A FEW years ago I attended a talk and book selling at the Oran Mor, Glasgow by the wonderful Peter Allis.

As he was signing my copy of his book, I respectfully asked him if he could have a word with someone on Tiger Woods's team about their client's "spitting" habit. I suggested that when 100 million people around the world are watching him on TV, young golfers included, this practice did not endear him to many, if any, of us witnessing it.

As I expected, the honourable Mr Allis agreed totally.

A couple of months later, however, at the 18th hole at Augusta, the aforementioned Mr Woods pushed his drive into the trees and duly spat as he angrily put his club back in the bag. "Oops ... he's swallowed another fly!" was the immediate comment from P Allis, Esq.

As medical experts at FIFA are currently suggesting that spitting on the pitch should banned and that yellow cards should be issued, I wonder what the Great and the Good in golf's hierarchy might consider as a suitable deterrent for this unhygienic and unseemly behaviour.

On reflection, do teachers permit schoolchildren to spit when playing football at school or does this practice only take place when they turn professional?

Robin Gilmour, Glasgow.

I AM doing my best to follow the reports and accusations of bullying and coercion used by the SPFL in the vote on how to finish the Scottish football season ("Rangers vow to send clubs SPFL ‘dossier’", Herald Sport, April 27). Who to believe?

However, I was struck by the figure of £2 million which has been distributed to the 30 lower league clubs. I hope this helps these clubs' finances and for them to survive.

What struck me even more is that £2 million equates to about eight weeks wages for one, I stress one, of the top players in the Premier League in England. There are 20 teams in the English Premier League with pools of say around 20 players in their pool. That is a lot of money to find.

Little wonder that the English football clubs do not want to upset Sky and BT, where much of these inflated salaries come from.

Willie Towers, Alford.

Ale not for sale

IF alcohol-free beer is alcohol free,

Why is it subject to the Government decree

Which prevents any buying of booze before ten?

Why does alcohol-free beer have to wait until then?

Just asking. For a friend.

John N E Rankin, Bridge of Allan.

Hard to stomach?

MAYBE Donald Trump's remarks about injecting disinfectant to kill the Covid-19 virus weren't so wide of the mark after all. The answer could be that we eat tripe, which is bleached sheep and cattle stomach lining.

The panic buying would keep the butchers happy, and also reflect on the contents of his press briefings.

Mike Henderson, Bearsden.

Barbecue buddies

WHILST respecting D Dunlop's declared respiratory problems (Letters, April 28), I feel a total ban on barbecues is unnecessary and amounts to overkill. Surely a quiet word as between near neighbours would resolve any upset. Live and let live with a sensible sprinkling of mind thy neighbour before the over-the-fence wafting commences.

Allan C Steele, Giffnock.

How do they do it?

WITH no hairdressers open, my Worzel Gummidge image was substantially improved by my son giving me a number 4 all-over haircut, making me look more like a convict in lockdown. So how are all those on TV maintaining their perfect grooming?

TV presenters look immaculate, Nicola Sturgeon and team and all at Number 10 also look exceptionally smart and well groomed; the exception being Boris Johnson, who looks as if his hair was cut with a blunt knife (albeit that is always the case).

I wonder if they have hairdressers with two-metre long arms?

Duncan Sooman, Milngavie.