For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a sports writer. For this to happen just a few months short of my 18th birthday was nothing short of remarkable. Since that happy day, sport has consumed my life in all sorts of ways.
Thanks to the wonders of sport, I reckon I’ve never had a real job and, for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.
I began my journalistic journey as a junior sports’ writer with the Aberdeen Press and Journal newspaper. Sport and language have always wrestled for priority but the combination has been central to the plot of my debut crime novel, ‘Four Deadly Swings’.
I moved to Glasgow to become sports correspondent for the Press Association in Scotland, writing on a wide range of sports over 14 years. This was followed by a spell as a football writer for the Daily Mail, sandwiched between two stints with the Scottish Daily Record, the latter as Golf Correspondent.
The PGA European Tour (now DP World Tour) came calling just before the turn of the century. Based at Wentworth Golf Club, Surrey, I graduated from Press Officer to Communications Director for the Tour and Media Centre Manager for the Ryder Cup. On leaving the Tour, I spent six years as a self-employed Sports Consultant, specialising on golf.
Back in the mists of time, I became a published author in the form of a factual golf book, ‘Golfing Greats’ (1990, Sportsprint Publishing).
I am now focussed on full-time writing but retain a close relationship with key personnel and companies in the golfing industry, specifically many well-known, high-profile professional golfers, officials, internationally-renown sports management companies and sponsors/investors.
It’s been a joyful ride…and all thanks to sport.
