It was heralded as a celebration of links golf but it turned out to be a bad dream for the sponsors and the Scottish Tourist Board.

An over-ambitious format foundered under an onslaught of Scotland's most inhospitable weather.

Mr Peter German's wealth of experience in the art of tournament directing was put to its greatest test as 256 professionals and 256 amateurs attempted to complete rounds at three of Scotland's finest courses.

As players went round Carnoustie, St Andrews and Kingsbarns, they were constantly interrupted by fog, rain and gale force winds.

At the same time, correspondents desperately tried to fathom who was doing what, with whom and where, and in how many shots.

Complex handicap system

Tempers naturally became frayed as the tournament committee refused to admit publicly their inability to cope with a complex handicap system for the amateurs.

Sections of a large media circus were quick to roast the committee in public for their ineptitude.

Only in the final hours of the tournament did the sponsors hierarchy confront the media and admit their problems.

A pre-tournament clear-the-air meeting with the Fourth Estate would have been preferable.

The only smiling faces throughout a traumatic five days came from the competitors.

The amateurs revelled in being able to play such hallowed Scottish golfing territory and didn't seem to mind getting drenched for the privilege.

The professionals played for �3.5m. They were truly in their element.