An Invernessian in America: Golf will take a seat on the bench when Euros are on

Diane Knox loves football and golf but supporting the national team will be her priority.

In case you didn’t know, I work in golf over in the US, golf media to be exact.

Since I’ve been in this line of work I’ve been lucky enough to cover some really iconic moments in the sport: Tiger’s comeback win at the 2018 Tour Championship, then his historical victory at the 2019 Masters; Europe regaining the Ryder Cup in France, but sitting on my couch last Sunday, watching Phil Mickelson claim the PGA Championship, the second Major victory of the year, may… MAY… top them all.

Anyone who follows any professional golf tour, or anyone who even plays golf, will know what a volatile sport it is.

I often think we must be crazy to attempt to find enjoyment in this crazy game. But the constant pursuit of greatness, the desire to beat your previous score, to lower your handicap, to hit that one pure shot and feel joy – that keeps us coming back for more. And the pros are exactly the same.

Phil Mickelson’s recent form hadn’t been great, I mean he’s a 50-year-old man competing against the greatest players in the world, some of whom are in their early 20s and regularly winning.

But the truth is, even though golf is fickle and we sometimes forget it, Phil is one of the greatest in the world. And he’s now the oldest to ever capture a Major victory.

Following a tense rollercoaster ride of a round, the fans swarmed the 18th fairway after he hit his final iron shot of the tournament and started his approach to the green. And a two-putt par was enough to secure his sixth career Major win.

The trophy the winner of the PGA Championship receives is called the Wanamaker Trophy, and it’s huge! I’ve been told, on authority, that it holds 38 cans of beer. So let the celebrations begin.

And the excitement continues. The third of the four Majors is the US Open, and it’s a mere three weeks away, kicking off on June 17. However, as much as I’ll be engrossed in every shot that’s struck at Torrey Pines in San Diego, that week marks a much greater milestone in my sporting life… and I promise I’ll never refer to it as ‘soccer’.

Three days prior, Scotland will begin their Euros campaign with their first group stage match against the Czech Republic, and on June 18 it’s the big one against England.

I’ve notified all my friends and family that their attendance is compulsory at my house from 3pm EST that Friday, donning navy and white. I don’t know how many times I’ve tried to convey the scale of our national side’s accomplishment in reaching the Euros this summer, and the amount of times I’ve said: “But we haven’t been in a major tournament since 1998!”

One thing’s for sure, this Highland lass will be fully prepped with saltires, strips and anything Scotland-themed I can get my hands on. And the golf will be taking its place on the bench.

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