Bring me sunshine? Even an Aberdonian that’s as hard as a clump of granite can get scunnered by a Scottish summer. 

“I’m looking forward to getting back to Florida after having my rain gear on for the last two weeks,” said Paul Cormack of a fortnight of wild golfing weather in his homeland.

There has been a sizeable pot of the gold at the end of the rainbow, mind you. Having helped steer Lydia Ko to her Olympic triumph in Paris, Cormack was celebrating with the New Zealander in St Andrews on Sunday night as she won the AIG Women’s Open. A chunk of the $1.35 million first prize will help to buy some new waterproofs.

Having warmed up for the Old Course showpiece with an outing in the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald – yes, there was rain and wind there too – Ko and Cormack savoured the ultimate links conquest in the game’s cradle.

In 2021, Cormack was on the bag of Anna Nordqvist when she won the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie.

“It’s not a bad two to get,” said the 40-year-old with a smile as wide as Union Street. “I don’t think you ever get used to it. I got asked straight after the Olympics to put what she achieved there into words. But I couldn’t. And I don’t think I’ll be able to put this one into words. For me, being so close to home is pretty cool.”

Cormack, who ventured out to the US many years ago to start a golf scholarship at McLennan Community College in Texas, had tried to make a name for himself as a player. 

Following spells as a postman and a bartender, he had a stint on the PGA Tour Canada but struggled to gain a solid foothold.

“I stopped playing myself in 2016,” said Cormack, who is now an American citizen.

“I was a member at Bay Hill and (LPGA Tour player) Maria Hjorth’s husband, Shaun McBride, asked me what I was going to do. I had no idea. He was like, ‘why don’t you take up caddying as you’d be good at it’. I remember thinking ‘it sounds awful’ but I enjoy it.

“It keeps me in the game and it was probably my easiest route to get from playing back into being involved in that same sort of competitive environment.”

Ko would come calling last year. It was an opportunity too good to refuse. “I was working for Kevin Chappel on the PGA Tour and he was maybe only going to play two or three events in the fall,” said Cormack.

“She called and asked if I would start working for her after Walton Heath (AIG Women’s Open) last year. 

“It was a no-brainer. I started with her the following week in Canada. If you turned that down, you’d be an idiot.”

At that time, Ko was in something of a lull. A year or so on, both her and Cormack have enjoyed the kind of highs you’d usually need breathing apparatus for.

“She didn’t play particularly well in Canada and I remember everyone in her camp was a little bit down at the time,” reflected Cormack of that first outing of the new alliance which included a third round 82.

“I hadn’t paid that much attention to her whole career, but I knew there had been some downs while, at the same time, her highs were so high.

“I didn’t see why that wouldn’t change. It’s not like she’s 37. She was 26 last year when I picked up her bag. She’s got plenty of golf left.

“I don’t think I am any better than any other caddies, but I maybe just instilled a little bit of belief in her.

“Everybody out here is good enough to win a golf tournament, but it’s difficult if you don’t believe in yourself. When she gets close to the lead, she normally wins.”

Cormack’s latest silver lining in the AIG Women’s Open was tinged with poignancy. Kevin McAlpine, his friend, compatriot, fellow caddie and former husband of the aforementioned Nordqvist, died at the age of just 39 last year.

“I thought about Kevin a couple of times around the course,” said Cormack.

Ko had once stated that she would like to retire at 30. Any inside information on that one? “No, not really,” Cormack added. “She’s just won a gold medal and another major. I’m sure she’s probably still got a little bit of a desire to play. I just keep getting told when to turn up for work.”

It’s not bad work if you can get it.