Alex Salmond revealed himself to be a keen golfer during a visit to St Andrews yesterday.
The Scottish first minister headed to the Fife coast''s historic course to announce that an agreement to bring the British Women''s Open to Scotland five times between 2011 and 2020 has been signed.
Before entering politics, Mr Salmond attended university at St Andrews and he explained that it was there his love of golf first blossomed.
"I spent a great deal more time studying golf than economics - that''s what my tutor said," the SNP leader joked.
Now playing off a handicap of 18, Mr Salmond added that he harbours ambitions of joining the Senior Tour once he manages to "shake off this politics stuff".
On a more serious note, he also said that more will be done to enhance Scotland''s reputation as the "home of golf".
The country currently generates about £300 million a year from golf tourism, but Mr Salmond claimed that plans are afoot to increase this amount to £450 million.
The 2008 British Women''s Open begins at Sunningdale on Thursday. Last year''s event was held at St Andrews, with Mexico''s Lorena Ochoa taking the title.
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