So many of us have been shocked this morning to hear of the sudden passing of Gordon Brand Jnr, who was playing on the StaySure tour only recently and commentating for radio at the Open Championship just two weeks ago. He was a very fine player, feisty competitor and proud Ryder Cup player.

It feels very odd when golfers who I have grown up with – though a decade or more ahead – start to leave us. The loss of Seve Ballesteros felt very wrong, losing Payne Stewart was a shock and around this time last year the upsetting loss of Bruce Lietzke. But when a passing is so sudden and unexpected as Gordon’s was it is very sad. Condolences to his family and his many friends on tour.