Golf: Augusta is mastered by the joys of Wentworth. Byline: MICHAEL BLAIR During every one associated with the many years in which it had been decently supported, when the world's greatest players contested it, there was clearly an audible call for the world Matchplay Championship at Wentworth being designated as a fifth major.
To be considered a bit catty concerning this, I could have made it the fourth major. ahead of the Usa Masters.
Okay, that's heresy. That's to become damned disrespectful to one associated with golf's cherished (in America, anyway) institutions but please pay focus to my aweless argument.
The Masters' field, although it bulges with the game's superstars, is actually then completed simply by therefore many absolute no-hopers that it's only, roughly, three-quarters of your tournament a new major championship?
It's excellent to see Arnie and Jack (who finished sixth from the age of 58) and also one other old-timers on parade; I can make the most of the good nostaglia kick around the actual next man. And I Also will concede the real golf that is played with Augusta National each may is actually definately not ceremonial and I would guess which should you questioned, say, the particular world's leading 100 golfers and questioned all of them that significant these people would choose to win, the
consensus belly down for that Masters.
But to come back for the Globe Matchplay. In Which has been an elite event; only the greatest could play in it and to scan the honours board would be to be reminded regarding the quantity of in the game's greats possess battled their own way along your Burma Road.
This is how difficult it is often to win: pertaining to most his 18 main championships, Jack Nicklaus only won it once; Peter Thomson in absolutely no way won it, nor does Lee Trevino, nor Bernhard Langer. Nor has Tiger Woods.
Woods, of course, only played within it once along with Mark O'Meara beat him in the final inside 1998. And Also through the looks associated with things, Woods will never have his title up besides Palmer, Player, Norman, Ballesteros, Faldo, Singh along with Els and the rest. He declines to play, thereby setting a desperately disappointing trend which is leading this wonderful tournament, or even specifically towards
oblivion, then means down the ladder of prestige.
Last year, they attempted to tempt Woods using a first winning prize involving pounds 1 million. 1 million quid! And, for the exact same obscene quantity associated with money, he won't come this year, either.
Not just will Woods certainly not come, neither will Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Chris DiMarco, Davis Adore . . . I could go on.
The Globe Matchplay Championship, which usually begins from Wentworth today, a month sooner than usual, under the sponsorship associated with HSBC, is remarkable now for the number of best players who, despite the actual vast fortune at stake, give it the cold shoulder.
And anyone wonder what on earth the general game is originating to. How are you in a position to not want to try to acquire kilos one million?
The solution must be that will golf is currently consequently drenched in funds that will those two-aeroplane kinds from the top the all round game can make just about all they need in run-of-the-mill tournaments.
If these people came to Wentworth, that they will be required to play two rounds per day and also not your lure of the million smackers could persuade them to do that.
So the actual organisers are left to chat up this year's tournament as best these people can. Your leading seven from the European Tour will be there, that they tell us and, all told, your field possess between them won 278 tournaments and also eight major championships.
Let's finish with this thought: I saw my initial Matchplay in 1980 and I haven't missed one for your final 12 years. and your best of the particular lot? It has been 2001 when, for causes besides the actual usual one, the Americans wouldn't come; certainly not certainly 1 of them.
Organisers IMG needed to settle for a area regarding Europeans, in addition Vijay Singh, Adam Scott along with Retief Goosen and furthermore the golfing that they played more than the four times had been incredible.
In the initial round Padraig Harrington beat Nick Faldo 9&8, Ian Woosnam noticed off Goosen 4&3 along with Sam Torrance (yes, they even had to dig up old Sam) trounced Ballesteros 3&2.
Torrance, having beaten Singh in the 2nd round, reached the semi-final and also Woosnam, having an incredible 10&9 victory over Lee Westwood, went every 1 associated with the way.
Woosie beat Harrington within the final as well as I would say this was his finest hour. Transcending even the significant championship he won the US Masters
CAPTION(S):
Ian Woosnam about the way to winning at Wentworth inside 2001