A round-up of news from The Open 2009 at Turnberry
Harrington unveils sponsors’ bag
PÁDRAIG Harrington confused many onlookers, including yours truly, when he was spotted with, not one, but two golf bags during yesterday’s practice round.
At first glance it appeared the defending champion was doing a spot of “tinkering” – not unusual for the dedicated Dubliner – working out his best club specifications for the challenges of Turnberry.
As it turns out the extra bag in tow was purely for marketing and promotional purposes.
Harrington’s main sponsors Wilson have a new golf bag coming out later this year and naturally enough they wanted the money shots taken during the British Open.
Ross Kinnaird from Getty Images was supposed to have the pictures in the can on Monday last but the problem was Harrington spent over six hours on the practice range and, as a result, missed the scheduled photo-shoot.
Monsoon makes fans' life tough
FECKIN’ Scottish weather. One minute you’re licking a large 99, the next you’re running for cover as an Ayrshire monsoon beats in over the Ailsa Craig. Suddenly, splendid sunshine made way for angry grey clouds and next thing you know, you’ve been drenched from a great height. Forget those good intentions of getting out to see Rory McIlroy hit a few shots on the back nine, it was mission aborted and back to media HQ feeling like a wet teabag.
Woods content to be just himself
THE life and times of Tiger Woods could be compared to living in the proverbial goldfish bowl where he simply has nowhere to hide or get away from the spotlight, especially during the week of a major championship. Everyone wants a piece of him.
At yesterday’s packed press conference the world number one was asked did he ever wish he was someone else – away from all the hullabaloo? “No. sometimes I wish I had a little more anonymity, but that’s different,” replied Woods.
“Going out there and playing against these guys, that’s such a great rush. I’ve always loved it and hopefully I can do it for a while.” Like aged 53 just as Greg Norman did last year? “It would simply be nice to still be above dirt,” added Woods.
Perry proud of elder statesman role
KENNY Perry is flying the flag for the elder statesmen on tour and is clearly enjoying his role. “I guess I’m giving all the other guys my age hope,” said the American.
“Here I am turning 49 next month and fourth in the world. Not too many can say that, it’s pretty neat and also an honour.
“I’m out there practising with Anthony Kim; he’s just a kid, the same age as my son. I like to keep these young guys on their toes.”
- INDIANJeev Milkha Singh yesterday became the seventh player to pull out of the Open – 24 hours after saying he was "100 per cent" certain to tee off tomorrow.
Singh had hoped the torn intercostal muscle in his side he suffered at the European Open at the end of May would not stop him playing. But after practising the 37-year-old decided that it was better to rest the injury. First reserve John Senden deputises.
Poulter unimpressed by less than friendly welcome
IAN Poulter is the sort of guy who struts around the place hoping he will be noticed. That confident, army-like stride and upright posture, combined with his often garish attire confirms such notions. It’s classic peacock stuff.
Imagine, therefore, his dismay when he arrived at Turnberry late on Sunday night, went for a quick nosy at the British Open venue he had never seen before, but wasn’t recognised as a player and was quickly shipped off site.
“I turned up at 10pm on Sunday night and had a little look on the 18th green,” explained Poulter.
“Next thing I know, the security came out and asked me ‘what are you doing, what are you doing, get off’. I said ‘It’s okay, I’m playing’.”
“So that was my first look (at the course) and then I got escorted off in a wagon. That was nice.”
However, one of the scoreboard attendants recognised Poulter and, put the word ‘champion’ adjacent to the Englishman’s name.
Cabrera to curb his enthusiasm
NOBODY commands attention in the interview room quite like Tiger Woods. All those present hang on his every word. In comparison a much more sparsely populated QA session listened to Angel Cabrera’s latest stab at the English language. The opening line: How’s your putting? “Mucho mejor (much better),” said the big-hitting Argentine before adding he will have to curb his enthusiasm this week.
“I think I’m going to be playing short of the bunkers pretty much all week,” added the Masters champion. “That will be my strategy. When you compare this to Carnoustie, you can attack more holes there and hit driver more often. Here (Turnberry) you have to be cautious all the time.”
- A helicopter and a private jet remain on standby for Ross Fisher ahead of this week’s Open. Fisher is poised to drop everything and fly to London to be with his wife, Jo, who is expecting their first child. The initial due date was yesterday, but with no sign of the baby yet, Fisher was at Turnberry awaiting any news.
