Glasgow golfer Craig Watson was today savouring one of the biggest honours of his long career after being awarded the Great Britain & Ireland captaincy for the 2017 Walker Cup clash with the USA.

But the East Renfrewshire stalwart admitted he’s got some big shoes to fill having taken over the reins previously held by the popular Welshman, Nigel Edwards.

GB&I won two Walker Cups with Edwards at the helm, the most recent coming at Lytham last September when the home side romped to 16 ½ - 9 ½ victory.

Watson, who beat Trevor Immelman in the final of the 1997 Amateur Championship at St George’s, earned a call up to that year’s Walker Cup but couldn’t prevent GB&I losing to their US hosts at Quaker Ridge.

The 49-year-old still cherishes the experience, though, and the former Scotland amateur team skipper is relishing the prospect of being involved in the Walker Cup cut-and-thrust again.

Watson said: “Playing in the Walker Cup team is one of my proudest moments in golf. I still remember the nerve-wracking moment when I teed it up on the first tee in the afternoon singles on the first day but I settled down and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It is a privilege for me to take over the captaincy of the team and I have a hard act to follow as Nigel did a fantastic job.”

A winner of two St Andrews Links Trophies, eight Scottish order of merit titles and a regular in the Scotland set-up for over a decade, career amateur Watson will be an ideal fit for the GB&I job.

Andy Ingram, the chairman of the Royal & Ancient’s selection committee, added: “Craig is a well-known and highly respected figure in the amateur game and will bring a great deal of experience and knowledge to the role of captain.”