Revealed: ‘Colonel Sanders lookalike’ who became a Ryder Cup sensation after diving into a lake when Europe beat Team USA is tartan-loving Scots businessman and ex-Lib Dem candidate who admitted ‘the sun got to me, I was delirious’
The ‘Colonel Sanders lookalike’ who became a viral sensation after diving into a lake as Europe defeated Team USA at the Ryder Cup has been revealed as a tartan-loving Scottish businessman.
John Burleigh, a 70-year-old former Lib Dem election candidate, was filmed diving into the water at the 16th hole of the Marco Simone club in Rome on Sunday afternoon.
And online jokers dubbed him ‘Colonel Sanders’ because of his apparent resemblance to the late founder of KFC.
Mr Burleigh, from Greenock, Inverclyde, said he decided to take the plunge when ‘the sun came upon me and I was lost in delirium’ after watching the final day’s play from the edge of the 16th green in the warm weather.
And when English golfer Tommy Fleetwood won the half-point needed to bring the Cup back to Europe, he became very excited.
The ‘Colonel Sanders lookalike’ who became a viral sensation after diving into a lake as Europe defeated Team USA at the Ryder Cup has been revealed as Scottish businessman John Burleigh, aged 70
John Burleigh, a 70-year-old former Lib Dem election candidate, was filmed diving into the water at the 16th hole of the Marco Simone club in Rome
Mr Burleigh predicted the Cup would be decided on the 16th hole – and after “the American gave in right in front of me… I just took off,” he said. BBC Scotland News.
He said he told a golfing friend that the event was so exciting he could jump into the lake, and when Team Europe won, I just bolted.
The eccentric businessman said the lake was refreshing after days of high temperatures, but he lost his sunglasses and was disappointed he didn’t retrieve any balls from the water’s depths.
Mr Burleigh, a Scottish bunnet designer, whose work was worn by Usain Bolt and his teammates at the 2014 Commonwealth Games after they won the 100m relay.
He is a retired teacher and started selling the headgear online about a decade ago.
He was supposed to pick up his wife Heather from the airport on his scooter at 6 p.m., but he was delayed because the local police wanted to speak to him quickly.
Mr Burleigh told the BBC he did not get into trouble but officers wanted to see his ID and he subsequently apologized for the disruption.
And then, after he showed his driver’s license, people started taking selfies – and then the trend of more and more people throwing themselves into the lake began.
Now that the couple is on vacation, Burleigh has said he is happy with his new nickname, Colonel Sanders, but he hopes the fast food chain will call him “with an offer.”
Mr Burleigh was soaking wet when he emerged from the water, but no doubt still delighted with the 16.5 – 11.5 victory
The eccentric businessman said the lake was refreshing after days of high temperatures, but he lost his sunglasses and was disappointed he didn’t retrieve any balls from the water’s depths
Mr Burleigh celebrated victory by throwing himself into the lake on the 16th green after Tommy Fleetwood secured victory
Rory McIlroy was furious on Saturday night when Patrick Cantlay’s caddy Joe LaCava joined in Cantlay’s hat-waving celebrations instead of moving out of his field of vision for a crucial putt to save the final match of the day.
The Northern Irishman admitted after his singles victory against Sam Burns on Sunday that the incident had inspired the European team to claim victory.
McIlroy said: “I needed that to fuel me today and not let it distract from a great week. I used it to my advantage and came here with a different level of focus and a different level of determination. I think it helped the whole team – it kind of lit a fire under our bellies.”
The 34-year-old was seen popping a bottle of champagne on the course to toast victory after team-mate Fleetwood’s decisive moment.
Team Europe captain Luke Donald added: ‘The US fought, (I’m) so proud of my twelve boys; a strong bond from day one, and they gave me everything. They trusted me and they delivered for me
“This is why the Ryder Cup is so special for me and for these guys because of these moments. We play for each other and we get to share in that success together, and we get to spend this week together and we get to share those memories forever.”
Donald and his team’s celebrations weren’t as extreme as some of the fans on the 18th green, but the emotion of victory was clear to see.
The 16.5 – 11.5 victory represents an impressive turnaround from Whistling Straits’ comprehensive 19 – 9 loss in 2021.