There’s an unusual touch of coyness to her answer, sensing she might be getting into uncomfortable territory. A bit of background: you probably already know that Di happens to be going out with Jonny Wilkinson, a bona fide English sporting hero. Understandably, she wants to avoid being caught in his not inconsiderable shadow, or being seen as riding on his coat-tails, so a request not to ask any ‘awkward’ questions is agreed to prior to the interview. Truth is, I’m more of a Stephen Jones man, anyway.
Back on more comfortable ground, Di claims she can spot a golfer anywhere.
“Call it a sixth sense, or whatever, but I just know. There are little clues in the way they dress, but a golfer’s car is usually a complete give away. I love the little rituals when they pull up in a club car park. Get out, fiddle about with wallet and loose change in glove compartment; get trolley out, get bag out, wonder about waterproofs; scratch head then wander off in general direction of changing rooms with golf shoes; then back to car for wallet, switch mobile on silent; shove clubs over shoulder…”
She cites Seve and Faldo as her childhood heroes, with Sandy Lyle there or thereabouts as well. She met Faldo recently and couldn’t stop shaking, while one of her mother’s favourite photographs features her holding a course marshall’s ‘Quiet Please’ sign in the background, while Seve prepares to propel another long iron into a greenside bunker.
“You can’t help but be awed by these guys,” she says, with genuine seriousness. “To be able to excel at such an amazingly difficult sport, to be at the top of the game for years when most of us can hardly play two good shots in a row is amazing.”
Asking anyone to sum up the attraction about something that’s dominated such a significant part of their life is a big ask. Di barely pauses and is no less emphatic with her answer than she is demure on camera.
“Golf can be the most soul-destroying game. It can crush you in an instant. It can make you believe you’ve reached some sort of higher plane with one shot and then you’ll always, without fail, be brought crashing down with some slice into the bushes, or a dodgy putt that you lag six feet short. That’s why we go out there day after day, trying to eliminate all the mistakes. It can’t be done,” she smiles, her eyes twinkling, “but I’ll never stop trying.”

Credits - Styling by Maya Oakley, Hair & Make-up by Julia Cartá at Carol Hayes Management.

Story by Iestyn George/ Photos by Steve Read

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