Carris Trophy Scoreboard
under-18 boys' open championship
MOOR PARK GOLF CLUB
FIRST ROUND
Par 73
68 Tom Lewis (Welwyn GC)
69 Stephan Wolters (Germany), Nattia Niloro (Italy), Scott Campbell (Hallowes), Chris Lloyd (Kendleshire).
70 Ole Ramsnes (Norway), Jack Brooks (Pleasington), Josh Evans (Mere), Anthony Stirling (Formby).
71 Thomas Pieters (Belgium), Adria Arnaus (Spain), Andy-Chris Orsinger (Switzerland), Jack Heasman (West Essex), Matthew Tweddell (Blackwell), Jack Colegate (Rochester & Cobham Park), Ben Wheeler (Purley Downs), Lke Williams (Friford Heath), Hugo Dobson (Fynn Valley), Tom Berry (Wentworth), Luca Saccarello (Italy),Boria Virto (Spain).

Jason McCreadie wins tight finish at

Craigielaw to pick up £1,189

It was a tight finish to the Callaway at Craigielaw 36-hole Tartan Tour event with Jason McCreadie winning with a 10-under-par total of 132 (66-66) by a single shot from Northern Open champion Craig Lee (67-66) with Mark Kerr another shot behind in third place on 134 (67-67).
Jason won £1,189.47, Craig £1,070.52 and Mark £951.57.
Gullane assistant Heather MacRae finished just outside the money despite a fine second of two-under-par 69 for a total of three-over 145. She was officially plaed joint 36th in a massive field of 114. Good effort, Heather!

LEADING TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)
132 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 66 66 (£1,189.47).
133 Craig Lee (unatt) 67 66 (£1,070.52).
134 Mark Kerr (unatt) 67 67 (£951.57).
135 Stephen Gray (Hayston) 71 64, Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) 69 66 (£733.16 each).
136 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 70 66, Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design) 70 66 (£565 each).
137 Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 70 67, Graham Fox (East Kilbride) 69 68 (£460.92 each).
138 Jonny Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House) 70 68 (£416.31).
139 Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 70 68 (£386.58).
140 Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) 72 68 (£356.84).
141 Kenneth Hutton (Downfield) 72 69, Peter Mitchell (Hermitage) 72 69, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 70 71, Fraser Mann (Musselburgh) 70 71, James McGhee (Turnhouse) 69 72 (£271.20 each).
142 Chris Campbell (Grantown on Spey) 77 65, Samuel Cairns (Colville Park) 76 77, David Orr (East Renfrewshire) 72 70, Mark King (Kingsfield) 69 73 (£184.37 each).
143 Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) 77 66, Steven Brown (Carnoustie Golf Links) 76 67, Ross Cameron (McDonald Elloon) 75 69, Ian Graham (Crow Wood) 74 69, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 74 69, Colin Gillies (Perry Golf) 73 70, Ronan Rafferty (unatt) 71 72 (£142.73 each).
144 Mark Loftus (Cowglen) 77 67,. Stewart Whiteford (Wellsgreen) 75 69, Andrew Pullen (Largs) 75 69, Paul Malone (Braid Hills) 74 70, Alan Martin (Dunbar) 74 70, Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park) 73 71, Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) 73 71 (£33.98 each).
145 Chris McCalman (unatt) 79 68, Sandy Aird jun (McDonald Ellon) 78 67, Heather MacRae (Gullane) 76 69, Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation) 74 71, Scott Catlin (Greenburn) 74 71, Craig Ronald (Carluke) 73 72, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 73 72.
146 Andrew Crerar (Panmure) 79 67, Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) 75 71, Iain Hanna (Strathclyde Park) 75 71, Edward Thomson (Senit Associates) 74 72, Jonathan Lomas (unatt) 73 73, Alan E Reid (West Lothian) 73 73, Ross Ewen (West Lothian) 72 74, Scott Grieve (Turnhouse) 72 74, Paul Wardell (Whitekirk) 71 75.
147 Derek Watters (Gourock) 77 70, Euan Cameron (Hamilton) 76 71, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 75 72, Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) 75 72, Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links) 74 73, Terry Mathieson (Kings Acre) 74 73, Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 71 76.
148 Andrew Cooper (Newmachar) 77 71, Paul Wytrazek (Burntisland) 77 71, Calum Smith (Royal Musselburgh) 76 72, Neil Murray (Cruden Bay) 76 72, Alan Purdie (Kingsbarns) 75 73, James McKinnon (Irvine) 75 73, Mark Barnard (Inchmarlo) 75 73, David Broadfoot (Dumfries & Co) 74 74.
149 Hamish Kemp (Bishopbriggs) 78 71, Jonathan Porteous (Craigielaw) 78 71, James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey) 78 71, Greg Paxton (Ralston) 78 71.
150 Gary McFarlane (Clober) 77 73, Stuart Morrison (Tain) 77 73, John Ruth (Sandyhills) 73 77.
151 Alastair Love (Charleton) 79 72, David Laing (Craigielaw) 79 72, Jonnie Cliff (Murrayfield) 78 73, Gordon Niven (Stirling Univ) 77 74, Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 76 75, Gareth Hardy (Belleisle) 75 76.
152 Oliver Morton (Gullane) 80 72, Alastair MacKenzie (Duddingston) 80 72, Murray Urquhart (Spey Valley) 79 73, Chris Morris (Kingsknowe) 78 74, Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) 78 74, Ken Campbell (Machrihanish) 71 81.
153 Gregor Abel (Alloa) 78 74, Alan Mackay (Pumpherston) 78 74, Richard Smith (Dumfries-shire Golf Academy) 77 76, Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 76 77, Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links) 75 78.
154 Norman Huguet (Musselburgh) 81 73, Graeme Stewart (Gleddoch) 79 75, Andrew Erskine (Ratho Park) 78 76, James Smallwood (Fereneze) 76 78, Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie) 75 78.
155 Kenneth Kelly (Baberton) 81 74, Mark Patchett (Broomieknowe) 81 74, Vincent Brown (Westerwood) 80 75, Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) 80 75, Craig Donnelly (Balbornie Park) 76 79.
156 Stephen Craig (Paragon Golf Akademie) 81 75, Camnpbell Donaldson(Campbell Donaldson Golf Academy) 80 76.
157 Ewan Davie (Dunblane New) 80 77, Craig MacDonald (Peterculter) 80 77.
158 Anthony Mackrell (East Kilbride) 85 73, Graham Mackay (Prestonfield) 82 76, David Gordon (Paisley) 80 78.
160 Paul Jamieson (Dunblane New) 81 779.
161 Scott Bergin (Royal Musselburgh) 83 78.
163 Paul Wilson (World of Golf) 82 81.
165 James Mooney (Kingscliff Golf Solutions) 86 79.
NRs - John Gorman (Callander) 88 NR, Iain Donaldson (Meldrum House) 87 NR.
Disqualified - David Patrick (Elie).

SOUTH OF ENGLAND AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Wallace Booth has a three-under-par 69

in key Walker Cup test at Walton Heath

Comrie’s Wallace Booth shot a three-under-par 69 in today’s first round of the South of England 72-hole amateur championship – a key test for Walker Cup aspirants – at Walton Heath.
But the Perthshire man was still six shots off the pace on the New Course where Jason Palmer (Kirby Muxlore) had a record-breaking nine-under-par 63.
On the Old Course where Sunningdale youngster Stiggy Hodgson led with a two-under-par 69, Carnoustie’s Keir McNicoll had a 73 and Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) a 76.

FIRST ROUND LEADERS
New Course
Par 72.
63 Jason Palmer (Kirby Muxloe).
65 Luke Goddard (Hendon).
68 James Watts (East Herts), Niccolo Quintarelli (Italy), Chris Jess (East Sussex National), Simon Crockett (Addington Palace).
69 Wallace Booth (Comrie), Todd Adcock (Nevill).
70 Steven Brown (Wentworth), Tom Sherreard (Chart Hills), Adam Wainwright (Gainsborough), Graham Povey (Brickendon Grange), Jerome Lando-Casanova (France), Jamie Abbott (Fynn Valley).
71 Stuart Phillips (Royston), Warren Harmston (Wentworth), Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle), Aaron Hodkin (Wheatley), Stuart Phillips (Royston), Kelvin Day (Surbiton), Nino Bertasio (Italy).
Selected scores:
72 Andy Shakespear (Five Lakes), Ryan Newman (Brookmans Park), Richard Carter (Lansdowne), Richard Smith (Notts), Craig Hinton (Oxfordshire), Adam Wootton (Oxford City), Sam Stuart (St Annes Old Links), Ben Loughrey (Wrag Barn).
73 David Ginn (Sudbury), Henry Smart (Banstead Downs), Darren Timms (Mid Kent), Rhys Black (Sherwood Forest), Sam Matton (Bowood), Tom Beaumont (Sundridge Park), Mark Bell (Shanklin & Sandown), Michael Saunders (Dartford), Billy Britton (London Club), James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale), Jason Barnes (Chart Hills), Luke Collins (Mendip Spring), Sam Haywood ( Rotherham), Luke Collins (Mendip Spring).
74 Jon White (Saunton), Gavin Samuels (Leighton Buzzard), Nicolo Ravano (Italy), Matthew Southgate (Thorpe Hall), Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes), Charles Ford (Kirby Muxloe), Jake Shepherd ( The Wisley), Alex Christie (Tyrrells Wood).
75 Peter Tarver-Jones (Worthing).
76 Rhys Enoch (Truro), Ben Nash (Cooden Beach), Mathew Webb (Bedlingtonshire), Amir Habibi (Rochester & Cobham).
77 Tim Sluiter (Netherlands).

Old Course
Par 71
69 Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale).
70 Adam Keogh (Boston West), Sam Hutsby (Liphook), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin).
71 Ashley Rees (East Sussex National), Tommy King (Sudbury).
72 Ross Spurgeon (West Essex), Michael Swan (Stoke by Nayland), Ed Kennedy (Broadway), Ben Rickett (Surbiton), Peter Croonquist (US)
73 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Darren Renwick (Hillbarn), Scott Fallon (Hendon), Steven Uzzell (Hornsea), Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch), Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle).
Selected scores:
74 Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park), Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne), Michael Moore (Grande Oaks), Jonathan Gidney (Church Stretton), Ashley Walton (Frilford Heath), Thomas Coulson (West Hove), Christopher Cannon (East Sussex National), Liam Burns (Sundridge Park), Jonathan Poulton (Hersham Village), James Fox (Portmarnock), Neil Raymond (Corhampton).
75 Farren Keenan (Sunningdale), Simon Ward (Co Louth), Jack Senior (Heysham), Ben Westgate (Trevose), Sam Claridge (Harpenden Common), Matt Kippen (Enmore Park), Tom Robson (Rowlands Castle), Robin Kind (Netherlands), Jake Amos (Kilworth Springs), Jack Bartlett (Worthing), John Chamerlain (Cold Ashby).
76 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw), Chris Paisley (Stocksfield), Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park), Tobey Burden (Hayling), Alex Hogben (Ringway), Willem Vork (Netherlands).
77 Adam Wills (Sandiway), Joon Kim (Italy).

See all the scores on the tournament website
http://www.seoac.co.uk/
Link: 2009 Results is at top left of Home Page.

Edzell's Alastair Webster

earns place in Senior


Open championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY PGA
A handful of PGA professionals will rub shoulders with man-of-the-moment Tom Watson after qualifying for this week's Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale.
More than 300 hopefuls teed up yesterday battling it out for just 28 places at this year's 72-hole championship, which tees off on Thursday.
Qualifying at the first attempt were Edzell's Alastair Webster (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) - PGA Professional champion in 1990 - and Hawkstone Park's Frank Kiddie, who both turned 50 this year. They came through in a share of second place at Mill Ride with two-under-par 70s.
Also through is Baildon's Richard Masters, who was a shot further back.
Leigh Driving Range's Bill McColl, Scots-born winner of the PGA Professional Championship in 1991, qualified for the second successive year with a level par 70 at Camberley Heath. He will be joined by Ireland's Peter O'Hagan, who also shot to 70 to line up in the championship for the first time in his career.
Kibworth's Bob Larratt, who won the Senior PGA Professional Championship in 2005, will play in his fourth Senior Open - having made the cut on each his previous three appearances.
Larratt secured his place in the field with a three-under-par 69 at The Berkshire, where former European Open winner Andrew Murray (McDonald Portal) also qualified after shooting 70.
Reigning Senior PGA Professional champion George Ryall, who secured a top 10 finish at the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship last month, failed to qualify after carding a four-over-par.
The 72-hole championship, which carries a prize fund of $2,000,000, will feature the cream of senior golf from around the world including a number of Major winners such as Mark O'Meara, Tom Lehman, Jerry Pate, Larry Mize, Greg Norman, Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam.

McDonald,Wilson share first


round lead at Ladybank

Ayrshire’s Jack McDonald, a quarter-finalist in the Scottish boys’ match-play championship at Balgownie in April, shares the lead with Elliot Wilson from just over the Border in Berwick upon Tweed after the first round of the First Point USA Scottish boys’ open stroke-play golf championship at Ladybank Golf Club.
Both boys shot two-under-par 69s, with Wilson the steadier of the two. Starting at the 10th, he had 16 pars and birdies at the long second and the long seventh. He is a member of the North of England Under-18 squad.
Wilson hit 16 greens in regulation and had 32 putts.
Kilmarnock Barassie junior member McDonald, who has won twice on the SGU Junior Tour, started at the first and bounced back from a bogey at the long second to birdie the short fourth and the fifth to be one under par 35 for the first nine. McDonald is pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency in action in the Scottish boys' championship at Royal Aberdeen in April.
Two more birdies followed, at the short 12th and the 15th, but, needing a par at the 18th for what would have been the overnight lead on his own at 68, he bogeyed the last.
They were the only competitors in the big international field to break the par of 71 over the Fife course which is a difficult enough track to be classed an Open championship qualifying venue.
Colin Baird is lying in third place on 71, a shot ahead six players bracketed in fourth place on 72.
Hazlehead’s David Law, bidding to follow up his Scottish boys’ match-play success, had to settle for a 73 which included bogeys at three par-3 holes.
He bogeyed two short holes on the way out, the fourth and the eighth but cancelled them out with a birdie at the sixth and another at the long seventh to turn in level par 36.,
Then came a bad run where he shed shots at three holes in a row, the 11th, another short-hole, the 12th, and the long 13th. But he finished on a high with a birdie at the last.
The leading 40 and ties at the end of the second round will contest the final 36 holes.



FIRSTPOINTUSA.COM SCOTTISH BOYS' OPEN
STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD

Ladybank Golf Club
FIRST ROUND
Par 71
69 Elliott Wilson (Berwick upon Tweed), Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie)
71 Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle).
72 Gordon Reilly (Lochwinnoch), Ross Gillan (Torrance House), Ewan Scott (St Andrews), David Gallagher (Glasgow), Tom Blennerhassett (Marriott Dalmahoy), Graeme Duncan (Shotts).
73 Ross Proctor (Forres), John Fernandes (Enfield), John Drummond (Strathlene), David Law (Hazlehead), Ian Redford (St Andrews New), Paul McPhee (King James VI), Lawrence Allan (Alva), Nicholas MacAndrew (Cullen), Nigel Colbeck (Moor Allerton), Kyle Godsman (Hopeman), Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen).
74 Thomas White (Milnathort), Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton), Blair Pelling (Prestonfield), Jamie Stephen (Aberdour), Marc Smith (Troon Welbeck), Andrew Steven (Easter Moffat), Nicholas Smits (Australia), Scott Gibson (Southerness) Jack Scott (Deeside), David Ryan (Ealing).
75 Matthew Reid (Downfield), Samuel Echikson (Belgium), Steven Penston (Ifield), Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh), Jack Thorburn (Forrester Park), Matthias Kaufmann (Austria), Daniel Kay (Dunbar), Fraser Clarke (Westhill), Sandy Bolton (Magnolia Park), Laurie Potter (Minchinhampton), Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Stuart Boyle (Harburn), Jordon Williams (Castle Douglas), Thomas Rowland (Prudhoe), Gavin Hay (Grantown on Spey), Jordyn Rhind (Uphall).
76 Ryan Campbell), Lewis Fairbairn (Berwick on Tweed), Scott Young (Turnhouse), Andrew Loch (Pumpherston), Matthew McWilliam (McDonald Ellon), Michael Davidson (Tantallon), Mitchell Farrer (Ifield), Alan Welsh (Torrance House), Greg Smail (Craigielaw), Neil Beattie (St Andrews), Andrew Pillans (Kirkcaldy), Chris Moore (West Essex), Sam Crenan (Royal Jersey), Rodger Clarke (Moray), Daniel McConnachie (Dumfries & Co), Pieter-Jan Van Hoof (Belgium).
77 Scott Wightman (Powfoot), John Douglas (Thornton), Craig Hamilton (NZ), Conor O'Neil (Glasgow), Kevin Moran (Dullatur), Euan Paterson (Bruntsfield Links), Mark Geddes (Prenton), Cameron Farrell (Cardross), Dewi Merckx (Belgium), Simon Fairburn (Torwoodlee), Jake Hogg (Germany), Shaun Connor (Ralston), Greig Stewart (Crieff).
78 Liam Johnston (Dumfries & Co), Ali Begg (Muir of Ord), James White (St Andrews New), Calum McLean (Cowglen), Gary Anderson (Flaxby Park), Mark Thomson (Grange, Monifieth), Chris Robb (Inchmarlo), Euan Mackay (Torphin Hill), John Henry (Clydebank & Dist), Danny Edwards (Elgin).
79 Jeff Wright (Forres), Ritchie Manson (Braemar), Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne), Cameron West (Scotscraig), Douglas Maxwell (Craigielaw), Ross Earnshaw (Fulford), Cameron Marr (Musselburgh), Reece Mitchell (Downfield).
80 Craig Ross (Kirkhill), Colin Robinson (Largs), Jamie Arthur (Milnathort), Ross Storrier (Downfield), Gary Meechan (Dullatur), Daniel Young (Craigie Hill), Andrew Scrimshaw (Prudhoe), Cameron Nelson (Nairn), Lyle McAlpine (Invergordon), Jamie Lynch (Falkirk Carmuirs).
81 Gary Chalmers (Dollar), Jordan Plahn (Inchmarlo), Robbie Gauld (Cruden Bay), Jamie Binning (Ranfurly Castle), Simon Taylor (Germany), Craig Howie (Peebles), Grant Bowman (Monifieth), Patrick McCarron (Windyhill).
82 Fraser O'Connor (Inchmarlo), Ben Lindsay (Blairgowrie), Daniel Flannery (Peebles), Philip Gordon (Paisley), Andrew Wright (Kilmarnock Barassie), Lewis Jackson (West Hove), Jamie Treasurer (Inverness), Ian Anderson (Colville Park), Martin Gignoux (France).
83 Jay Gerrick (Haste Hill), Patrick O'Neil (Pollok), John Innes (Kirkcudbright), Fraser Lauder (Paisley), Louis Gaughan (Bathgate), Ross Gordon (Peterhead).
84 Andrew Reid (Paisley), Sam Craigon (Milnathort), Michael Bacigalupo (Longniddry), Thomas Greenhalgh (St George's Hill), Jack Lampkin (Ilkley), Mark Murphy (Cawder).
85 Joe Lennon-Joiner (Ellesborough), Tom Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar), Gregor Mackintosh (Girvan), Barry Strain (Cathkin Braes).
86 Greg Dunsmore (Saline).
87 Niklas Parwez (Germany), Jamie Thomson (Cawder).
88 Craig Norman (Dullatur).
89 William Russell (The Duke's), Fergus Smith (Paisley), Jordan Gallagher (Crow Wood).
93 Chris Lowe (Tantallon).

LANARKSHIRE COUNTY NEWS

FROM WILLIE SHARPE

Lanarkshire Men's Match-play Championship
Semi-Final Results;
Alan MacDonald (Crow Wood) bt Ed Wood (Crow Wood) 1 hole.
Andy Fairbairn (Kirkhill) bt David Oldham (Hamilton) 2 and 1.
Final to be played at Crow Wood GC on Thursday at 5.30pm

Lanarkshire Team for Area Team Match against Lothians at Mortonhall GC on Sunday, August 2:

Paul O' Hara (Colville Park)
Ross Kellett (Colville Park)
Paul Shields (Kirkhill)
Grant Beaton (Kirkhill
Andy Fairbairn (Kirkhill)
Stewart Henderson (Hamilton)
Steven Rennie (Drumpellier)

The winning team of (left to right): John Kinning, Kenny Fairbrother and Derek Anderson.

Cochrane Castle win Renfrewshire team

championship with home advantage

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION
Cochrane Castle Golf Club was the venue for the 2009 Renfrewshire Golf Union club team championship at which a three-man team from all the clubs fought it out for a place in the Scottish team championship, to be held at Prestwick. The winning team there will represent Scotland in the European club championship.
So there was a lot at stake for all the competitors and this soon started to show through as the scores came in. Ricardo Scarafile tried to inspire his Gourock team with a hole in one at the 17th but their combined efforts were not good enough.
First to head the leader board was the team from Erskine Golf Club with Ronnie Clark (74), Gary Sheppard (72) and Ian Gray (72) setting the aggregate of 218 as the target for those still out on the course.
For a long time it looked as if this would be good enough but then the local team took advantage of local knowledge with Kenny Fairbrother recording 76, Derek Anderson a solid 73 and John Kinning securing the trophy by one shot with a great round of 68, the lowest score of the day.

Murcia Seniors Open, Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort,
Spain: October 18th - 25th 2009

We have places available in the field and can now open up to non-Scottish Senior Golfing Society Members.
Full details on www.scottishseniorsgolf.com and entries/enquiries by email to gordon@corriemar.demon.co.uk

Handicap limit 12.4 and probably the best golfing package seen anywhere!

Keith Howie

If only Alfie Fyles had been there to put

a nine-iron in Tom Watson's hand

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
By Frank DeFord
This is one more last story about Tom Watson and Turnberry . . . and about caddies.
Almost a decade after he beat Jack Nicklaus in the famous Open there in 1977, I did a retrospective piece for Sports Illustrated. The responses of the two golfers were fascinating.
Nicklaus simply didn't want to talk about it. "I couldn't even take you around that course," he snapped. No, Jack Nicklaus had lost at Turnberry and wanted to forget it.
Watson, on the other hand, had no trouble remembering it all. Keep in mind now now, it was nine years later, but twice tears came to his eyes merely in talking again about that magnificent victory.
Then I hunted down one other important person, and, at Turnberry — or Tonbree, which is more how they say it over there — we walked the course together.
His name was Alfie Fyles. He was Watson's British caddie. Nicklaus had brought his regular caddie over from the States. Alfie had first had Watson's bag two years before, at Carnoustie, when Watson had won his first Grand Slam championship.
Caddying in Britain was much more of a profession then. Men like Alfie did it for a life's work. They spoke in that Cockney argot, where you use code rhymes for key words. A Vera Lynn meant a shot of gin, for instance, sizzle and strife was your missus.
After Carnoustie, Alfie threw the Gregory Peck — the check — that Watson gave him on the floor, insulted by how small he thought it was. Caddies like Alfie believed that they could truly improve their golfer. But even then the craft was dying out.
"All you got left is bag-carriers," Alfie groused. "All they can do is give a golfer a weather report, not the right club."
So it was, that on the 72nd hole, with a one-stroke lead over Nicklaus, Watson faced a second shot of about 180 yards. Alfie fingered a seven-iron. Watson stared at him. "You know I can only carry 160/165 with a six," he said. A seven iron is even less club. "Ah," said Alfie, "but the way your adrenalin's pumpin', Tom."
Watson took the seven and hit it 30 inches from the cup, sank the putt and beat Nicklaus by a stroke.
So, on Sunday, as I watched on television, here came Watson down the final fairway at Turnberry . . . one up, exactly like back in '77. His tee-shot was straight. I couldn't tell how far away he was, but I remembered Alfie. I knew Tom's adrenalin was pumpin' again. To myself, I thought: whatever club you'd normally use, go one less.
He hit a beautiful shot, straight at the flag, but it was too strong and it went over the back of the green. He bogied and lost the lead and then the tournament.
Almost the first thing Watson said afterwards was that he'd used an eight iron for that second shot on 18. Yeah, he'd considered a nine, but an eight was normally right for the distance.
I thought of old Alfie again, and what an irony.
Tom Watson didn't lose the Open because he was 59 years old. He lost because he was 59 years old, but playing like the 26-year-old he was back in 1977 — only he didn't have that old-fashioned caddie to remind him how good and strong he was again.