as perhaps the most exciting tournament they have witnessed while most golf writers break out into a cold sweat just thinking about that final day, when the narrative shifted so dramatically and early edition copy was rendered next to nonsensical. My favourite on that score was the
2006 United States Open at Winged Foot, with Colin Montgomerie finally on the brink of a major victory while standing in the middle of the 18th fairway. We were so tight for time I had to write two intros. One began: ‘All those Sundays punctuated with disappointment at the biggest tournaments in the game retreated to the margins yesterday when Colin Montgomerie finally claimed a richly- deserved first major championship.’ The other: ‘Colin Montgomerie threw
away the US Open in dramatic fashion last night as his list of Sunday nightmares at the majors continued.’ How’s that for a contrast, based on
the strength of one or two shots left for him to play? Thank goodness they used the right one, although I do wish they had been able to use the other. What’s Tiger really like? He’s certainly
diametrically opposed to Arnie in terms of how he regards the press. For a man of obvious intelligence, it’s amazing how he’s never grasped the fact the default position of practically every golf writer is we’d much rather write positively about a player, and particularly someone who has achieved as much as Woods. Rory has grasped it. He had plenty
of negative publicity during his troubles last year but he weighs that against the avalanche of good stuff written about him over the years and acts accordingly. He’d be the first to admit he’s made mistakes along the way but I think the vast majority of people involved in the sport enjoy talking to him and appreciate how generous he is with his time given the demands of being a global superstar. Pretty much all of the British players
are like that. Fair play to all those based in America, who appreciate we’re fighting against deadlines and will go out of their way to help. From year to year the schedule
doesn’t change much, and faraway ports of call have now become familiar
He’s certainly diametrically opposed to Arnie in terms of how he regards the press
over the passage of time. But there’s one event I particularly look forward to that doesn’t involve checking airline schedules or booking hotel rooms and that’s when The Open returns here to Royal Liverpool and the area I call home. In 2006 it was positively surreal
to drop the two kids off at St Peter’s Primary school in Heswall and wander off to the biggest tournament in the game. Now the eldest attends Wirral Grammar and has become something of a golf bore himself, so it promises to be a memorable week for him as well. Is it too much to hope the weather
will be so fine once more as to host late-night barbecues on the patio for my media friends from around the world? Most probably. But it will be fun, nevertheless, to
point people in the direction of some of the varied delights that living on the peninsula brings. And then all too soon the circus will
move on and the wanderlust will return. Back to America and beyond. But a week in my own bed with just a
15 minute drive each day to the sport’s showpiece occasion? Like all of you, this is going to be a week I’ll savour. ■
ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2 014 MAGAZINE
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