IT IS almost exactly seven years since Bernhard Langer confirmed he had beaten the dreaded yips for a second time by capturing the 1989 Spanish Open. Interestingly, it happened at El Saler where the Turespana Masters is being played this weekend. There, the German had only 27 putts in a third round of 67 and went on to sink contrasting birdie efforts of 50 feet and 12 inches at the 70th and 71st holes, for a three-stroke winning margin.
Now, the yips have returned once more. And there is growing speculation as to how Langer will confront the problem during forthcoming commitments on both sides of the Atlantic. His next European appearances will be in the Benson and Hedges International, followed by the Volvo PGA Championship and he is then off to the US to play in the Buick Classic and the US Open.
Despite an apparently foolproof method, involving the clasping of the putter-grip to his left forearm, the malady resurfaced during the Volvo Masters at Valderrama last October. And Langer's former Ryder Cup colleague, Ken Brown, told me that there was further evidence during the Million Dollar Challenge at Sun City.
Then came Augusta National and the agony of several twitched efforts, ranging from 12 inches to four feet. "Though he has tried the long putter in practice and can't get on with it, I think he simply has to give it a serious go," said his faithful, caddie Peter Coleman.
Yet Langer remains optimistic. "It's something I've been living with for some months now but I'm feeling better about it," he said. "Everything seems worse at Augusta where there's such a fine margin for error." But David Leadbetter insisted: "He's flinching on his short putts which is a classic sign of the yips."
Langer's last battle with the yips began in the summer of 1988 when he missed the cut in the British Masters and had the horrendous experience of five-putting during a final round of 80 in the British Open at Royal Lytham. Then, as defending Irish Open champion, he missed the cut at Portmarnock and by the end of the season had dropped out of the top 10 in the European Order of Merit for the first time since 1979.
It is bitterly ironic that the problem should return in a season in which he will be defending such important titles as the Volvo PGA Championship and the Smurfit European Open: a deal has yet to be agreed regarding a return to the Murphy's Irish Open. Meanwhile, his progress is certain to be watched with considerable interest.
"I would rather know the agony and the ecstasy of defeat and of victory, than live forever in the twilight of never having felt either one.
The words of Theodore Roosevelt, which Greg Norman listed as his favourite quote in the March issue of Today's Golfer.
AS a reader of this column, Norman Sudbury of Rathfarnham is clearly a man of impeccable character. However, I could detect a certain bias against a former British Prime Minister in his recent letter which contained references to "Out! out! out!" and "The sins of the fathers - and mothers! - shall be visited upon the children
What's it all about? It's about the apparent failure at Mark Thatcher, son of you know who, to be accepted as a member of the Royal Cape GC, the oldest in South Africa. On a recent visit to that, country, our attentive reader came across a cutting to that effect in the local Argus newspaper.
According to the cutting, Shaun Malherbe, general manager of Royal Cape, claims that the person who proposed Thatcher for membership withdrew his proposal before a recent committee meeting. "He was therefore not considered to be elected," said Malherbe. The other (14) candidates were accepted into the club. No reasons were given for the volte face.
Lee Trevino has been having a rather thin time of late, as reflected in his share of 22nd place behind Hale Irwin in the USPGA Seniors' Championship last Sunday. But whatever happens to Supermex, this year will have provided a major milestone in a sparkling golfing career. All because he, too, happened to get the better of Greg Norman - though it was hardly noticed.
By collecting $4,725 in the GTE Suncoast Classic won by his great rival, Jack Nicklaus, in February, Trevino pushed his combined career earnings from the regular and senior tours to $9,613,904. Which meant that he outstripped Norman as the top money winner in the history of the USPGA.
Of course the distinction was short-lived. With $270,000 as runner-up in the Masters, Norman passed the $10 million mark and further rewards from, the Heritage Classic last week-end have enhanced the figure to $10,318,895
Meanwhile, $11,500 from last weekend's activities brought Trevino's career earnings to $9,720,943. Which, among other things, means he can continue to buy his own shoes. American observers still recall the occasion some years back when, on being asked which company supplied his shoes, Trevino replied darkly: "I buy my own shoes. Where were they when I needed shoes?"
He still uses a functional Band-Aid on his gloved thumb but the cosmetic one has disappeared from a forearm tattoo, a fading tribute to an old flame, Ann. She, and the fact that he is now on a third family with his second Claudia, goes some way towards explaining how he made millions, lost millions and is now wealthy all over again.
All the while, he has never lost the gift of keeping the fans amused. Like on the first tee [where he throws his golf ball into a bucket of water while loudly urging it to "get plenty to "drink now so you won't be thirsty on the course." Then, as if betraying a confidence, he whispers: "You know, I used to soak them in the commode."
Never again will he get the chance of beating Norman in the money race, but one suspects that it won't cost him a thought.
IS there no end to the ingenuity of golf-club manufacturers? The thought is prompted by the imminent launch in the US of the Air Hammer Driver from LongBall Sports. Featuring front-to-back slots whereby air actually passes through the clubhead, it is expected to provide more hitting power by reducing drag and thereby increasing clubhead speed.
The club is the latest invention of Jack Hamm, whose clubhead speed has been measured at 162 mph and who is the holder of five world records, including the longest non-wind-assisted carry and roll of 473 yards. As an engineer frustrated with corporate life, he launched LongBall Sports Inc with the aim of helping golfers smash the ball further than they ever thought possible.
As to the Air Hammer which, we are informed, has double-thick walls and internal reinforcement beams: the so-called speed slots emit a slight yet unmistakable warning sound when a golfer's backswing is too fast. "Yanking the club back too fast is the number one problem for golfers," he explains. "And until now, there was nothing out there to teach them tempo and rhythm while out on the course.
IN BRIEF: Djouce Mountain GC is the venue for the inaugural Newcastle Hospital Golf Challenge on May 11th, involving 30 teams of four at £100 each. Further information from (01) 2818585 Record entries have been received from 185 clubs for the fourth staging of the Ford Ladies' Golf Challenge from which 90 qualifiers will play in the Challenge Pro-Am final at Citywest GC on July 23rd The Michael J Kinane Golf Classic in aid of the Racing Apprentice Centre for Education will be held at The K Club on May 30th Don Hall informs me that Royal St David's, Nefyn, Porthmadog and Pwllheli are the venues for this year's Irish Ferries North Wales Golf Classic Challenge from September 17th to 20th.... Michael Dolan, indefatigable owner of Mount Temple GC, will play host tomorrow to a senior interprovincial challenge between Connacht and Leinster Attractive competitions have been organised this summer by West Coast Links at Enniscrone, Co Sligo, Donegal, Carne and Connemara. Further information from Michael Burke at (01) 2828796 Friends of St Columcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown are staging a Golf Classic at Old Conna on May 17th in aid of their Cat Scan Appeal.
TEASER: B's ball was lying badly. B was deliberating what action to take when A, his fellow competitor, said: "You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would declare the ball unplayable." Was A giving advice. contrary to Rule 8-1?
ANSWER: Yes. A's suggestion could have influenced B "in determining his play." Thus, it constituted advice. It did not constitute "information on the Rules" which is not advice.
