The legend professed to be mighty impressed, and the major winner concurred. Paddy Gribben, the amateur, had just outshot Gary Player, by six shots, and Corey Pavin, by five, in the first round of the British Open at Carnoustie - and, while others complained about suffering heartache and pain in the conditions, Gribben could only smile and confess that he had enjoyed every single moment.
"To play with a legend, a man like Gary Player, who is one of the greats in golf, was unbelievable. It was a real honour for me," said Gribben, the European amateur strokeplay champion who has his eyes firmly set on earning a call-up to the Walker Cup team later this season. Indeed, Gribben's opening round of four-over par 75 enabled him to share the distinction of being joint leading Irish player after the first round alongside Des Smyth.
The irony of his new situation wasn't lost on Gribben. For three years, he had struggled as a professional and, eventually, decided to seek re-instatement as an amateur. His game has never been as good, but the most noticeable improvement has come in his putting. "The broomhandle has been my salvation," he said.
Yesterday, Gribben was one of only four players in the entire field to birdie the Par 5 sixth hole - home to Hogan's Alley - and his ball striking was, he admitted, "great." And even a bogey at the last hole failed to take the gloss off his round and his quest to land the silver medal as leading amateur. "If I can play as well tomorrow, and enjoy myself as much, I'll be very happy," he said.
Smyth's round contained eight straight pars followed by three successive bogeys. "I just couldn't keep it going," he said. Still, the 46-year-old Irishman was pleased enough with his day's work. "I'm well on my way," he added, "it's a matter of coming out roaring for the second round." His play was extremely solid apart from that sticky patch midway through when he bogeyed the ninth, 10th and 11th.
Darren Clarke's round of 76, though, could have been better. He missed two four-foot putts in the last three holes - for par at the 16th and birdie at the 18th - and admitted: "It was disappointing to do that. But it is never easy to hole them with the wind blowing so strongly.
"It's tough out there and I predict some very high scores," he said, correctly as it transpired. "In fact, I believe that a couple of holes are verging on the unplayable because of the wind and where the flags are positioned."
Clarke was five over par at the turn, but performed a fine rescue act on the way home. The highlight was an eagle three at the 515-yard downwind Par 5 14th hole which he reduced to a three-iron tee-shot and a seven-iron approach of 249 yards to 50 feet, and he sank the putt. Unfortunately, he was unable to take advantage of birdie chances at the 15th and 18th. In his own words, Padraig Harrington "won the Par 3 competition." He birdied all three short holes. But, out of character, he allowed three triple bogeys onto his card on the way to a 77. After hitting a four-iron tee-shot at the 250-yards 16th and sinking the 20-foot birdie putt, Harrington bogeyed the closing two holes, and confessed afterwards: "Mentally, I just wasn't right. I was fortunate that I holed a number of putts to save the round." Still, he has put himself into a position to make his first cut in three tournaments - and, on this course, and in these conditions, anything can happen.
