Liam Buckley(Former League of Ireland player and former Shamrock Rovers and Sporting Fingal manager)

Club: Edmondstown GC, Dublin

Handicap: 13

1 What’s your favourite golf tournament (amateur or professional) and why?

Probably the Masters at Augusta. Just the whole presentation of the course, the competition itself. You can see all the guys are geared up for it. I always look forward to watching it.

2 Best TV golf memory?

I always enjoy watching old footage of Christy O’Connor Jnr’s two-iron into the 18th at the Belfry during the Ryder Cup (1989) against Fred Couples. That one sticks in the memory, as do other sporting moments like Eamonn Coghlan winning the World Championships (1983 Helsinki) and Dennis Taylor winning the snooker World Championship (1985). Special moments in Irish sport.

3 Parkland or links? Why?

Definitely parkland especially as I play my golf up here at Edmondstown in Rathfarnham. Primarily parkland because it’s a lot easier to find your balls, the rough on the links can be very time consuming. Some links golf can be very tricky.

4 What's your hidden gem of a golf course and why?

I like going down to play Naas Golf Club. Nice and tidy course with a couple of tricky holes; it’s a reasonable test of golf too.

5 How would you deal with someone you suspected of cheating? Would you sign their card?

I’d have to tell them there and then. If I thought there was an indiscretion I’d have to call it. One of the great aspects of golf is the honour and trust of playing by the rules. It’s so important for every player to play within the rules.

6 If you could introduce one rule how would you combat slow play?

I don’t really have an issue with slow play. The five-minute rule is in place and I think it works.

7 Has equipment technology had a detrimental effect on genuine golfing talent/ability?

If so, what changes would you make?

The advances in equipment are there for everyone, all standards of player can avail of this technology. It’s just progress, things improve in all sports. I’d like to see more of these distance devices, far handier than guessing or looking for distance markers. These sort of gismos would help speed things up. Handy if you could rent them.

8 What’s in the bag?

The bag is full of Callaways, Big Bertha driver, woods and irons and a trusty old putter, have it as long as I can remember.

9 150-yards from the hole, what’s in your hands?

Somewhere between an eight or nine iron.

10 Playing among friends, would you play for a wager? What type of match?

Usually just for a bit of fun, €2 front nine, €2 back nine and €2 for the overall match. Either that or play for a couple of pints.

11 Who is the greatest – Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods? Other?

Nicklaus is obviously older and has won more Majors but I think Woods is fantastic. That said when (Rory) McIlroy won the US Open his swing was the best I’ve seen. Overall Tiger would have to edge it, his swing, the amount of tournaments he has won – even outside Majors – and how competitive he is. Will he get passed Nicklaus’s record? Tricky one to call. With his caddie now gone and what’s happened the last couple of years, I’m not sure he’ll get to the heights he reached before.

12 If you had one final round of golf who would be in your fourball and where would you play?

Would to have to pick Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy. I’d also have my son Alex, who is 16 and plays off 13, the same as me. That would be a great fourball for him to play in. I’d pair him with Rory and I’d partner Phil. As sportsmen, those two guys are second to none. We’d play on the Ryder Cup course at the K-Club and we’d beat the boys.