A MIST, somewhat like the haar which envelopes St Andrews from time to time, provided a suitably eerie environment for one of the most bizarre deeds in golfing history at Valderrama yesterday.
Robert Allenby paid £6,000 for a first class, 24,000 mile round trip ticket from his home in Melbourne to hit one shot, using his driver in an extended, putter like action to propel the ball some 35 yards to the tee box reserved for society golfers.
Then, he turned to his "playing partner" David Howell, shook hands and retired "hurt". Mission accomplished.
The farce - played out some 45 minutes late due to the thick fog, which prohibited Allenby even seeing the first green when he arrived on the tee at the allocated time - did have some benefits, however, as the Australian announced he will donate his "bonus pool" money to two cancer charities, one based in Melbourne and the other in London.
The exact donation will be decided on Sunday, depending on where Allenby finishes in the Order of Merit. His failure to turn up here would have made him ineligible for any bonus payment, although he commented: "The money was not the reason I made the trip. I'm third in the Order of Merit and I deserve that bonus money to count in the final money list because of the way I have played this season."
Allenby - who suffered a fractured sternum and received 22 stitches to a couple of head wounds after a car accident near Marbella four weeks ago - was pretty much the innocent party in the entire exercise, caught up in the European Tour rule book. The charade was carried out in the Australian's quest to retain an Order of Merit position high enough to gain a possible invite to the US Masters.
"That has always been a dream of mine, although I know there is no set criteria to play here," he remarked.
As the Australian waited at the first tee for the fog to lift, and calmly chatted to journalists, Stuart Cage, the first reserve, watched from the practice putting green aware he was destined to play the role of groomsman rather than groom. A wasted trip. However, Allenby insisted: "I feel sorry for him, but golf is an individual sport.
"I am not being a stuck up pig. I deserved that bonus money to count. I didn't have the car accident on purpose.
The mornings are the worse time for Allenby. "I have shooting pains in my chest, like being hit with an axe repeatedly," he said. "The doctors have warned me not to attempt a full swing yet, just in case I cause further damage. You can't strap up this injury, it is a matter of rest and time. It could take two, three or four months.
"However, once I'm 100 per cent fit, I will be back better and stronger than ever - when you get so close to death, your old mind gets working. Life is too precious, and I have so much willpower that I am sure I will rediscover my form very quickly," he added.
Still, his gesture - to donate the bonus money to Teenage Cancer Trust and Challenge Cancer Support Network - ensured a feeling that something had been accomplished by his round the world journey to hit a single shot.
