ALASTAIR FORSYTH FACTFILE

“Especially the iron shots: ‘He’s 180 yards to the front, he’s going with nine iron. REALLY?’

“When a 600-yard hole is a drive and a mid iron, when they go to Carnoustie and they’re trying to drive the first, it’s a different world. And that makes the game harder for everyone else.” With that thought, he drains his coffee and heads for his first lesson of the day. Thegreat thing for his clients, though, is he doesn’t resent them, doesn’t see them as a poor substitute for the life he thinks he should be living. The misery of that locker room in darkest Wales is a distant memory and he’s happier for it. Now a fully-qualified teaching pro after three years of exams and assignments, he said: “Professional golf is a results business and coaching gives you a lot of the same feelings . “If you work with someone for a wee while and see them progress, it feels good. You still get a reward. “They’re expecting you to make a difference for them. Thehard bit is then getting what they do in your lesson on to t he c ou rse – w il l t hey wor k a t it? “But when they come back and they’ve knocked a bit offtheir handicap? Great. I love it.”

Carlsberg Malaysian Open (beat Australian Stephen Leaney in play-off)

Madeira Islands Open (beat South African Hennie Otto in play-off)

2008 Runner-up: 2003:

Smurfit European Open, Diageo Championship at Gleneagles

South African Airways Open

Mercedes Benz Championship

Estoril Open de Portugal

2004: 2007: 2008:

US PGA Championships - (last Scot to record a top 10 finish in a major)

Scottish Amateur StrokeScottish PGA Champion