Former Open champion Paul Lawrie is convinced his house is haunted.
Lawrie, who won the major title at Carnoustie in 1999, made the admission during a light-hearted video interview published on the tournament’s official website ahead of this year’s event at Royal Birkdale, when he was asked whether he was more scared of bees or ghosts.
He said: “I was lying in my bed one night and I had my iPad on my stomach as I was watching a film.
“The bathroom is on the right of our bed, and I just happened to look at the door.
“And there was a face. It was one of those double-look moments. As I looked back, it drifted into the bathroom. Scariest thing ever.”
The 48-year-old, who lives in Aberdeen, added: “When I woke up in the morning and my wife opened her eyes, I said to her ’you’re not going to believe what happened to me last night’.
“I told her the story and she said she believed me because I don’t usually believe in stuff like that.
“And we’re still in the same house!
“I don’t know what room the ghost stays in but he was in my room that night!”
Jean Van de Velde could be forgiven for being haunted by Lawrie’s victory at Carnoustie 18 years ago, after a triple-bogey seven at the 18th cost the Frenchman the title.
But he said in an interview last year he was “at peace” with his meltdown and added: “It never wakes me up in a cold sweat.”