Tributes paid to legendary Scottish golf writer Jock MacVicar

Tributes have been paid to Jock MacVicar, one of the best-known figures in Scottish golf through a long and distinguished career as a journalist, after his sudden death on Saturday at the age of 83.

Jock MacVicar, centre, after receiving Life Membership of the Association of Golf Writers at the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

MacVicar, who hailed from Southend on the Mull of Kintyre and went to school with seven-time Scottish Women’s champion Belle Robertson, was still working for the Scottish Daily Express up until his sad passing.

The proud Dunaverty member was honoured by both Scottish Golf and the PGA in Scotland in recent years for his services to the sport in the home of golf.

MacVicar, who lived in Glasgow for most of his life, was the current president of the Association of Golf Writers, having joined that organisation in 1964.

“Very sad to wake up to this news,” wrote 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie, one of MacVicar’s favourite players and a close friend, on Twitter. “Jock was a lovely man and a legend in the golf world. RIP Doyen.”

Eight-time European No 1 Colin Montgomerie also expressed his sadness on social media, writing: “I first met Jock when playing in the 1979 Scottish Boys Championship at West Kilbride. He was always very supportive and knowledgeable.

“We spoke a few months ago and speaking to Jock was like talking to an old friend. He will be very sadly missed.”

That view was echoed by three other winning Ryder Cup captains, Sam Torrance, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn, among many others.

“I knew and respected him for over 40 years. A dear friend,” said 2002 skipper Torrance while McGinley, the captain at Gleneagles, commented: “Jock was a really nice man, popular with us all and a man of great integrity.”

Bjorn, the triumphant skipper in Paris in 2018, said: “One of our family has passed. A true gentleman.”

Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, added his voice to a chorus of tributes, saying: “As well as the spiritual home of golf, Scotland is also home to many of the legendary writers and commentators on our sport and today we mourn the passing of one of the greatest in Jock MacVicar.

“An authoritative voice on every aspect of our game, he enriched the lives of everyone he met and there is no question that the entire golfing world is a sombre place today because of this sad news.”

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