After several near-death experiences flooring a cart around a Las Vegas PGA golf course, I finally spot the subject of my interview. Patrik Antonius is standing idly at the 15th tee, looking relaxed as he sweats his companions’ high stakes golf match – which, of course, he’s bankrolled.

Cajoling him away from the action, I launch into what I predict will be a fairly stilted interview. Based on his television appearances and a few previous encounters with him, I’d describe Antonius as a stoic man of few words and a reluctant conversationalist. So how likely am I to elicit emotion from a guy who barely flinches when losing an $ 800,000 pot?

Once I hit the ‘record’ button though, something unexpected happens.