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During this week’s Genesis Scottish Open, many professionals are honoring the life of the late St Andrews golf coach and DP World Tour player.
Bill McCall, indoor golf center coach at Longtime St. according to Sports Illustrated. He was 66 years old.
The accident occurred on Links Crescent, near the old stadium, and resulted in an emergency helicopter landing on the 18th fairway and halting public play at the stadium for approximately an hour.
McCall was a member of the European Tour for 14 years and played in seven major tournaments, his best finish being a T23 in the 1980 Open Championship. He also won the 1984 Ivory Coast Open at the Safari Circuit (now part of the European Challenge Tour).
At the Renaissance Club’s Scottish Open, PGA Tour and DP World Tour officials left a note and ribbons in the players’ locker room to honor McColl’s memory, according to Sports Illustrated.
“Bill McCall, former member of the DP World Tour and well-known face of Scottish golf, died unexpectedly this week on his way to give a golf lesson in St Andrews,” the note read. “Please take a black ribbon if you wish, as a sign of respect for Bill.”
Several European pros such as Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry were seen wearing the straps during the third round on Saturday. Some American players such as Sam Ryder and Kurt Kitayama also wore them as a tribute.
It is common in professional golf for professionals to honor the loss of members of the golfing community with ribbons or pins on their hats. This last happened last month at the Rocket Mortgage Classic when players wore red pins in honor of Nick Gilbert, son of Rocket Mortgage founder Dan Gilbert, who passed away in May.