Alastair Forsyth’s quiet dignity deserves admiration

AT last week’s Sports Quest, the excellent annual event that has raised in excess of £1 million for the Edinburgh Headway Group charity and Children’s Aid (Scotland) Ltd, I had the pleasure of sitting beside Alastair Forsyth and was duly reminded what a fine ambassador he is for Scottish golf.

The likeable Glaswegian had plenty to moan and groan about when it came to his beloved Rangers but not once during the course of the night did Forsyth mutter a single word that indicated he felt golf owed him anything. A two-time winner, the 37-year-old lost his European Tour card at the end of the 2010 season and since then has found it a real struggle trying to secure a spot back at the top table.

Starts on the main circuit have become fewer and further between yet, as a former winner, he’ll join world No 3 Luke Donald and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel in the field for this week’s Malaysian Open.

It might only take one good week for Forsyth to kick-start his career but, as others who have achieved far less chisel away at the coalface in their bid to gain success at the top level in this game, they would do well to take a leaf out of this man’s book when it comes to remaining dignified and facing the stark reality of certain situations.