Scottish golf reporting legend Jock MacVicar has been rightfully honoured with the presentation of a Scottish PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of a career spanning more than 50 years.
Jock is one of golf’s special gentleman, and Fatiha and myself here at www.golfbytourmiss.com is proud to be among those to congratulate the Dunaverty Golf Club doyen.
Congratutions to Jock for his lifetime achievement award.
Jock is also one of the most respected and intellectual of the golf reporters covering the European Tour and there’s nothing he doesn’t know about Scottish golf.
Everyone warms to his company when we are out ‘on tour’ , and also to note first hand the respect he enjoys among players who are easily 50 years his junior is truly amazing and it’s a credit to his stature in the game.
It’s known Jock covered his first Open for the Scottish Daily Express in 1962 and has been at virtually every Championship since.
He has also been present for many of the biggest moments in golf over the past half century, having covered numerous Masters, US PGA Championships and a host of Ryder Cups.
A well-known figure throughout the world of golf, Jock’s career highlights include seeing Sandy Lyle win The Open at Royal St George’s in 1985, witnessing the Duel in the Sun between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson at Turnberry in 1977, and Paul Lawrie’s incredible play-off victory over Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie in 1999.
His Tuesday column in the Scottish Express is must read.
And when Jock’s not at home in Glasgow, and with his mobile phone always turned off, you can usually find him at his beloved Dunaverty course down on the Kintyre peninsula.
At the presentation, Jock was asked about his long and successful career, and the 74-year-old said: “I don’t know about the secret to good golf writing, but it is essential that you have a great love of the game and a pretty good constitution to keep going.
“Although, working for what might be called a tabloid, you have to try to be fair without your copy becoming deadly dull.
“An ability to quickly spot the main line of a story or situation is very important, even if it doesn’t always please a player or an official body!”
There has been many occasion in writing for the rival Daily Record where the wily Jock has scooped me for a story or angle.
But I’ve been very honoured to call Jock a good friend and colleague and I am very pleased he has been honoured for his services to Scottish golf.
Jock received his award from Scottish PGA captain Andrew Crerar at the Association’s annual lunch at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel.
Hosted by the BBC’s Dougie Donnelly, the guests of honour where Lawrie and Van de Velde who reminisced about their careers and the 1999 Open.
The lunch also saw former Gleneagles Hotel head professional, Ian Marchbank, receive the John Panton award for his achievements in golf.
The PGA top trainee award went to Alan Gibson (Troon Municipal), who was presented with the Stewart Thom Trophy.
We look forward to congratulating Jock in person at next week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
