A tale of one-up-manship worth telling

Monday at Sutton GC was a time for reminiscences. And a chance for Victor Brophy to engage in what he reckoned was long overdue one-up-manship on his brother Niall, the former Ireland and Lions rugby threequarter.

It concerned a woman competitor, the then Marie Fitzpatrick, and a nine-hole mixed foursomes competition played "almost 40 years ago." Brophy, a member of Royal Dublin, recalled: "Marie, a sister of Michael Fitzpatrick's, played with Niall in the morning and with me in the afternoon. And when the result was announced, she and I had the best score and herself and Niall were second. That must be something of a record, for a player to be first and second in the same competition with brothers as partners." Then, with obvious relish he added: "And for once, I beat Niall."

This day in golf history . . . On September 29th 1923, Gene Sarazen retained the USPGA title by beating Walter Hagen on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off. It was the first time the event had gone beyond the stipulated distance and when preparing to hit his approach shot, Sarazen turned to the crowd and said: "I'll put this one so close to the hole that it will break Walter's heart." And the ball came to rest two feet away for a winning birdie.

Teaser: In matchplay, an opponent plays a wrong ball from a bunker and the wrong ball knocks the player's ball into the hole. What is the ruling? Answer: No penalty is incurred and the player must replace his ball (Rule 18-5).