O'Grady set to leave rivals agape

When asked to list his hobbies for the 1999 handbook, one of the graduates from the European Tour school at San Roque last weekend replied: "The search for agape love and the study of philologia." Almost predictably, the player was Mac O'Grady who, among other things, has been described with typical directness by his fellow Americans as: "A large-scale pain in the ass."

O'Grady was also condemned by Greg Norman as "a loose cannon" when, during the week of the 1994 US Masters, he claimed that "seven of the top 30 players in the world are on beta-blockers." And as a straight-hitting player who talks in circles, he clearly has a liking for qualifying schools.

With a final round of 71 compared to a dismal 80 from the much-vaunted Justin Rose, O'Grady claimed the 28th card at San Roque. Which means that at 47, he is set for a new career on the European Tour where he plans to play at least 10 tournaments next season.

Starting in October 1971, he set a record by going through various stages of the US Tour School 17 times before eventually making it in 1982. He then made the top-20 of the 1985 money list; won the 1986 Greater Hartford Open and the 1987 Tournament of Champions. By the end of 1989, however, he had lost his card again.

O'Grady is an extraordinary character who learned the game as a caddie at the Riviera and Bel-Air clubs in Los Angeles, where several of the players for whom he worked would later become his sponsors. One of a family of seven, he was born Phil McGleno but his mother died when he was 15 and some years later he adopted her maiden name, becoming Phillip McClelland O'Grady in 1978.

He ran away from home after his father remarried, and slept rough. Later, in an

attempt to rid himself of deep-rooted resentments, he would ride a bike for great distances and practise yoga. He played golf right- and lefthanded with equal proficiency.

This led to a remarkable decision in 1972. After turning professional, he wrote to the USGA requesting amateur status as a left-hander only, while he played right-handed as a professional. Naturally, it was refused but his ambidexterity also prompted him to try and enter the Chrysler Team event as his own partner in 1983, offering to play right and left.

Then there was his attempt to compete on tour with half a set of right-handed clubs and the remainder left-handed. This was also rejected by the authorities on the grounds that such equipment would not allow him play to the best of his ability.

In recent years, a stormy spell as coach to Seve Ballesteros ended acrimoniously. And for O'Grady, the bitterness remains. "I made a lot of sacrifices and a big commitment to help him but he broke my heart," he said last weekend. "Now, if I had a sword I would cut off his head."

Looks like interesting times ahead on the European Tour, courtesy of the Class of '98.

"Nick has even been cooking breakfast for me - it's five-star treatment." David Carter on his partnership with Nick Faldo, as England captured the World Cup last weekend.

An American tourist recalled with delight the time he impulsively followed a sign reading "Golf Course". Less than a mile down a sideroad was the course and a deserted carpark. At the clubhouse he found a sign telling him the green-fee. Next to it was a slot to place his money.

After a thoroughly enjoyable and uninterrupted 18 holes, he returned to the clubhouse to be greeted by a stranger who identified himself as a member of the club's committee. "I was driving by and saw your car and I thought you might like a drink," said the stranger.

Sound familiar? Well it isn't an Irish story. In fact it's taken from the latest brochure issued jointly by Air New Zealand and New Zealand Tourism, promoting golf in that country. And if there's a certain Irishness to their approach, it arises from a profound admiration for the success we're having in the highly competitive international golf market.

As it happens, Ireland was recently named "Golf Destination of the Year" in the firstever independent golf travel awards, sponsored by Hertz. The citation read, in part: ". . . for the best quality, variety and accessibility of golf courses and golf accommodation, value for money and pro-activity of tourist board and suppliers."

Other awards were: Golf Resort - Gleneagles Hotel; Course - Pebble Beach; Emerging Golf Destination - Morocco; Tour Operator - Perry Golf. Small wonder that Dr James McDaid, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, was rather pleased with himself at the awards ceremony in London, while in faraway New Zealand they were ready to look and learn.

Wentworth GC members have made history by nominating their former professional, Bernard Gallacher, as the club's captain for the year 2000. Careful research has failed to uncover any other instance in Britain of a professional being accorded such an honour. After 20 years in the job, Gallacher retired two years ago but he remained a member of the club and continued to live with his wife Lesley and family in a house on the estate.

During a few delightful chats with Ed Sneed at the World Cup last week, he discussed some of the great players he had met, including the notoriously moody Tommy Bolt. Once described as an even-tempered man in that his mood was black all of the time, Bolt also had a disarmingly gentle side to him, according to Sneed.

Whatever the truth of that assessment, it clearly wasn't in evidence on a certain visit to the Bel Air CC in Los Angeles, where Bolt was assigned a legendary local caddie named Snake. Eyeing his man suspiciously, Bolt said: "Snake, you and me are going to get along just fine. You just carry the bag and keep your mouth shut and I'll play the game." Snake responded: "Yessir, Mr Bolt."

In the event, everything went sweetly until they reached the sixth hole, where Bolt had a shot of about 165 yards. Reaching into the bag, he took out a six iron, gave it a few waggles and was about to hit the ball when Snake interjected: "I wouldn't hit that if I was you Mr Bolt." To which Bolt snapped: "Shut up, Snake. One more word and you're out of here."

Whereupon Bolt waggled the club once more before hitting a glorious shot which ended four feet from the hole. Replacing the club in the bag, he gloated: "Well Snake, what do you think of that?" To which the caddie replied: "'Fraid it wasn't your ball Mr Bolt."

When England captured the World Cup at Gulf Harbour last Sunday, Nick Faldo remarked with a wicked grin: "I'm delighted to have got there before the Scots." But 40 years after the Irish, I reminded him gently, which he had the good grace to acknowledge.

It was, of course, the fourth time for the title to have come to these islands. And it's interesting to note that on each occasion, the Ryder Cup has also resided on this side of the Atlantic. Which it did when Ireland first won in 1958 and last year, and when Wales triumphed in 1987.

This day in golf history . . . On November 28th 1921, Peggy Kirk Bell was born in Findlay, Ohio. In a distinguished amateur career, she partnered the legendary Babe Zaharias to victory in the International Fourball Tournament and was a member of the 1948 Curtis Cup team.

On turning professional in 1950 she became a charter member of the LPGA. She married the former professional basketball player, Warren (Bullet) Bell in 1953 and between them they built what is now the Pine Needles Lodge and Country Club in North Carolina. LPGA Teacher of the Year in 1961, she received the Bob Jones Award in 1990 for outstanding sportsmanship in golf.

Teaser: In a match, A and B were all square playing the last hole. A incurred a penalty without knowing it, and accordingly did not advise B of the penalty. B was aware of what had happened and did not realise it was a breach of the rules either. A won the hole and the match and the result was posted. Subsequently, a spectator informed B that A had incurred a penalty at the 18th hole. B then claimed the hole and the match, and A conceded the match to B. Who was the rightful winner?

Answer: A won the match because a match can only be conceded prior to its conclusion (Rule 2-4). A gave wrong information when he did not advise B that he had incurred a penalty and would have lost the hole had a timely claim been made (Rule 9-2). However, a belated claim by B was not valid for two reasons: (1) it was not based on facts previously unknown to B, and (2) the claim was made after the result of the match was announced (see Rule 2-5).