Jesper’s stuffed nose sticks out for Eilidh

Barbour steps into the shoes vacated by fellow Scot Irvine

EILIDH BARBOUR will perform a special role at The Open this week, when she is invited into people’s living rooms to tell the daily story of golf’s most-famous Championship.

Barbour is the new face of golf coverage on the BBC and will be there to introduce highlights of the four days’ play.

She has taken over from fellow Scot Hazel Irvine, but rest assured, things are in safe hands.

Eilidh, who hails from Perth, took up the game in her teens, playing with her mum and dad and, in the last year, could be found striding the fairways of Cathkin Braes, just south of Glasgow.

She was a frequent visitor to The Open as a spectator and is now excited for the week ahead at Royal Birkdale.

“I can’t wait,” she enthuses. “For golf fans, The Open is the highlight of the calendar. I can tell the players love it and as Brits, we should feel proud to host it.

“I used to love going when I was younger. Living in Scotland, we’d often go to Carnoustie, Muirfield or St Andrews.

“If possible, I liked going on the Wednesday practice day, when you could get up close to the players, and then on the Friday when the action was under way.

“Two things stand out for me. I was at Carnoustie one year and I remember the grass was really high.

“Jesper Parnevik came walking past me with tissues stuffed up his nose to protect himself from hayfever. What a sight that was!

“The other was standing behind Tiger Woods at the time when he was dominating golf. I couldn’t believe the power he generated when he hit his drive. It was awesome.

“I’ve enjoyed working at the last two Opens for BBC Radio 5 Live. It was great to walk round with Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston at Royal Troon last year and see how he got the crowd going.

“Now I have my new role and this is my first Open outside of Scotland, so it should be great.

“My memory of Birkdale is Justin Rose chipping in at the last, having played so well as an amateur. It’s hard to think he was just a wee boy then and now he’s one of the best in the world.”

Eilidh feels honoured to be replacing Hazel Irvine, who was the BBC’s lead presenter of golf for the previous eight years.

Just like Hazel, she is also a sporting all-rounder as Eilidh can be found presenting coverage of football and rugby.

But she is grateful for the chance to learn the ropes from her broadcasting idol when she attended The Masters in April.

“Hazel has been my inspiration since I was young,” she admits. “I had seen her career and hoped that I might do something similar.

“She has been absolutely incredible and they are massive shoes to fill. But it was invaluable to go out to the Masters and see her work.

“It was great that she could pass on advice to me and that I could see her professionalism and how she handled situations.

“I was also really struck by the hours of work she had put in before the tournament. She made sure the knowledge was really secure in her mind.

“Going to the Masters was certainly one on the bucket list.

“While learning the ropes for next year, I was fortunate enough to have a couple of opportunities to walk the course.

“I got to sample the Augusta atmosphere and stand at Amen Corner. It was incredible, and I couldn’t believe how hilly it was.

“Players have said how tired they are after playing there, now I know why.”

Thanks to her new role, Eilidh is now a spokesperson for golf and women in golf, and she knows that the sport needs to do more to reach out to engage with people.

“Golf is a great sport in that men and women can easily play together,” she says. “I play with my mum, my dad, male friends, female friends.

“There’s definitely an audience for golf, and when it’s on the BBC, you can reach more people, especially younger people.

“It’s a way-in, but it’s still hard. That’s why things like Golf Sixes are important to try and make the sport a bit more accessible.”

Hazel has been my inspiration since I was young. I had seen her career and hoped that I might do something similar. ■ EILIDH BARBOUR will present extensive highlights of The Open on BBC 2 from Thursday until next Sunday.