The British Open became the latest showcase event to move to Sky this year. For the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, this has one definite upside. Not having to deal with that dreadful footballer again.
In his book, former BBC Head of Sport Roger Mosey writes that the old boys of the R & A were aghast at the idea that the BBC coverage of the Open championship would be presented by Gary Lineker.
Lineker's low handicap notwithstanding, they weren't keen on the man.
The R&A didn’t seem to like footballers much either, and were resistant to the idea of Gary Lineker, a golf fanatic, being our main presenter for the sport. A dinner with the R&A never passed without sniping at Gary.
The R & A are not famed for their enlightened attitude to women.
Mosey's successor and the current incumbent as Head of Sport Barbara Slater was then in charge of BBC's golf coverage. Despite her eminent and important position, the R & A held fast to their rather antiquated regulations. If the woman was going to insist on entering the clubhouse, she had to do so by the kitchen.
My colleague Barbara Slater, then head of golf, would tell the story about planning on site an Open Championship: when she and the rest of the logistics team got back to the clubhouse, there was the realisation that she, as a woman, would not be permitted to go through the main entrance. Her approved access that day was through the kitchen. In solidarity, the men in her team walked in through the kitchen with her.
Though that may not surprise you.
