THE PRICE AND THE VALUE..

In an age when blatant cheating is rife in the world of sport - diving footballers, ball-tampering cricketers, blood capsule chewing rugby players and so on - to the distressing point whereby it is not only expected behaviour but also tolerated, it is truly refreshing to learn of a shining example of sportsmanship and honesty.

Not surprisingly, it happened in the world of golf, where the game`s controversies tend to happen off the course rather than on it. It came in the prestigious Verizon Heritage Classic tournament in South Carolina on Sunday. The American Jim Furyk and Brian Davis of England were in a play-off to decide the tournament winner. Davis`s tee shot ended up on the adjoining beach, where his ball found a decent lie amid the debris. Furyk putted to within six feet of the hole while Davis played out of the hazard to within about 20 feet.

However, Davis called the referee over and said that he thought his club may have brushed against a stray reed on his backswing. Davis asked for a slow-motion replay to clear the matter up. When the verdict came that he had indeed touched the aforementioned reed, it meant a breach of rule 13-4 and a two-stroke penalty for Davis. Rule 13-4 forbids players from moving `loose impediments` in hazards and as the reeds surrounding his ball were not attached to the ground he was not allowed to touch them whilst making his swing.

Now, Davis could have moved on to the green, played his putt and no-one would have been any the wiser. At stake was not only a possible first American title for Davis but also a difference in prize-money of £500,000. Despite the fact that Rule 13-4 is a daft rule when applied to the circumstances Davis found himself in, it is nonetheless still a rule and Davis knew he had to do. He had to be true to himself and he knew he had to honour the rules of golf, however arcane some of them might be. His honesty with himself and with his profession may have seen him pay a heavy price but the value of his actions was quite simply incalculable.

In a week of non-stop electioneering, Brian Davis stands out as an admirable man and reminds us that truth and honesty really are beyond price. It`s just a pity there`s not more of it around.