Largs golfing legend Sam Torrance OBE was beaming from ear to ear after being honoured by the University of St Andrew's in respect of his incredible golfing career - and couldn't resist a funny quip.
The 69-year-old received an honorary degree in "one of his most favourite places in the world" and described it was a great honour for him and his family.
Born and bred in Largs, Sam first picked up a golf club at Routenburn Golf Club, under the tutelage of his father Bob, who went on to become a coaching colossus of the sport.
And Sam went on to embark on a long and successful golfing career lasting decades, putting the famous 18th hole to secure a historic Ryder Cup triumph over the US in 1985, before going to captain the 2002 winning side in his return to The Belfry, which he describes as the pinnacle.
Upon receiving his big honour at the University of St Andrews, Sam, with his self-deprecating humour, remarked: "I left school 56 years ago so I guess I am a kind of slow learner."
The golfing star continued: "It was magnificent to watch all the students come up and all the pride on their faces.
"It was really beautiful. This is the only place I would have accepted one.
"It is one of my most favourite places in the world - and one of my favourite golf courses, one of the best that there has ever been.
"I will look back on this day and remember it forever. It is a great honour for my family and me."
Sam, who retired from the senior golfing circuit in 2021, was honoured with an MBE (1996) and OBE (2003), for his outstanding contributions to golf.
The Largs man was one of the leading players on the European Tour from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s, with 21 tournament wins. He was also a member of European Ryder Cup teams on eight occasions and on the winning team four times, and became a popular TV commentator.
Sam has always remaining close to his local roots, visiting the town frequently to see family and friends, and in 2016, he took part in the biennial Pro Am event to mark Largs Golf Club's 125th anniversary - and donated a Ryder Cup golf buggy.
In an interview in 2016, Sam said: "I have many happy memories here - I recall the 18th hole which used to be one of the best holes in golf, the green used to be at the gate, and you would drive a four iron right across the car park, it was a fantastic hole.
"I have always loved playing here, and we are lucky in Largs to have such great golfing assets in Kelburn Golf Club and Routenburn - both have wonderful views, and bring a lot of people to the area, so it is great."
Largs Golf Club also named the main lounge after his father Bob where he was originally a greenkeeper before becoming a professional at Routenburn, and where Sam first played golf.
Sam has also been a long term supporter of the local charity Gillian's Saltire Appeal from when it started 15 years ago in Largs.
It provides respite for people recovering from cancer, and Sam attended the original opening of the first house in Waterside Street in 2007, and gave his full endorsement to both Gillian's Saltire Appeal and its associate Maggie's Centres to be the official charities of the 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, pictured above.
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