A top Scottish golfer “got his ticker going” in Angus while adding to his trophy cabinet.
Sandy Lyle is this year’s World Hickory Champion following a two-day tournament on the Panmure course in Carnoustie.
The first British winner of the Masters, Lyle has played hickory golf for three years.
He said: “I came into the tournament quite late when I decided that, as I was in this corner of Scotland for the Dunhill, staying on for the World Hickory Open would be a great opportunity to test my hickory skills, while also helping to advance hickory golf in Scotland.
“It’s been a very good experience which certainly got my ticker going, especially over the last two or three holes of the last round, which were very nerve wracking.”
Presenting the award, Lionel Freedman joked that Lyle had won another Major.
Professional Andrew Marshall from Norfolk tied for second with defending champion Paolo Quirici, a Swiss specialist in hickory golf.
Handicap winner Jim Rohr from North Carolina won the veterans’ category.
Local golfers cleaned up in the ladies’ categories, with Claire Penman from Montrose winning the ladies’ scratch competition, Sheila Brunton from Carnoustie winning the ladies’ handicap, and both women joining Carnoustie’s Pat Sawers as team winners.
More than 100 competitors participated in the World Hickory Open.
South Africans Paul Adams, Jason Mulroy and Tony Watson were named the winners in the men’s team competition, while the top place in the amateur scratch competition went to Rymer Smith from Buckinghamshire.
Councillor Mairi Evans, Angus Council’s tourism spokeswoman, said: “The World Hickory Open is great news for Carnoustie Country, which covers 34 golf courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Championship.”