Legendary golf broadcaster Renton Laidlaw dies aged 82

Tributes have been paid to legendary golf broadcaster and journalist Renton Laidlaw, who has died aged 82.

Edinburgh-born Laidlaw, who lived at Drumoig in Fife with his sister Jennifer, was admitted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on Saturday, having tested positive for Covid-19.

He started out as a copytaker on the Pink News in his beloved home city before becoming the golf reporter for the Edinburgh Evening News.

After a spell in television, first with STV then Grampian TV and, finally, the BBC as its news anchor in Edinburgh, he returned to the golf beat with the London Evening Standard.

He then started to combine television and radio assignments on weekends and for 15 years he was BBC Radio's golf correspondent.

A move to full-time broadcasting followed with British Satellite Broadcasting, which was taken over by Sky TV, and, latterly, his dulcet tones could be heard on The Golf Channel.

In 2013, Laidlaw became the first non-American golf writer to cover The Masters for 40 years, joining an exclusive club.

Throughout his career, he covered 165 majors including 58 Opens and 42 Masters.

He was the recipient of the Jack Nicklaus Memorial Award for golfing journalism and earned a lifetime achievement award from the PGA of America, the PGAs of Britain, Scotland and Europe.

Tributes to Laidlaw were led by Sky Sports Golf commentator and fellow Edinburgh man Ewen Murray.

He wrote on Twitter: "I met Renton Laidlaw when I was seven. He was 22 and came to my parents house every Friday for tea ahead of his column for the Edinburgh Evening News.

"He was my mentor at the start of my TV career. A gifted broadcaster, an exceptional man in every way. Many hearts are sore tonight."

Dougie Donnelly, another giant of golf broadcasting, also paid tribute to someone he described as a "dear friend and colleague".

He added: "Renton Laidlaw was an outstanding writer and broadcaster, held in genuine affection by everyone he worked with, and a great support to me and to so many others over the years. He will be very sadly missed."

Iain Carter, the BBC's golf correspondent, said Laidlaw had been the "voice of golf on BBC radio for so many years and a colossus of the golfing media".

Paul Lawrie described Laidlaw as a "lovely man" while fellow player Stephen Gallacher said he was "an absolute gentleman and the true voice of golf".

You can read the full article from The Scotsman HERE