WHEN he knew he'd been paired at the Dunhill Links today with Ray Romano, the American comedian, Colin Montgomerie made a point of watching the situation comedy Everybody Loves Raymond, and was delighted to discover Romano's passion for golf.
"If you look at the stage set [for Everybody Loves Raymond], there's a golf bag in the house under the stair," observed Montgomerie.
"He's obviously very keen on golf and he explains his love of the game on the US PGA Tour website. Ray plays off
13, I believe, and takes the game quite seriously. I'm looking forward to playing with him and having a bit of fun."
Romano said: "I'm very much looking forward to playing with Colin, but also very scared. He is a great player and I don't want to get in his way. My play can either be very bad or very average. I just hope he has a little patience with me. I hear he is a very good guy, so I am sure we will have fun.
"To win the team competition would be a huge challenge. This is the first time I have played on the Old Course. I love the aura of the place."
In the same high profile group as Monty and Romano at Carnoustie are Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo and American singer Huey Lewis.
Last year's winners, Open champion Padraig Harrington and JP McManus, the Irish businessman and racehorse owner, have been paired together again in the same group as Ian Poulter and the Hollywood actor and director Dennis Hopper.
Of the other Scottish professionals, Sandy Lyle is at Kingsbarns today, where he won't lack for informed comment about football.
The former Open and Masters champion plays with Sir Bobby Charlton in the same group as Dutch golfer Maarten Lafeber and Johann Cruyff.
In his first European Tour event as a professional on Scottish turf, Lloyd Saltman joins cricketer Sir Ian Botham in the same fourball as Sam and Daniel Torrance.
The full article contains 335 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
