The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Tributes to sports writer Jock MacVicar, aged 83
Sports writer Jock MacVicar, who has died aged 83, spent a lifetime covering golf and became known as “The Doyen” among his journalist colleagues.
Tributes have been paid over the weekend from the sporting and media world at the news of his sudden passing. Mr MacVicar died peacefully in Glasgow Royal Infirmary on Saturday after being admitted following a fall at home earlier in the week.
He was one of the bestknown figures in Scottish sports writing and enjoyed a long and distinguished career. He was still working for the Scottish Daily Express to the end.
Paul Lawrie, who won the Open in 1999 at Carnoustie, was one of Mr MacVicar’s favourite players and became a close friend. He wrote on Twitter: “Very sad to wake up to this news.
“Jock was a lovely man and a legend in the golf world. RIP Doyen.”
Eight-time European No 1 Colin Montgomerie also expressed his sadness on social media, writing: “I first met Jock when playing in the 1979 Scottish Boys Championship at Dunbar.
“He was always very supportive and knowledgeable. We spoke a few months ago and speaking to Jock was like talking to an old friend. He will be very sadly missed.”
Mr MacVicar was from Southend on the Mull of Kintyre and went to school with seven-time Scottish Women’s champion Belle Robertson.
He reported on the game for nearly 60 years, covering his first Open in 1962 and was present at almost every championship thereafter.
During his long career, he also covered several editions of the Masters, US PGA Championships and a number of Ryder Cups.
In recent years he was honoured for his services to the sport by Scottish Golf and the PGA in Scotland.
Mr MacVicar, who lived in Glasgow for most of his life, was a member at Dunaverty and was the current president of the Association of Golf Writers, which he joined in 1964. The organisation described his death as “a sad day”.
That view was echoed by two other winning Ryder Cup captains, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn, among many others.
“So so sad to hear of this news. Jock was a really nice man, popular with us all and a man of great integrity,” Mr McGinley said. Mr Bjorn commented: “One of our family has passed. A true gentleman.”
Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “As well as the spiritual home of golf, Scotland is also home to many of the legendary writers and commentators on our sport and today we mourn the passing of one of the greatest in Jock MacVicar.
“An authoritative voice on every aspect of our game, he enriched the lives of everyone he met and there is no question that the entire golfing world is a sombre place today because of this sad news.”
Scottish pro golfer and commentator Andrew Colthart tweeted: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Jock MacVicar.
“When I was a kid I felt I’d made it big when I was in one of his reports. Always positive, constructive and supportive.
“Thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.”
Fellow Scottish professional Alastair Forsyth said: “Very sad news that Jock MacVicar has passed away.
“Writing about golf and spending time with his golf writing friends was his life. Jock was so supportive of Scottish golfers, willing us to play well. More importantly a real gentlemen.”