Hubert Green caused quite a stir during the Senior British Open at Royal Co Down last weekend, with his stooped stance, quick-fire swing and fedora hat. Green is essentially a quiet man, but no one would dispute his toughness in the light of events at Southern Hills, Tulsa, in June 1977. Leading the US Open by one stroke with four holes to play, he was approached by two USGA officials a local police lieutenant who informed Green that a woman had called the FBI frantically telling them that three men were on their way to assassinate him. He was then given three options: he could withdraw, seek a postponement of play or play on. Green chose to play on.
Needing four pars to win, he parred the 15th, birdied the 16th and got down in two putts from 50 feet for a par on the 17th. But he bunkered his approach at the 18th and after a poor recovery, eventually needed a four-foot putt for a winning bogey. He duly sank it and said: "I'm glad it's over." And no one doubted him.
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