THE WEATHER
Well you probably saw it too - it was bad, very, very bad!
Water from a bottle and beer in a glass could not be
trusted to behave so little wonder that a golf ball would
not sit still on a green. As the rain and wind came howling
across the Old Course, the organisers came under fire for
starting on Saturday only to stop less than an hour later
due to the wind. The then leader Dustin Johnson was
less than impressed as he suffered the consequence of an
unforgiving bogey. There was mixed emotions amongst
the players, some told me that to have such a long mental
break in a Major was almost welcomed, one being our man
Danny Willet who had the entire Saturday off whilst sitting
atop of the leaderboard. However, going to five days is a
logistical nightmare for so many let’s hope Troon is kind to
us all in 2016.
finished as he would have wanted with large crowds
applauding him as he bid farewell on the Swilcan Bridge.
Tom Watson too - that great 5 time Open champion and
most popular of golfers with the Scottish crowds also
waved goodbye. With his son Michael on the bag he
vowed to smile more than he cried - not easy for this great
golfer we will all remember with such affection.
It was a privilege to be there and share moments with the
likes of the great Arnold Palmer through to the 2015 Open
Champion Zach Johnson. It can only be described as the
greatest show on earth and the most disappointing part of
the week? It all being over for another year…
THE CROWDS
- as ever they proved to be the most knowledgeable and
well behaved in the world. Good shots were cheered
whoever the player and the odd mistake was recognised in
a most respectful manner -’ it can happen to anyone’ was
the common thought. Even during the painful 11 hour
wait for “the wind to reach acceptable levels” on Saturday,
spirits were still high as fans dressed for the occasion and
even Rory and Faldo’s ‘caddies’ were keen to give me their
professional insight….
So it took five days not four and we now must wait
another 360 for the next Open at Royal Troon in 2016.
But some won’t be back. Nick Faldo has played his last
and with a birdie on the notorious 17th, the Road hole,
41 | YOURCADDY MAG - ISSUE 04