Brora warns it might have to shut down

Brora Golf Club, one of Scottish golf’s hidden gems, has issued a warning to members that it “might not exist” beyond the closure of courses due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The worrying message was delivered by club president Andy Stewart as the popular Highlands venue joined the mass closure of courses in Scotland following the Government announcing its latest steps to combat the virus.

He said: “As you will be aware, this virus has wideranging effects. The committee, who spend many hours working on behalf of the members, have been working doubly hard just to keep the club going.

“We need the support of all our members at this time if we are to survive. This is a member-owned golf club and the members will determine whether or not we exist beyond this.”

Brora, which was founded in 1891, was one of fivetime Open champion Peter Thomson’s favourite courses in Scotland, while fellow five-time winner Tom Watson was made an honorary member in 2018.

Stewart added: “I am working on a communication for members which will properly clarify the financial position of the club and what we need to do going forward to maintain your club’s survival.”

For some athletes approaching the tail-end of their careers, the announcement of the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will have come as a hammer-blow. But others, for whom the Games looked set to arrive a little too early, the re-scheduling gives them the opportunity to transform from long-shot into realistic contender. Here we pick out six British athletes for whom the Tokyo 2020 Olympics can’t come a moment too late.

FREYA ANDERSON

The 19-year-old is considered the next big thing of British swimming – and the Tokyo delay should enable her to make a bigger splash. The freestyle star finished fourth in her senior European debut in Glasgow in 2018, and followed up last year with a World Championship relay bronze. Anderson has the attributes to move on to further, individual success.

JACK CARLIN

The 22-year-old Scottish track cyclist, below, has been sitting on the shoulder of Jason Kenny for some time, and the extra months could prove crucial in his quest to usurp his illustrious rival. Kenny, 32, will not be grateful for the delay, and Carlin may be the man to deny him the gold he needs to move ahead of his former team-mate Sir

Chris Hoy.

CAROLINE DUBOIS

Dubois, a junior world and Olympic champion, squeezed into the senior GB Boxing squad just in time to make the Tokyo 2020 qualifiers. The unbeaten 19-year-old was already making short work of her quest to muscle in on the Games. Given an extra year of development, this strong outside bet could be going to Tokyo as the lightweight favourite.

SKY BROWN

The skateboard star could be scuppered in her quest to become Britain’s youngest summer Olympian. Depending on the exact re-scheduling, Brown could just miss out to swimmer Margery Hinton, who was 13 years and 14 days old when she competed in Amsterdam in 1924. But the extra practice will boost Brown, who already holds a World Championship medal from 2019 in Sao Paolo.

JEMMA REEKIE

The 22-year-old Scot, left, shaved a remarkable four seconds off her personal best when she won an 800m race in Glasgow in February, beating Laura Muir in the process. Reekie’s remarkable rise put the focus firmly on her controversial Nike Vaporfly running shoes – but two further PBS emphasised her potential to maintain her steep trajectory towards the rearranged Tokyo date.

ALEX YEE

The Brownlee brothers are likely to have 22-year-old triathlon team-mate Alex Yee breathing even more heavily down their necks by the time Tokyo 2020 comes around. Yee’s silver medal in the World Triathlon Series race in Abu Dhabi in 2019 announced his arrival from the junior ranks, and the young Londoner is being tipped as a worthy successor to his decorated team-mates.