Opine wildly about golf in The Messenger (6)

I believe the answer is:

pigeon

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'the messenger' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

'opine wildly about golf' is the wordplay.
'wildly' indicates an anagram.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'golf' becomes 'g' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'opine' is an anagram of 'pieon'.
'pieon' enclosing 'g' is 'PIGEON'.

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pigeon that I've seen before include "See 1 Across" , "Common town bird" , "Homer, possibly" , "One pig for the bird" , "Business" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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