How my golf hero took his driver to the crippling pain in my back

I JUST lost an entire week out of my life, and all I have to say is thank God for Padraig Harrington. And, I suppose, thank God for the BBC and its wire-to-wire coverage of the British Open.

One thing the past week has taught me is this: never again will I be sceptical of people who suffer from back pain.

Although I’m over the worst of it now, I’m still typing this with one finger because I’m propping myself up on an elbow in order to protect my back. I don’t, under any circumstances, want to put it out again.