During a particularly lean period in the 1970s, Ian Woosnam (below), a picture of utter dejection, turned to his friend Des Smyth and said despairingly: "I can't take much more of this, but I don't want to go back to farming." Almost a quarter of a century on, they stood together on a presentation platform at the Burlington Hotel last Monday as recipients of Renault Sports Celebrity Awards.

Both made significant contributions to the success of the evening, Smyth in the role of president of the Links Society which organised the event and

Woosnam as presenter of a rather special item which was bought by J P McManus for £4,500 (€5,700) at a charity auction. It was a mounted Augusta National flag signed by no fewer than 19 US Masters champions.

Given that the list included such Augusta specialists as Jack Nicklaus (six titles), Arnold Palmer (four), Gary Player (three) and Seve Ballesteros, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Ben Crenshaw and Bernhard Langer (two each), it accounted for 33 Masters victories. And the list can never be repeated, in view of the recent passing of one of the signatories, Art Wall.