July 30, 2002
Press Association
Celebrity Duo in Golf Marathon
by Natalie Walker

Hollywood heart-throb Dougray Scott and Olympic rowing hero Sir Steve Redgrave were joining forces today - to play golf for charity.

The celebrities were hoping to play 72 holes of golf at four courses in less than 17 hours in a tournament to raise money for a number of UK charities.

The duo were to play a round of golf at four of Scotland's top courses - Skibo Castle, St Andrews Bay in Fife, Gleneagles in Perthshire and Turnberry in Ayrshire, in one day. Five-times Olympic gold winner Sir Steve, 40, and Scott, 36, best known for his roles in the hit movies Mission Impossible 2 and Enigma, will tee off at 5am at Skibo Castle in the Highlands, where pop icon Madonna wed movie director Guy Ritchie.

The pair jetted into the exclusive castle yesterday to prepare for their gruelling day.

They will be flown across Scotland by helicopter to each course and are expected to finishing their punishing schedule at Turnberry at around 10pm.

Various charities, including the Children's Wish Foundation, the Anthony Nolan Trust and the Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust, will benefit from the event which is hoped to raise more than £125,000.

Hundreds of people are due to join the stars on the different courses where they will pay for the privilege of following them round the fairways.

Between six and 25 teams, made up of staff from companies sponsoring the event, will play holes after Scott and Sir Steve have teed off.

A spokeswoman for the event said: "We are delighted two celebrities of this calibre are taking part in this event.

"They have given up their time for free and have been doing a lot of practising over the last few months.

"Both Dougray and Sir Steve are huge golf fans so we hope they enjoy their day, as well as help us raise as much money as possible.

Last year's event - which starred footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones and former member of Yes, Rick Wakeman - raised almost £150,000.

Following their golf marathon, Scott and Sir Steve will later in the evening help host a charity auction and take part in a dinner at Turnberry.

World renowned chief executive of event host Sun Microsystems, Ed Zander, will jet in from the US to attend the event.

He said: "We are proud to host a truly international event."

The Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust was founded by the Olympic hero to distribute grants to individuals, small community charities and voluntary groups across the UK to improving opportunities for young people.

Scott is a known fund-raiser for The Anthony Nolan Trust, which raises money to save the lives of those suffering from leukaemia and other bone marrow-related illnesses.

The star, who has two children, recently became a bone marrow donor.

The other charity to benefit from the celebrity match is the Children's Wish Foundation International, which fulfils wishes for children under the age of 18 suffering from a life threatening or terminal illness.

Copyright 2002 The Press Association Limited  

- Thanks to Tamara of Dougray Scott Enigma for the article!