The day I bonded as caddy No6

IT STARTED at an elegant dinner in Monte Carlo, as all good stories should.

While interviewing a host of stars for a sports awards event, news filtered through the room: Sir Sean Connery had arrived in Monaco and was due to play golf the next day. A plan formed in my head: I would get up early and try to get an interview with him.

So it was, in the early hours of the following morning, I headed for the finest golf course in Monaco. I spotted the Hollywood star at the first tee, wrapped up against the cold. He had three bodyguards and a sinister-looking black armoured car next to him.

‘Excuse me. I just wondered if I could have a few moments of your time?’ I shouted over.

‘I have no time, I have to tee off,’ he said.

‘I could caddy for you?’

‘I have about five caddies,’ he retorted.

‘Do you need six?’ His security moved towards me, but Connery put a hand out to stop them, smiled, and said ‘yes’. And off we went.

He was absolutely charming: incredibly good company and full of anecdotes. ‘Golf’s become a huge part of my life,’ he said. ‘You know what I do, when I’m offered a part in a film? I play a round of golf in the character that I’ve been asked to play. If I can play 18 holes in the character, I take the part.’

He fizzed with excitement as shots went his way. ‘If I get this bugger in the hole, I’m going to dance for joy,’ he said. It went in and he did his dance. At the final hole, I thanked him for his time. Later that evening, two friends took me to a small, family-owned restaurant favoured by locals – and, as it turned out, by Connery.

After a few drinks, I thought it would be fun to send over a bottle of the wine he was drinking. He sent a note back with two bottles of wine. The note said: ‘No need to send four bottles back, or we’ll be at this all night. Remember – I could buy this restaurant.’

When we went to leave, he’d settled our bill, including the wine I’d sent over to him.