Gullane, Scotland – MARK O’Meara. Now here’s a man worth doffing your golf cap to. It will be remembered that he won the 1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and, earlier that same golden year for him, the Masters too.
Now the American is here at Muirfield in Scotland for the 142nd Open and, at the ripe old age of 56 (“I felt like a 32-year-old out there,” he enthused) shot a splendid 68 in the first round, although he did lose some momentum on Friday.
But it’s not so much his golf as such that is the focus here, but what he said about some of his fellow professionals. To quote O’Meara: “I’m not saying that I haven’t complained or gotten upset on the golf course, but I am not a big fan of guys that whine a lot.
“I don’t see any reason for it as today’s generation (of top golfers) are playing for so much money and to show a little sign of appreciation, whatever sport you’re in, to people like all the volunteers, requires some responsibility. I think players should be more aware of that aspect to hopefully conduct themselves in the right manner on the golf course. And, when they don’t, it does bother me, to be honest.”
His comments came after Scottish Open champion Phil Mickelson and Europe’s Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter moaned about the way the R&A set up the Muirfield course on day one (it took our own Tim Clark to put matters into perspective: “Come on. We know it’s going to be tough, but that’s what makes this championship fun.”)
But it goes far deeper than whining about the course. There are players on tour so seemingly self-absorbed that you wonder what’s happening. Even among our own South Africans, there are two players in their late twenties here – and I’m talking from the media’s point of view – who quickly develop pained expression on their faces when you try and talk to them, and seem only too happy to cut you short as soon as possible. I mean, we’re just trying to do our jobs, and at the same time promote both the individual and the sport. Spoilt brats? Perhaps.
And Charl Schwartzel didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in the first round when, in a fit of anger and his game at that point on a downward spiral, hurled his eight-iron into the ground at the par-4 15th hole, the club snapping in half. Not good, Charl.
It certainly has been an Open of issues. The whining, the ongoing debate about Muirfield and its male-only membership policy, and of course Rory McIlroy who has been under close scrutiny since signing a hugely lucrative sponsorship deal with Nike – a move that has coincided with his dramatic loss of form.
He looks anything but like a world No 2 at the moment. He’s only 24 and surely it’s a case of there being too much – money, corporate functions, girlfriend, the sponsors’ new clubs that he can’t seem to adjust to – too soon for him to cope.
Hopefully Rory will come right soon because he seems a really fine young man as an individual, someone who can greatly enrich this great game for us for many years to come.
Even British Prime Minister David Cameron has entered the “No women” golf row, saying that the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Muirfield) “look more to the past than they do to the future”.
I do find it weird here at this male bastion when passing by the clubhouse ... the hoity-toity members in jacket and tie on a steamy summer’s day (it was nearly 30°C on Thursday) seemingly lost in their own little worlds. There even used to be a sign up. “No women, no dogs”. It’s no wonder the Royal & Ancient, who govern the game, are feeling a touch edgy right now. – Saturday Star