St Andrews dream realised for de los Santos

OF all the 168 amateurs in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St Andrews, none has a tale to tell quite like Manuel de los Santos.

The 25-year-old former baseball player from the Dominican Republic, who partners England’s Richard Bland, lost his left leg in a road accident six years ago — denying him a contract with Major League outfit Toronto Blue Jays.

De los Santos then watched the feelgood golf film ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance’, took up the sport and, balancing on his right leg, has managed to get his handicap down to three.

“When I’m here on the golf course, I don’t think I have (a) problem,” De los Santos said. “I forget everything.

“I want to show the world I love this game. When I go back home I say to my friends I played St Andrews. This is enough for me.

“I feel this week I’m going to cry.”