The European Tour newsletter plopped into my inbox on Wednesday and I was interested to see they were showcasing the European Tour Photo of the Year, highlighting the top two dozen pictures taken at ET events throughout 2018.  What’s more, they are supplying a little explanation from each photographer telling us how they set up the picture, waited for the right light and shadow and how sometimes it’s just a photographer’s instinct that leads them to be in the right place at the right time.  It’s well worth having a look.  And so I decided, in this final blog of the year, to select a handful of our blog pictures that reflect and remind me of the somewhat haphazard journey this blog takes throughout the course of twelve months.  So, here goes…….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, I just had to finish my pictorial blog round-up with a little look to the future and the exciting hosting of next year’s Open at one of my clubs, Royal Portrush.  Put it in your diaries and I’ll see you there.  In the meantime, have a very happy festive season and good golfing in 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is as close to feeling like JK Rowling as I’m ever likely to get.  It’s a dreich ole day and I’m sitting in a local coffee shop awaiting a steaming latte. The rain is pounding off the glass roof and streaming down the windows as I type away and I am glad to have escaped the baltic conditions of our house.  You see, the man came to service the boiler yesterday and well, broke it.  Not a cheep out of it and with temperatures plummeting, the desire to walk the streets with my laptop seeking warmth and coffee has surfaced with a vengeance.

What did you think of The Match?  The Tiger versus Phil shoot-out in Las Vegas (where else?) for a winner-take-all $9 million dollar purse?  Did you rejoice when televisual technical difficulties meant the pay-per-view idea had to be abandoned and live, free, streaming occurred at the eleventh hour?  Why, joy of joys, we were even able to watch it here in England on Sky.  Are you holding your breath waiting to see if there will be sequel, a Match No 2?

Frankly, I thought this attempt to move golf into the entertainments and gambling industry, with only a small, select VIP audience present at Shadow Creek Golf course, was ill conceived and a new low in the coverage of our sport.  Two sportsmen at least a decade removed from their primes is not the stuff of the box-office and, with woeful performances from the pair on golf’s greatest stage, the Ryder Cup, still fresh in our minds, (a combined zero points contributed to the US cause at Le Golf National), is it any wonder many of you probably weren’t even aware The Match was taking place?  Believe me, you missed nothing.

Of course, various charities and the foundations of the two protagonists will benefit and golf is prodigious in its support of good causes, but don’t let that cloud the issue.  It is difficult to see this contrived spectacle as anything other than a crass lining of the pockets of two individuals, already fabulously wealthy beyond the imaginings of most of us.  They both still crave the limelight their golf no longer merits.  This is a match best forgotten.

By contrast, I well remember the early TV matches between The Big Three – Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player – and the excitement with which we followed every shot.  This was promoting golf at its best – players at the peak of their skills, fire in their bellies seeking victory and grace and good sportsmanship in defeat.  The banter between them was uncontrived and we had the feeling we were simply eavesdropping on a match between three giants of the game.  And, as well as tussling for bragging rights and a financial pot, all three were invested in bringing the game to more and more people and showcasing the sport in the best possible way.

There is much talk at the moment about the declining interest in golf compared to other sports. We live in an izzy-whizzy, fast-paced, low-attention-span, instant-gratification world and golf is deemed to be too slow, too ponderous and too boring to engage the masses.  This is partly responsible for the simplification and streamlining of the rules from next January onwards; the introduction of new formats such as Golf Sixes on the professional stage; and the emphasis that nine holes is fine and we all have time for that, if not for a full round.  These are laudable schemes and will, hopefully, help to attract new players and new fans.  After all, every sport must be prepared to adapt or die, but, please, please do not underestimate the masses.

We do not need to dumb golf down to the lowest common denominator thus losing so many of its nuances and challenges.  There has never been anything much wrong with the game itself and it will continue to beguile and enthrall future generations but only if those of us who play it are more welcoming, accommodating and modern in our approach.  We need to eradicate intimidating golf clubs, pompous attitudes and ridiculous dress rules – some of the real reasons the sport isn’t growing as it should.  The game is fine….it’s some of the people who play it who are not.  As with most things, balance is the key.

So please, no more Tiger-Phil match-ups outside of regular tournament play.  As he so often does, Rory McIlroy summed it up succinctly, “If they had done it fifteen years ago, it would have been great, but nowadays it’s missed the mark a little bit.”  Quite.

Now, time for another latte.

 

It’s always intrigued me to observe the relationship between player and caddy.  Undoubtedly, as with any successful partnership, there is a decent sprinkling of magic in there but just what is it exactly that makes it all work?

As a player I was always firmly in the professional caddy camp, believing that a good caddy was as necessary to a player as breathing if you wanted to achieve your potential.  There was no way, surely, that a family member or buddy could possibly step up and deal with the hugely pressurised arena of competitive golf, an arena that nowadays has oodles of prize money on the line.

Well, take a look around you and let’s start with last weekend’s winners.  Lee Westwood rediscovered that winning feeling in Sun City at the Nedbank Challenge, his first victory since finishing top of the pile in Asia in 2015.  He had girlfriend and partner Helen Storey on the bag.  The last time she caddied for him, at the Made in Denmark tournament earlier in the year, he lost in a play-off.  That’s a pretty good strike rate – hope she’s on a decent percentage!

Now, shift your eyes westwards to Mexico and the Mayakoba Golf Classic where Matt Kuchar broke his own lengthy winless streak.  Local caddy David “El Tucan” Ortiz was shouldering the clubs.  “I forgot how good winning felt,” was Kuchar’s response to that most irritating, “How do you feel?” sporting question asked of any victor moments after clinching top spot.

Perhaps the common denominator between these two men is they are both in their forties, both are prolific winners (although majorless) and both have accrued decades of nous and experience, knowing how to win, no matter who is on the bag.

However, when I consider one of my favourite players, Padraig Harrington, the matter becomes a little more complex and perplexing.  (Isn’t that always the way with Padraig?)  He partnered up with brother-in-law Ronan Flood amidst a storm of criticism and in fairly short order reeled off three major victories in twelve months.  Ronan subsequently became one of the very best caddies out on tour but he wasn’t at that level when the really big prizes started rolling in for his boss.

And what about Georgia Hall, the young Englishwoman who is now ranked 7th in the world?  Her Dad takes over caddying duties from her boyfriend at two tournaments – the Solheim Cup, arguably the biggest stage of them all – and at the Women’s British Open which she won in emphatic style this summer at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s.  Her explanation for having her father on the bag is that he knows her inside out, knows her game so well and she feels entirely comfortable with him alongside her.

And what of Tommy Fleetwood with best mate Ian Finnis on the bag?  That certainly works.

Then, on the other side of the coin you have a player of the calibre of Adam Scott, who persuaded Tiger’s former bagman, Steve Williams, to come out of retirement to work for him at the majors.  Scott wanted to win a major and felt having one of the world’s best with him was important.  They subsequently won the Masters together, vindicating the Australian’s decision.  After Williams totally and finally retired Scott sought out the expertise of Fanny Sunesson, erstwhile caddy of six-time major champion Nick Faldo.  I walked a hole or two with Fanny as she made her final on-course preparations prior to a St Andrews Open one year.  To say it was an eye-opener is an understatement.  The level of detail in her work and her knowledge of the course was extraordinary and, although now no longer caddying, she is still working with current players, dispensing her knowledge and experience.  Henrik Stenson considers her an invaluable member of his team, still believing he can learn from her.

Another who feels her learning curve is trending upwards thanks to her caddy is Carlota Ciganda, the passionate Spaniard who plays on the LPGA Tour.  Her bagman is Terry McNamara, former looper to Annika Sorenstam and Ciganda unashamedly states she is learning so, so much from him.

Then there is Justin Rose, currently bouncing around between 1st and 2nd in the world rankings.  He is another with a superb career caddy on the bag.  He and Mark Fulcher, are a well-known, tried-and-tested partnership, celebrating their tenth anniversary this year.  That’s some achievement – they are in all likelihood spending more time together than they do with their wives/partners and families.  And while I’m at it….why, oh why was Fooch, the winning caddy, not given a gold medal at the Rio Olympics?  But I digress.  Fooch used to caddy for former US Women’s Open champion Alison Nicholas and has diligently worked his way to the very top of his profession over many, many years.  There is now none better.

It seems pretty obvious that one size does not fit all, as is proven by the dizzying array of partnerships on view in the winner’s circle of the world’s tours.  One of the most important factors seems to be how comfortable the player is with the caddy and the extent to which the caddy knows and can read his or her player.  Words are not always necessary between them and it seems to me that the importance of a caddy to each individual player depends on that player’s own point of view and requirement.  Those who prefer to do things themselves will surely be more likely to turn to friends and family – perhaps they have an arrogance and self-belief that they do not need anyone’s help.  This is not a criticism – these are qualities present in almost all winners and, as we have witnessed, sometimes these friends and family do become top class.  On the other hand, some players believe they want the best there is on their team and will search out top men and women accordingly.  To each their own, it would appear.

It’ll be interesting to see which path Rory takes as his buddy Harry Diamond, who has been on his bag for a year or so, is getting ready for married life.  Will Rory go down the buddy route again or search out a top-class caddy to help him stride towards those majors he so craves?  If Lee Westwood sticks with Helen Storey on the bag, perhaps Billy Foster, one of the world’s best, will become available.

Food for thought, Rory?