Ambivalence is the name of the game for me this week.  Really, mostly, I don’t know what to think.  Or, at least, until I sat down to write, I didn’t quite know what I thought.  There was that missed tiddler by Sergio and all the hooha about what was equitable, what his opponent Matt Kuchar should or shouldn’t have done.  Of course, in normal circumstances, Kuchar would have conceded the putt but Sergio, in a fit of irritation, dragged the ball back and didn’t give him a chance.

The Spaniard, who won the Masters title two years ago, seems to have ditched most of the maturity that he displayed that April and has been behaving like a bit of an eejit so far this season.  Battering greens and bunkers in temper and behaving like a man on edge, who knows why?

Lots of people seem to think that Kuchar should have levelled things up by conceding something later on and there were scornful comments about golf and its pernickety rules and I swithered, not sure what I would have done in the circumstances.  And you know what?  I don’t think I’d have given Sergio anything apart from a shrug and some sort of semi-sympathetic grimace.  He’s a seasoned professional, a major champion playing in a big event, not a 54-handicap beginner who doesn’t know any better.  Toddler temper tantrum, loss of hole, end of story.  And none of my money on Sergio to win another green jacket.

That brings me to the much-lauded Augusta National Women’s Amateur, hailed as a breakthrough for women golfers worldwide.  The trophy is lovely, classy, as one would expect but, really, doesn’t the hype exceed the reality? In case you hadn’t heard, the event was announced by Fred Ridley, father of three daughters and newly anointed chairman of Augusta National GC, at the Masters last year.  Women to play a major event at ANGC?  Wow.  Was there a blue moon or something?   Were pigs flying?  Had hell frozen over?

More importantly, had Fred discussed it with anyone else?  Had he consulted Mike Whan, commissioner of the LPGA Tour about the clash with the ANA Inspiration, the first major championship of the year, an event that traditionally included the best women amateurs?  Had Fred, good intentions notwithstanding, really thought it through?

As it turns out, the first two rounds of the 54-hole event were at a course called Champions Retreat, with 30 players (out of 72) qualifying for the final round at Augusta National on Saturday.  In a quaint quirk, all 72 players get to play at Augusta National today (Friday).  Mmmmmm.

Nancy Lopez, Lorena Ochoa, Se Ri Pak and Annika Sorenstam, legends and good people all, are endorsing the new event and gracing it with their presence, so how can I condemn it?  Perhaps it will herald a new era for women’s golf but if I had to sum it up in one phrase it would be “crumbs from the rich man’s table”.  And one word?  Patronising.  Or, since it’s in America:  patronizing.

The winner won’t care but there’s still work to do, Fred.

And perhaps the clash will encourage the ANA Inspiration to live up to its name – and its origins as the Colgate Dinah Shore – and be inspired to up its game.  The Dinah started in 1972 at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California and it blew every other event off the fairways with its (for the time) massive prize money, glamour and exposure.  It’s still at Mission Hills and has long been elevated to major status but for too long it’s traded on its reputation; its prize money has gone up but lags behind most of its fellow majors and, frankly, it now lacks glamour, exposure and inspiration.  Work to do there too.  Wonder if Fred and his cohorts, as promoters of the women’s game, could help.

Meanwhile, at the Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba, Jordan, there’s the unique Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla, where the Ladies European Tour, the European Challenge Tour and the Staysure Tour (European Seniors) are competing on the same course (albeit the yardages are different) at the same time.  Daan Huizing, a Challenge Tour member from the Netherlands, had a 64 in the first round to lead by one shot from the English duo of Jack Senior, another Challenge Tour man and Meghan McLaren (LET), whose father David is currently in charge of the Staysure Tour and is happy to confess that all the women in his family are better golfers than he is.

The event’s hashtag is WeShareTheSameDrive.  So, golf really is for all.

Last Friday and Saturday at Whittington Heath GC, we had great fun with some of Europe’s best long drivers competing in a round of the European Long Drive Games and showing us some amazing moves (see pics).  It was a bit cold with a bit of a breeze, so no one quite beat the 400-yard mark but there was a lot of jaw-dropping hitting, some of it accurate enough to be measured!  They brought 1000 balls with them, in a variety of colours and they were battered to blazes as the music blared out.  If you get a chance to go and watch these big hitters, take it.  It’s great fun.

 

 

 

 

We’re in a permanent state of high excitement at Whittington Heath GC these days, what with state of the art netting and diggers everywhere.  I was going to say that the full-size Tonka toys on show were giving boys big and small conniptions but then I checked the dictionary and found that the proper meaning of conniption was “fit of rage or hysteria” or even a tantrum.  Hysteria might work, I thought, then I double-checked that and, well, I won’t even go there.  Suffice to say that a lot of the boys are in seventh heaven.

Mo is trying to ban pictures of “boring” diggers from the blog, claiming that they all look the same but I fear that’s my photos not doing the diggers justice.  Once you get close to them you can see that they’re individuals, with different jobs to do, just like people….

Anyway, this weekend the excitement is of the big-hitting variety because we’re hosting a round of the European Long Drive Games, mainly because Jordan Brooks, one of our pros, is right up there with Europe’s best.  He’s been proving himself capable of holding his own with some of the biggest bombers around and thanks to his exploits, I’ve started taking an interest in a form of the game I’d previously treated with disdain.  Though, on reflection, it was probably just jealousy.  No one’s going to tremble when they see my swing speed stats and no golf manufacturer is going to be interested in me using their latest driver.  In fact, they might be persuaded to pay me not to use it.

No one quite knows what to expect on Saturday but that just adds to the drama.  There’ll be a grandstand set up in the car park and the contestants will be launching their boomers down the 1st, which, I suspect, has never seen anything quite like it in the club’s long (founded 1886) history.  The weather forecast is good, so it should be fun for everyone.  These guys don’t just drive for show, they drive for dough too.

Jordan and Martin are big men but I’d like to see Dustin Johnson, or, even better, wee Rory (who’s no titch but is far from being a giant) take them on at their own game.  The Ulsterman is one of the longest, straightest drivers on tour and doesn’t rely on his size for his power because he can’t.  He’s spent a lot of time in the gym over the last few years but it’s strength combined with flexibility, speed and timing that gives him his length (I think; Mo and her fellow pros will correct me if I’m wrong).  That’s still one of the great things about golf – different shapes and sizes can play the game well and compete against each other.  Admittedly, it looks as though bigger is better when it comes to bombing it.  See below.

On Tuesday, in our Stableford comp (non-qualifying), I played our back nine for the first time in ages and it really was a magical mystery tour, as most of the course is at the moment, with so much work going on.  Where to drop, how far back to go, how far to the side, nearest point of relief, dropping zone?  What with the new rules and all, we need a whole team of refs to keep us right.  By the way, has anyone else found that dropping from knee height means having to hop out of the way of the ball as it hops unerringly towards your foot?  Or is it just me?  What’s the correct technique?  Is there an R&A video?  They like a bit of media, so there probably is.  Must check it out.

The 13th, our shortest hole at an official 124 yards from the red tees, has always been my least favourite hole.  It’s surrounded by bunkers and I don’t have a club for it, so have to do a lot of finagling and hoping for the best.  Well, now that it’s surrounded by netting and dropping zones, I seem to have found the secret, having played it twice and finished within 15 feet of the pin both times.  It won’t last of course but I’m writing to the committee to plead for the netting to remain in place indefinitely.  What club did I hit?  Well, I wasn’t going to confess but then I thought, sod it, you’re a creaking, ageing bod with a non-event of a backswing, so who do you think you’re kidding?  I hit my 5-wood (well, an old one of Dai’s, so it might be nearly as decrepit as I am) both days.  There, I’ve admitted it officially:  my long driving days are over.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s time for golf to get a grip on itself – literally.  Seemingly every week nowadays the top players of the world are making headlines – for all the wrong reasons.  What happened to no one player being bigger than the game?  As long as I’ve been involved in golf – over a mere half century – the sport has set itself apart from others in terms of its stringent self-policing and integrity.

Alas, a great deal of that seems to have gone out the window.

Michael Bamberger, writing for golf.com this week, pinpoints one of the key moments he feels things began to change.  Many of you will remember it well – the 2013 Masters on the 15th hole when Tiger took an incorrect drop?

It only came to light in Tiger’s press conference after the round and after his card had been signed.  He stated he went back a few extra yards to give himself a better yardage in to the flag – something he was not entitled to do under that rule.  It was an innocent mistake, a bungling mix of two different dropping procedures, but a clear cut transgression.

It should have resulted in disqualification.  But it didn’t.

Fred Ridley, the current chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, was the member of the rules committee  who delivered the news that Tiger was still in the tournament.  Alarm bells rang in my mind instantly, followed by disappointment that Tiger didn’t step forward and withdraw.  An off-the-record conversation with another member of that rules committee, who was not a member of ANGC, resulted in him stating, “It wouldn’t have been my ruling.”

Almost six years later Bamberger is of the mind that: “the residual effects are in evidence.  Ever since, the us-against-them mentality has escalated.”

Is Bamberger right in that?  Is there really an increasing divide between the top proponents of the game and the ruling bodies?  Just cast your mind back over the last five years.  The raft of high-profile rules rows has kept some of us entertained and appalled in equal measure.

There was Dustin Johnson at the 2016 US Open, penalised two shots for supposedly having caused his ball to move on the green. He had played a good half dozen holes before he was informed that a penalty was possible – and was then left to complete his final round, trying to win his first major, without any idea what his overall score was.  In the end, he won by enough to make the penalty irrelevant to the outcome, but the handling of the situation by the rules officials was woeful.  More grist to the mill in the them-against-us scenario.

Lexi Thompson failed to replace her ball correctly on the 17th green in the third round of the ANA Inspiration in 2017.  Another final round fracas in a major ensued as it was only during the final six holes on Sunday that she was informed she was being handed a 4-stroke penalty as a result of her actions the previous day – two for the incorrect replacement and two for subsequently signing for a lower score than she had.

A viewer had called in a day late and the relevant video footage was scrutinised.  This moved Lexi from holding a 3-shot lead to being one behind with six to play.  She forced a play-off with So Yeon Ryu but lost at the first extra hole.  There was an outpouring of support for Lexi from many quarters, including Tiger Woods and other touring pros, and generally dismissive contempt for the viewer who called in.

But, what seemed to me to be overlooked in all the goings-on was that Lexi DID break a rule.  End of story.  It wasn’t the fault of the viewer who rang in – or the officials.  Under the rules at that time, matters had to be investigated, which they were, and the correct action was taken.  It IS important to protect the rest of the field.  The recent rules changes now mean that no credence is given to viewers ringing in – the tournaments now have a designated official watching the TV pictures.  Neither can you have another penalty lobbed on top of a first one.  Both good changes.

It is a sad fact that over the years the relationship between the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the professional golf tours in America has dwindled.  Even Ernie Els, the affable South African, cannot contain his ire at the course set-ups produced on an annual basis by the USGA.  “Almost every single time they get ahold of a golf course, they absolutely destroy it.  Chambers Bay?  I mean, you can just go on and on.  They have taken some of the most iconic golf courses and absolutely destroyed them.”

Add to that that only a couple of weeks ago the USGA declared themselves satisfied with the rolling out of the rules changes and it’s easy to see, therefore why confidence in them is at an all-time low.  Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, had the good sense to admit that it hadn’t been as straightforward as he had hoped and that they had a few things to work out.

Many PGA Tour players are openly ridiculing the new rules on social media and firmly laying the blame at the door of the USGA.  Don’t get me started on the Justin Thomas debacle.  Of course, everyone is entitled to their grievances and opinions but golf risks losing the moral high ground it has enjoyed over other sports for so long.  It IS important how you interact with others and put over your complaints and concerns.  Descending to mudslinging on social media sites risks highlighting the “me, me, me” world of professional sport and alienating the fans who are largely responsible for the players being able to compete for so much dosh.

The players have justifiable concerns but it is very important they also take a long hard look at themselves.  Phil Mickelson let himself, and his professional colleagues, down with his ridiculous display of hitting a moving ball on one of the greens at Shinnecock Hills in last year’s US Open.  It was his way of drawing attention to the fact that the course set up was over the top.  Not very classy, Phil.

We’ve witnessed appalling behaviour from both Sergio and Bryson DeChambeau smashing clubs into putting surfaces and damaging them badly.  Great role models, eh?  At least, Sergio was disqualified – well done the European Tour.

Does Rickie Fowler really need to simulate a drop from knee high from below his rear end (see pic at top of piece)?  Andrew Landry eruditely called the rules “garbage” and Patton Kizzire called them “asinine”.

Is it any wonder that there is a spreading feeling amongst many golf fans that these players are pampered, spoilt prima donnas?  The rules are not simply for them, they are for all of us and we want our professional players to display integrity and respect for the game that is undoubtedly bigger than us all.

Abide by the rules or work to change them.  Enough of playground behaviour.  Golf is better than that and deserves better from those playing it and running it.

And don’t even mention that dreadful so-called “match” between Mickelson and Woods for an obscene amount of money.

Where, oh where, is golf going?

Come on game, get a grip.

 

 

 

 

Firstly, I must start this week’s blog with belated birthday greetings to Peter Alliss, the most entertaining, informative and articulate broadcaster with whom I’ve ever worked.  We all raised a glass of something nice to you out here in South Africa, Peter.  Looking forward to seeing you during the season.

So here we are in March…….. and that means that NEXT MONTH the Masters will be rolling round again.  Having being hors de combat for more than half of the almost five weeks I’ve been here in South Africa (old back injury), I’ve had plenty of opportunity to ruminate on the sofa while indulging in a surfeit of Six Nations rugby and golf watching.

Dustin Johnson has just swept the field aside in the World Golf Championship event in Mexico with no more difficulty or effort, it seems, than if he were swatting a troublesome fly.  He gets a few weeks a year when he is simply unplayable and no one can live with him.  He’s now back to second in the world rankings, a smidgeon behind Justin Rose and thoughts of the Masters are bubbling to the surface of all the players’ minds.

But brilliant as he is, how can DJ ensure he peaks at exactly the right time for the first major of the year?  This fickle, will o’ the wisp sport refuses to be mastered for anything other than fleeting moments, if at all.  Remember last year?  Johnson was world No 1 and playing the best golf of his life.  He had won three straight PGA Tour events going in to the Masters and was odds-on favourite to add to his, so far, paltry haul of one major title.  Then, on the Wednesday evening, he slipped on the stairs in his house, landing on his lower back – and that was that.  He withdrew moments before his Thursday afternoon tee time.  His almost perfect preparation ruined in the blink of an eye.  So, I wonder what he’s thinking now?  Is he setting out to complete what he started last year or will there be an uncomfortable, niggling feeling at the back of his mind that perhaps, with six weeks to go, he has peaked too early?

Runner-up in Mexico was Rory McIlroy.  The Ulsterman, now living in the States and committing to play most of his golf there, is almost five years removed from his last major win, the 2014 Open Championship.  That major drought was unthinkable back then for the multi-talented young man with the jaunty swagger and all the shots.  There were fleeting thoughts that here may be the player to challenge Tiger’s haul of majors.

The Masters has assumed monumental importance for Rory.  It is the missing piece in his quest to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, owners of the Career Grand Slam.  They are the only men to have won all four of golf’s modern majors at any time during their careers.  That is a very, very elite club.  This will be Rory’s fifth go at completing his own CGS, his fifth time at having the spotlight on him regardless of current form and yet again the endless discussions will take place about his collapse in 2011 when he squandered a four-shot lead with nine holes to go.  We will hear how the course suits his game and his high ball flight, but how the greens will expose the relative weaknesses in his putting.

And until he finally does slip on that green jacket he will continue to endure the longest, slowest, inexorable build-up to any major.  Beginning this year, the Open Championship becomes the final of the big four to be played – meaning a nine-month lead in to Augusta each year.  Can Rory go inside to that place from which peak performance springs and deliver his heart’s desire?

Augusta is a known opponent.  It is the only major played each year on the same course and although its current length makes it a bombers’ paradise it also has the most exacting short game examination imaginable.  Most players know their own weaknesses and at the time of year when thoughts turn to Magnolia Lane the golfing demons can grow and multiply in your mind if you’re not careful.

Watch the players carefully in these last six weeks before the 2019 majors commence.  Watch Justin Thomas.  He coughed up a 54-hole lead the other week in the Genesis Open and was out of sorts with himself for the first couple of rounds in Mexico, describing himself as “irritable”.  He turned that irritability into a closing 62.  Justin Rose, a master of preparation, peaked perfectly to win the gold medal at the Rio Olympics.  He is scheduling meticulously to ensure the balance between rest and competition.

And what about Jordan Spieth.  He’s endured putting woes and long game trials, but of all the modern players he seems to hold the key to the secrets of the Augusta National golf course.  Champion in 2015, tied second a year later, he fell to a lowly tied 11th the following year before giving the leaders a fright last April with a rampaging closing 64 which saw him finish third.

Some of the players are hoping they have the mentality for the examination, the guile required to taste victory.  Spieth knows he has.

And so does Tiger.