Email from Golf Monthly editior Mike Harrris ‘Muzza can you shoot Tom Watson at the Mastercard patrons Day at Royal Lytham next week?’

As Mr Watson is one of my all time sporting heros you can imagine how special this assignment would be for me.

It took me 5 hours to get to Lytham from Sussex, the wipers were on full for most of the trip and the forecast for the next day wasn’t looking any better.

Fish and chips for supper set me up for a good restful evening but at 5 am I was full awake and checking through my gear.

It was raining and for once it was looking like the weather men were spot on with their forecast!

But by the time I arrived at the course things were looking up, especially as on my arrival the rain had stopped and I was told that I was actually playing in the competition.

Tom arrived straight from Manchester airport having flown in from the USA that morning.

Without the slightest hint of jet lag he gave an hours clinic on the range and was both totally engaging and enlightening, a true master at work.

I’d like to say my golf was brilliant but shooting and playing at the same time isn’t ideal. A few good holes mixed with some shockers summed up my round. However it did not matter a jot because there to applause every golfer in on the 18th was Gentleman Tom Watson.

Thank you Golf Monthly, Thank you Mastercard, Thank you Royal Lytham but mostly thank you Tom Watson for the best golf day of my life!