073002 Scotsman

Olympic rowing hero Sir Steve Redgrave and Hollywood heart-throb Dougray Scott had their own Mission: Impossible today – battling torrential rain to play golf for charity.

The celebrities played 72 holes of golf at three courses across Scotland in 17 hours to raise money for various UK charities.

The duo played four games at three of the country’s top courses, Gleneagles in Perth, Turnberry in Ayrshire and Skibo Castle in the Highlands, where pop icon Madonna wed movie director Guy Ritchie in December 2000.

Unfortunately Sir Steve and Scott were forced to abandon plans to play at St Andrews in Fife because of fog.

The pair were also eventually driven across the country after they were told the unseasonably bad weather meant their private helicopter could not fly.

But neither of the celebrities let the wet weather dampen their spirits and both told how they desperately wanted to win the event which is held annually.

Fife-born actor Scott, who starred alongside Tom Cruise in the Hollywood blockbuster Mission: Impossible 2, told how he had trained hard for the tournament, which hopes to raise more than £150,000.

They 36-year-old said: “I’m out to win this, but at the same time it’s great to raise money for such worthy charities.

“I love golf and despite this horrendous but typical Scottish weather it’s been great fun.”

The father-of-two, who recently became a bone-marrow donor is an active fund-raiser for the Anthony Nolan Trust, one of the charities to benefit from the event.

The star, who also appeared in Enigma with Kate Winslet, added: “You know it’s not bad being up against a five-time Olympic Gold winner.”

Speaking at Gleneagles, Sir Steve told how he had been “pleasantly surprised” by the movie star’s golfing talents and told how the day had been a different sort of challenge for him.

The sporting legend said: “Like Dougray I really enjoy my golf and the challenge of the Scottish courses and the weather here makes it all the more exciting for someone like me.

“I did a lot of training for my rowing, but must admit I could have done more for this. I have a long way to go to perfect this sport.”

Money raised at the tournament will also go to The Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust and The Children’s Wish Foundation.

The rower’s Trust, set up a year ago, hopes to raise £5 million in five years to offer grants to individuals and voluntary groups across the UK to improve opportunities for young people.

Sir Steve went on: “Dougray started really well during the two rounds at Skibo, but I have been putting up a challenge, I promise.

“I’ve only ever played two rounds of golf in one day, so this is tough.

“Not only that but we were up at 4am and have been battling the rain and fog all day, but it’s been well worth it.”

The star, who is jetting off for a family holiday in Spain tomorrow, added: “It’s not every day you can play such great courses, so it’s great practice and will no doubt go some way to improving my golfing ability.”

Hundreds of people joined the stars at the courses where they paid for the privilege of following the pair around the fairways.

Last year’s event – which starred footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones and former member of the rock group Yes, Rick Wakeman – raised almost £155,000.

The stars were rounding off their gruelling day by helping host a charity auction and dinner at Turnberry, where they were earlier battling it out in the final round