Grant Forrest reveals his concern for girlfriend as she treats coronavirus patients in Edinburgh

Lothians golfer stunned by lack of PPE for hospital staff
Grant Forrest, pictured with his girlfriend Christy Farrell in Dubai earlier this yearGrant Forrest, pictured with his girlfriend Christy Farrell in Dubai earlier this year
Grant Forrest, pictured with his girlfriend Christy Farrell in Dubai earlier this year

European Tour golfer Grant Forrest has spoken about the anguish he is facing on a daily basis as his girlfriend carries out her beloved job as a nurse without the proper Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus crisis.

Christy Farrell, who was out in the United Arab Emirates to watch Forrest playing in Abu Dhabi and Dubai earlier in the year, works at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where she is playing her part in trying to save lives during the pandemic.

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The pair are unable to see each other at the moment as they adhere to the government lockdown guidelines, with Forrest admitting he is constantly feeling anxious about Farrell’s safety when she is on duty at Little France.

‘Horrible stuff’

“It’s pretty horrible some of the stuff that is going on in the hospitals,” the 26-year-old, who lives in East Lothian, told the Edinburgh Evening News. “Christy is in A&E normally but, at the moment, she is probably doing one every two or three shifts with Covid-19 patients.

“We’ve not been able to see each other over the past few weeks, and it has definitely been challenging. It is worrying knowing that she is going in without the proper protection they are supposed to have, not even close, in fact.

“Half the days they don’t have masks or visors. And, when they do have masks, it is the paper ones, not the ones they are supposed to use. It is not a nice time for the people around all these nurses and doctors. You are just sitting in your house all day and worrying about them.

“It is having a huge emotional impact on them more than anything. They are used to being really busy and run off their feet. It is a stressful job at the best of times. But, when you are having to hold someone’s hand while they are on the phone to their family telling them they are going to die and they can’t see them, it is quite unimaginable having to do that as a job.”

There was no hiding Farrell’s enjoyment when she followed Forrest, who is in his second season on the European Tour, as he played his rounds in both the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Dubai Desert Classic earlier in the year.

“I don’t think I would get the same enjoyment for obvious reasons out of watching her do her job as she did then,” added the former Scottish Amateur champion. “But she’s a great person. The type of person she is, she is made to help and care for people. There’s not all that many people out there like that.”

Staying motivated

While sharing Stephen Gallacher’s view that “golf is not all that important in the grand scheme of things at the moment”, Forrest is trying to keep himself motivated. Events on the European Tour have either been postponed or cancelled up until the last week in June, with the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, due to be held at The Renaissance Club in the second week of July, looking as though it could soon be added to the list.

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“We’ve not heard anything, so, as far as we know, the Scottish Open is still on the cards,” said Forrest, who enjoyed sleeping in his own bed when playing in last year’s event at the same venue. “But, with The Open having been cancelled, if it does go ahead, it is not going to attract the same field in terms of the big names coming over from the States. It is not going to have the same prestige it has for the past few years.

“Even if the courses reopen, there is so much goes into big events and you’ve also got to get guys travelling from all over the world. We could be back in the same position we were in going into Kenya and India before the shutdown where certain nationalities were not able to travel. That draws its own problems in terms of fairness.

“If I was being perfectly honest, I don’t see us playing by the second week of July. I think realistically it is going to be more like August or September time.”

Changes on way

According to reports, chief executive Keith Pelley has told European Tour players to expect a change in prize funds when the circuit starts up again. “We are having to implement tough measures both in the short and long term,” the Canadian said in an email to members.

“Many of the things you have become accustomed to, such as top-class players’ lounges or courtesy car services will most likely assume a different appearance, if indeed they are present at all. Prize funds will also most likely be different.

“We are doing everything we possibly can to come through this, but be prepared that the 2021 schedule may look profoundly different to the 2019 or the 2018 schedule. This is difficult for all of us to face after the tireless work we have all undertaken to grow our Tour over the last five years, but this is the new reality.”

Speaking before those comments were made public, Forrest said in reply to being asked if players will be more appreciative of some of the simple things in life: “I would hope so. It is the old saying, you don’t really know what you’ve got until it’s gone. This will open a lot of people’s eyes to how much freedom we normally have on a day-to-day basis and the things we take for granted.

“There’s always positive things coming out of bad situations and hopefully that is one of them in this instance.”

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