Cup can be torch for world
Tommy Fleetwood hopes the Ryder Cup can act as an “amazing torch” after the coronav i rus pandemic.
The flagship contest between Europe and the United States – scheduled to be played at Whistling Straits in September – remains in doubt, with no clear answers as to how the golf calendar may look if it resumes this year.
Fleetwood told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think there are certain events that would be an amazing torch for a turn in how the world is getting on and the Ryder Cup would be one of them that is like a shining light at the end of the tunnel.
“It is obviously a very interesting one
Sure, Hannah McCook has the diabetes to deal with but it’s something she has managed for nearly two decades.
And then all this happened. The 26-year-old from the Highlands could be forgiven for rolling her eyes.
McCook is making her way after turning pro 18 months ago. She had an impressive first season on the Ladies European Access Tour, just fell short at qualifying school for the top tier in January and was playing well in South Africa on the Sunshine Ladies Tour.
The world has hit the pause button in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and the Scot had to make a dash back to her family home in Nethy Bridge, near Grantown-on-Spey, to see out the storm.
McCook said: “It’s like we’re living in a movie. A few weeks ago I was playing in the sunshine with barely a care in the world. Now I’m stuck in my little village in the Highlands and wondering what is going to happen. It’s a strange time. We were in Johannesburg and there was nothing but then there was one confirmed coronavirus case in Durban and by the time we got to Cape Town it was exploding.
“Everyone wasas scrambling for f lightshts and I managed to f ly home a day early becauseuse I was scared I wouldn’tn’t get out of the country.”y.”
Diagnosed with Typepe 1 diabetes as a kid, thehe decorated amateurur player is used to havingng to deal with the rough.h.
And in the currentnt climate she knows shee has to be extra vigilant.t.
McC o o k – an amb a s s a d o r for
Gleneagles – said: “It is more of a challenge and I do have to be careful. “It’s quiet at home so I can run around the village without seeing many people. We have a big field at the back of the house and I can hit balls. I had my coach watching me on a video call with the phone on a tripod the other day.
“I don’t think I’m regarded high risk but definitely at more risk. A lot has changed c since I was diagnosed d at eight. “Now I have a Dexcom D G6 glucose monitor m and insulin pump p so I can check my m phone and other people p can keep tabs on o it as well.
“I can check my phone ph every few holes and an see where my blood bl sugar levels are. I hhave the insul in pu pump as well. Stress and adrenalin affects it as well – which is tough to avoid in professional sport.
“You see the rollercoaster effect and when my opponents are thinking about what club to use, I’m checking my phone to keep track of my levels.”
McCook looks up to the likes of Annika Sorenstam and Rory McIlroy but revealed there is another legend who is a huge inspiration.
She said: “I can’t remember the first few days when I was in hospital after being diagnosed but I do remember my parents Googled diabetic athletes and Sir Steve Redgrave popped up.
“From that day I viewed him as my twin and I’d be all right.”
McCook is going in the right direction – whatever that means these days.
She said: “Hopefully we’ll get going again. I want to be the best player I can be. Things like the Solheim Cup are a major inspiration. We have to wait and see and there’s more important things going on in the world right now.”