If Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington fail to convert their good starts to this year's Open it wouldn't surprise me if tendonitis of the writing hand is to blame, caused by the hundreds of autographs they both signed behind the sixteenth tee on Wednesday.

Their determination to sign every t-shirt and cap thrust in their direction did them enormous credit - I'd have given up after five minutes (not, of course, that hundreds of people would ever want me to scribble on their clothes).

It's just as well that most professional golfers don't share my attitude, though, because there are thousands of youngsters desperate for autographs and most of them are congregating near the clubhouse where they catch players returning from practice.

Stand one side of the fence and you see tens of children pressed against a tall picket fence.

Stand the other side and lots of little arms protrude from the fence, caps in the outstretched hand, high-pitched voices urging the players to sign.

Geoff Ogilvy, Jim Furyk and Adam Scott have all increased their popularity by taking the time to accommodate the requests.

But the star of the week according to 11-year-old Cameron Martin of Livingston is Boo Weekley.

Cameron proudly showed me a Titleist ball signed and dated by the cult American star.

Meanwhile Kyle Gibson, 10, from Arbroath showed me a cap with Jack Nicklaus' signature across the front.

"I also asked him to sign a programme for my cousin," Kyle said. "And Jack asked me if I was being greedy. I said, no, it was for my cousin so he signed it. He shook my hand as well!"

No-one had Tiger's paw mark however - it remains the autograph hunters' Holy Grail.