SCOTTISH OPEN MEMORIES KEN BROWN

with bunkers on both sides and a run-off at the back.

After the last Scottish Open, this set-up was tweaked by designers Mackenzie and Ebert. The architects also suggested relocating bunkers on the fifth fairway, gave a facelift to the par-3 eighth with an open sand carry and on the ninth added a new tee and relocated fairway bunkers. There’s also a new tee on the par-3 17th.

While Edoardo Molinari’s contention Gullane is the best links outside the Open rota raised eyebrows in the clubhouses at Dornoch and County Down, the finale of the 2015 event here was as good as it gets when Fowler, 5ft 7in in his socks, demonstrated how explosive power can be contained in a small package.

His final blow on the 72nd hole – the championship tee stretches this closing par 4 to 460 yards – set up the winning birdie 3 to edge out Raphael Jacquelin and Matt Kuchar. Rickie was kind enough to gift the driver to Gullane where it hangs in a clubhouse bar named after him. A reminder, if one was needed, these guys are generous as well as good.