Mattiace's big gesture to Irish fan

A close friend of mine, let's call him Bill, is fighting a courageous battle against serious illness. And since Harbour Town happens to be his favourite golfing place outside Ireland, it struck me that some memento from there, perhaps from a contestant in last weekend's MCI Classic, might give him a lift.

Which player particularly appealed to him? "Len Mattiace," he replied. Then, anticipating the next question, he added: "Because he's a fighter."

Mattiace will be recalled as the journeyman who looked set to rock the golfing world by winning the Players' Championship at Sawgrass last month. That was before he carded a crippling eight at the infamous short 17th. From there, however, he recovered bravely to birdie the last for a share of fifth place and a career-best cheque for $146,000.

Then, after a break during Masters week, he enriched his coffers by a further $23,940 for a share of 18th place in the MCI Classic last Sunday. But I had sought him out at Harbour Town three days earlier, after he had completed an opening round of 69. He was on the practice ground at the time and when I explained my needs to his caddie, the message was passed on.

Work done, he met me with a warm smile and a warmer handshake. "Do you know Eoghan O'Connell?" inquired Mattiace of his former colleague at Wake Forest University. After we had chatted for several minutes, he wrote a message to my friend on the tournament programme.

Then, as I prepared to walk away, he suggested: "I have access to a telephone in the locker-room. If I was to call your friend in Dublin, could he talk to me? "With some difficulty," I replied. "But it's worth a try." So the call was made.

Aware that he would have to do the talking, Mattiace proceeded to tell my friend that he would be thinking of him as he walked the fairways of Harbour Town over the weekend - particularly the famous 18th with the lighthouse in the background. With his wishes acknowledged, the phone was put down and I thanked him for his beautiful gesture.

As we went our separate ways, I marvelled at the splendid choice my friend had made. And of the way we can enrich each other's lives.

"If I told John Daly what club to hit for every shot and what kind of shot to play, he'd win every time." - Sam Snead.

It is more than a year now since Tiger Woods expressed the wish to play golf in Kerry. "I've heard so much about the courses around Killarney that I'm eager to try them," he said. In the process, he made particular mention of Waterville and the fact that he had met professional Liam Higgins in Florida.

Well, it looks as if the visit may be a little closer, judging by events at Waterville last weekend. In the wake of the US Masters, a four-ball of Americans, including Woods's caddie Mike Cowan, better known as Fluff, played the links four times between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning."

"Liam (Higgins) joined them for nine holes and they seemed to enjoy the place immensely," said secretary-manager Noel Cronin. As an interesting twist, Munster boys representative Mark Murphy caddied for Fluff, who listed Columbus, Ohio as his home club.

From there, the quartet set off for Royal Co Down and Royal Portrush and are expected at Baltray today. It seems their interest in Waterville was also encouraged by Woods's friend, Mark O'Meara, who went there last year with his family. "Needless to say, we're working hard on landing Tiger himself," added Cronin.

Jazzman Paddy Cole, one of the most popular figures on the Irish cabaret circuit, is currently rearranging his schedule for the coming year. But his many fans need have no fear - Paddy is simply adding a fresh dimension to The King of the Swingers, one of the most popular numbers in his repertoire.

A keen golfer off 14, the pride of Castleblayney has just been made president of the Harcourt Golfing Society. "It's a terrific honour which stems from my one-time involvement with the Harcourt Hotel," he said. So, while continuing to set feet tapping with his clarinet, Cole will also be king of the swingers at more than six society outings this season.

Reflecting on the enduring charm of Byron Nelson as he held court to a small group of us during the US Masters at Augusta National, it wasn't difficult to appreciate David Feherty's assessment of him. "I would describe him as the nicest person I have met in golf," he said, when we met recently.

Feherty went on: "I happen to be a member of the sports club (TPC Las Colinas) where they hold the Byron Nelson tournament and I've got to know him very well over the last five years. He's just the most remarkable old man, with a razor-sharp mind.

"I've spoken for him at a couple of lunches for the tournament. He's a living museum. He can remember every shot he ever hit and never has a bad word to say about anybody - even people he didn't like. I treasure every moment I've been in his company."

One of Nelson's more interesting observations at Augusta concerned his role as an honorary starter of the Masters. "I worry about it for a week beforehand," he admitted. "You don't want anything to go wrong in a situation like that." He then revealed that he had been asked to do it for another 10 years. "I'll be 96 then, if I live that long," he mused. "And I bet I won't hit it as far as Gene (Sarazen, who is now 96)."

Having heard the rumours, I was immediately suspicious when, by way of a preview of the forthcoming AIB Senior Open, Woodbrook invited me to play their splendidly upgraded course next Monday.

"What tees would I be playing off?" I asked committee member Michael Walsh. "The blues, naturally," he replied. "The same ones that our members played in competition last Sunday."

Determined not to be fobbed off that easily, I went on: "And what length is the course Tommy Horton and his fellow seniors will be playing?" "6,500 yards." "And what length is the blues?" "6,863 yards." "You mean the Woodbrook members are currently playing a course 363 yards longer than the professionals will be playing in the Irish Senior Open?"

Walsh laughed heartily. "'Fraid so," he admitted. "That's the way the PGA have set up the course. It's not our doing." He then informed me that as part of his work there, designer Peter McEvoy actually installed gold or tiger tees at certain holes, lengthening the course by a further 93 yards. "I presume they're for the ladies?" I suggested.

This Day In Golf History . . . On April 25th, 1916, Jerry Barber was born. His finest year in a rewarding career, came in 1961 when he captured the USPGA Championship and went on to captain his country to victory in the Ryder Cup at Royal Lytham and St Annes. That was the year the format of the biennial event was changed from the traditional 36-hole matches to 18, so doubling the points total to 24.

A few months earlier, at 45, he had trailed playing partner Don January by four strokes with three holes to play in the USPGA at Olympia Fields. Barber then proceeded to hole putts of 20 feet, 40 feet and 60 feet for a birdie-par-birdie finish to force a tie. And he shot 67 in the play-off to win by a stroke.

"The older you get, the easier it is to shoot your age," became his philosophy on the ageing process. He died of heart failure on September 23rd, 1994.

In Brief: The final of the Spawell-sponsored Dublin United Golfing Societies' Cup, will be played at Beech Park on Monday . . . Norman Turcott is an 86-year-old American whom I met a few years ago at St Margaret's GC. He still carries his own bag or pulls a caddie-car while playing to a handicap of 16. And his friend, Donal Flinn, informs me that he recently scored 38 Stableford points at Sotogrande . . . Word on the US grapevine is that the ABC network have shown little interest in renewing the contract of commentator Peter Alliss when it expires at the end of this year . . . Glen Day, not renowned as the fastest player on the US Tour, has been nicknamed "All" by his colleagues.

Teaser: In a fourball match, an opponent lifted a player's ball on the putting green after marking its position. He did this without the authority of the player. Is the opponent subject to penalty?

Answer: Yes. Rule 20-1 prohibits such action. Accordingly, the opponent incurs a penalty-stroke under Rule 18-3b, but the penalty does not apply to his partner. The player must replace the ball.