The Eagle's Open diary: Big bucks, green drives and a diarist's waste
'Less is more,' said the sports editor as he counted out my wages in IOUs.
The LIV Golf lot have been whooping it up in Portrush over the past few days and hosted a lavish, 'after dark' private party in the town's well-kent night club, Kelly's.
Amid the feasting and glass-clinking, the award-winning rock band Kasabian played an intimate gig for the revellers and were reportedly paid a whopping £250,000 to belt out a few hits.
Upon discovering that, the diarist was convinced he'd heard a tale that Irish crooner Daniel O'Donnell was once offered a similar figure not to sing.
*It's all about being eco-friendly at The Open these days. The R&A's Greenlinks programme has been driving innovation and action in sustainability at the championship since 2016.
'Yes, but this diary is utterly unsustainable,' spluttered the sports editor as he menacingly polished his recycled duelling pistol.
Through the Greenlinks initiative, The Open continues to be powered by solar panels and carefully sourced biofuel derived from waste product.
It's good to see the diarist's daily rubbish being put to good use.
*As part of this on-going green push, there's not much paper fluttering around the press centre these days.
Not that long ago, everything from draw sheets, interview transcripts, player guides, bulletins, weather forecasts or disciplinary procedures brought against golf writers were piled into trays as the media team printed off more odds and ends than Caxton.
The Open is going paperless. This diary, meanwhile, continues to be pointless. See you at Birkdale in 2026.
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