Drunk pro golfer David Drysdale shouted racist abuse at McDonald’s security worker

Edinburgh-born David Drysdale, who competes on the European Tour, also attacked a fellow customer at the fast-food chain’s Princes Street branch.

The 37-year-old was on a night out with wife Victoria when he made the remark after being challenged by a security guard who was refusing to let customers use an upstairs toilet because only the ground floor of the restaurant was

open.

Drysdale – known in golfing circles as “Double D” – yesterday admitted charges of assault and racially aggravated breach of the peace on March 7 and was fined £1350 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Defence solicitor Nigel Beaumont told Sheriff Gordon

Liddle that his client had become frustrated that security worker Hin Ho Li wouldn’t let him use an upstairs toilet, despite there being a lengthy queue for the single disabled toilet open on the ground floor.

The golfer – who has career earnings of more than £2 million and is currently ranked 216 in the world – was heard to make the comment as he walked away from the security guard.

Sheriff Liddle was told that when Drysdale finally went to the toilet, another customer, Luke Woolley, began to argue with Mrs Drysdale.

The court heard that Mr Woolley “began remonstrating with her” over a comment she had made to security staff about a rowdy group of girls in the restaurant. When he returned, Drysdale found “some sort of altercation” going on between his wife and Mr Woolley and lost his temper.

Drysdale – whose best results on the European Tour were second-place finishes in Russia 2006 and Spain in 2009 – then “using both hands seized Mr Woolley by the throat and physically lifted him partly out of his seat by the throat”.

Fiscal depute Malcolm Stewart said Mr Woolley had not been injured, but was clearly taken aback by what had happened and police were called.

Defence solicitor Nigel Beaumont said Drysdale had been left feeling ashamed after the incident.

He told Sheriff Liddle that as a professional golfer his client toured the world and spent the majority of his time in a number of foreign countries.

“Obviously he is in a position to pay a substantial financial penalty,” said the lawyer.

Sheriff Liddle fined Drysdale £675 on each charge, a total of £1350. Drysdale, who turned professional in 1995, asked for a month to pay the fine, which was accepted.

Rough and tumble

DAVID Drysdale’s career has been full of ups and downs, with the golfer being forced to qualify for the European Tour an amazing four times.

After reaching the main circuit in 2004 after nail-biting play-off success, he lost his tour card a year later in agonising circumstances, falling just £500 short of the annual earnings required.

In total, the city-born golfer, who now lives in Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, has banked more than

£2 million worth of prize money despite never landing

a top-level title.

His career highlight was representing Scotland in golf’s World Cup in 2009, when he teamed up with Alastair Forsyth in Shenzhen, China, but they finished last, a full 25 strokes behind champions Italy.