here. That’s why I love playing golf over here. They understand it, they enjoy it, they have a passion for it.

“The golf courses are part of the community here, the people have a passion for golf and even the people who don’t play have an understanding of the passion of those who do.

“Although I didn’t like the golf courses when I first started, when I hit the first shot (and lost his ball) down the road here at Monifieth in the practise round, I learned to love it and loved it I think with the same love as the people who live here.”

That return to Monifieth last week was all the more special because it was there he first became aware of just how much the game of golf means to locals as he left his rented accommodation in the town on the way to the 18-hole play-off for the Open in which he beat Australian Jack Newton.

“I haven’t been back to Monifieth much, but it provided the poignant memory I have from the beginning of that day in the play-off round,” he recalled.

“I walk out the door and it’s raining and cold and there’s this little girl who was around eight to 10 years old, in bare feet and a sun dress… I was bundled up in my jumper but it was warm for her I guess.

“She said ‘Take this Mr Watson, this is for good luck,’ and I carried that tin foil wrapped piece of heather in my bag for many years. She probably has some grand-children now.”