Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher expects to make a full recovery after suffering from serious heart problems last month.
Gallacher was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in a critical condition after collapsing just over two weeks ago as he was about to give an after-dinner speech.
Medics had to restart his heart three times following a cardiac arrest.
While it is still unclear what caused Gallacher’s heart to stop, the Scot feels he is well on his way to a full recovery.
“Golf is off the menu for a while but, considering I was dead a few weeks ago, it’s amazing to know I’ll get back to a normal life soon. It’s not too big a hardship. Winter is coming,” he said.
He added: “I had no pain, no warning of what was coming. People said I suddenly collapsed. They said it looked like I’d been floored by a boxer.
“Three nurses gave me immediate help. The Marcliffe Hotel had a defibrillator, which was incredibly lucky. If it hadn’t been I wouldn’t be here. These people saved my life.”
The 64-year-old has had a defibrillator fitted which will restart his heart automatically should the problem recur.
Gallacher made the first of his eight Ryder Cup appearances as a player in 1969, the same year he became the youngest winner of the PGA Championship at 20 years and 97 days – a record which stood until earlier this year when Italian Matteo Manassero triumphed at Wentworth aged 20 years and 37 days.
He went on to win 10 European Tour titles but is perhaps best known for his role as Ryder Cup captain in 1991, 1993 and 1995.