St Andrews boasts a ‘special atmosphere’

Peter Dawson came in to the R&A chief executive post after succeeding Sir Michael Bonallack in 2000.

He will bow out there this year, officially retiring in September when Martin Slumbers takes over.

“I look forward to every Open but St Andrews Opens have a special atmosphere, no question about that,” he said.

“No doubt we’ll get another wonderful winner, but who it will be I have no idea.

“It was very nice indeed to be honoured with an OBE, but it is a team effort.

“People always say this when they get awards, I know, but it really is the case at the R&A.

“I’m proud of the way the Open has progressed and I believe that the game has been governed well by the R&A and USGA. There haven’t been the kind of scandals you see in some other sports.

“I’m proud of seeing the way the staff at the R&A has grown and developed.”

Dawson will move to concerning himself with golf’s debut in the Olympics in Rio on leaving his post.

Despite having piloted sensitive matters the sport’s reentry into the games and the R&A’s acceptance of women members, he believes there is still “lots to do”.

“Martin has tons to do, that’s why we get bigger and better people every time,” he said.

“Participation is one issue, and I know Martin has zoomed in on that as a priority for the future. Part of the reason we concentrate on our commercial activities is that we get the funding to help participation going forward.

“There are challenges out there for our game, as there are for other sports.”

His last public act, however, will be the traditional scene on the 18th green of the Old Course on July 19 when, in time-honoured fashion, he announces “The champion golfer of the year”.

He said: “Will I have a frog in my throat when I do that for the last time? It’s hard to tell, something will come up, no doubt. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Peter Dawson will officially step down from his post in September.