News about Bob Charles

In the 17th and 18th centuries, pineapples were one of the most expensive commodities in the world. They could cost around £60 each (nearly £10,000 today). They were never eaten. Instead, wealthy people would hire them for display on their dinner-party tables. You can see lots of the fruit ­displayed on top of buildings and metal fence posts all over London, as well as atop the Wimbledon men's trophy, as a reminder of their value.

The question is serious. What has the passing of 25 years done to the magical memory of winning golf's biggest prize, the Open Championship? The answer from Paul Lawrie is not so serious. 'It's added an extra three stone and a head of grey hair,' he replies. The 55-year-old Aberdonian is making light of one of the great sporting comebacks. Never before in the history of the majors had anyone come back from a ten-shot deficit going into the final round. That play-off victory at Carnoustie on July 18, 1999 was truly remarkable. 'Some things are quite fresh in the memory about what happened that day, that week,' he recalls. 'That's whether or not you get into the debate about me getting enough credit for doing what I did.