Best Evidence Yet The Ball Goes Too Far? New R&A Captain Nearly Drives Ceremonial Shot Into Swilcan Burn
/I know, I know. It might have been downwind. The first fairway was probably firm and fast. Or just maybe new Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews Captain George Macgregor has been in the gym working on his explosiveness to hit an impressive ceremonial first tee shot.
Anyway, the official R&A account of Macgregor's big moment at yesterday's fall meeting.
George Macgregor OBE began his year in office with a drive at precisely 8am as a cannon fired alongside the tee. A large crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the ceremony and saw Mr Macgregor hit a long drive down the middle of the fairway that finished just short of the Swilcan Burn.
As Captain, Mr Macgregor will represent The R&A and support its work in developing golf around the world. He will attend R&A Championships in the professional and amateur games and assume an ambassadorial role for the Club.
After hitting his tee shot, Mr Macgregor said: “It’s a pretty unique tradition in the world of golf. To be Captain is a fantastic honour and I am very much looking forward to it. The R&A is making great strides within that with a range of initiatives in different parts of the world.
“I think my role is to build on the work that previous captains have done. Sandy Dawson, whom I am following, has travelled thousands of miles around the world and has made a great effort to go out there and meet with golfers and organisations all over the world. That’s an important part of this role.”
