Trudging from Loans to fines via punting hell

US Open champion Dustin Johnson is among the favourites at Royal Troon

Dustin Johnson could manage only ninth place at Royal TroonCredit: Mike Ehrmann

There is a tiny village just outside Troon which I had to drive through each day to get to and from last week's Open Championship. It is called Loans.

I considered a much longer stay in Loans when my four Open investments - Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott and Gary Woodland - found themselves chasing the shadows of Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson over the Open weekend.

Is Loans the place where struggling punters of Britain gather for a cash injection to replenish their betting supplies? Do friendly old Scottish ladies (Scottish widows?) greet you at the village hall with a warm smile, a cheque for £5,000 and sweet words of encouragement?

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Published on 23 July 2016inFeatures

Last updated 13:44, 22 July 2016

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