The Story Of 'the Most Famous Bench In Golf'

For almost 15 years it has been dubbed nan astir celebrated chair successful golf.

Sitting proudly connected nan sixth tee astatine Royal Portrush, pinch views of nan formation beneath and seashore for miles either side, it has gone viral astatine this year's Open.

Some of nan sport's biggest names - including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm - person each been pictured resting up astatine nan backmost extremity of nan course.

The inscription reads: "Jim McDowell - from conscionable a fewer of his galore golfing friends to people nan juncture of his 70th birthday".

But what is nan communicative down it? It involves camaraderie and friendship, thing astatine nan bosom of golf.

"Dad's not pinch america immoderate much but he utilized to play each Wednesday astatine Royal Portrush pinch a group of hackers," said Jim's daughter, Zoe.

"They had nan champion clip and they would person a wee regroup astatine nan halfway location and play beautiful good connected nan backmost nine.

"They yet each became friends and it was a really eclectic operation of group that Dad brought together, truthful they decided connected his 70th they would spot successful and get him a bench."

Zoe said nan caput of Royal Portrush astatine nan clip picked nan location connected nan iconic sixth tee and it was unveiled arsenic a astonishment to Jim for his large day.

"She knew nan dishonesty of nan onshore and we deliberation she picked nan champion spot," Zoe added.

"It was a astonishment for him and it's been a joyousness to bask it ever since.

"Dad was really excited because he was 1 of nan fewer group to get a chair while they were still alive. He would often beryllium connected it pinch his friends and person nan craic.

"There person been a batch of stories and family memories from nan bench, and now it's been astonishing to spot truthful galore group from this Open enjoying it."

Claire, Jim's different daughter, said her begetter "would person perfectly loved" seeing immoderate of nan sport's biggest names bask his chair astatine nan Open.

The sisters added that they travel and sojourn nan chair each twelvemonth to bespeak connected memories of their dad. In Claire's words, "most group spell to a grave. We spell to a bench".

"We were truthful excited and we cognize Dad would person sewage specified a footwear from it," she said while enjoying nan Open pinch Zoe connected Saturday.

"He would person loved it if he was still here.

"It's been a spot mad, but we ever thought it was nan champion chair successful golf. There was ne'er immoderate conflict astir that for us, it's beautiful cool."

The chair is simply a bequest of relationship - successful a measurement that only a athletics for illustration play tin supply - and now others tin bask a infinitesimal of tranquillity, reflection aliases craic - including immoderate of nan sport's biggest names.