Partners perfectly matched

During the US Open at Oakmont in 1994, members of the overseas media were invited down to Latrobe to play Arnold Palmer's home course. While there, they were served drinks on the 10th tee by a waiter, accompanied by Winnie Palmer, who acted as an admirably welcoming hostess in her husband's absence.

When everybody had been taken care of, Winnie instructed the waiter: "Put those on my tab." Then, almost as an afterthought, she added: "And put my tab on Arnie's tab." There are undoubtedly countless, similar stories about this charming woman, who died last weekend.

I remember reading in an American magazine that she and Arnold had eloped on the strength of $400 he won as a bet with members for shooting 68 on his first visit to Pine Valley. And of how supportive she had been throughout his career, which must have imposed enormous pressures on family life.

Ben Wright, the English journalist/commentator, wrote this week: "It seemed to me that Arnold honoured Winnie every day, and their's was indeed an ongoing romance. The Pennsylvania boy with his bravado and swagger was instantly and forever humbled by the beauty and charm of his darling woman named Winnie."

Palmer was not alone among leading golfers in being blessed with a remarkable partner. Barbara Nicklaus was an invaluable ally in the Bear's quest of 18 major championships. And, during a visit she made to Mount Juliet with her husband, Mrs Nicklaus remarked on how supportive the late Vivien Jacklin had been to her husband, Tony, especially during the Ryder Cup.

Of course, golf has also had its share of failed relationships, but they seem to be outnumbered by the successes, certainly at the top. For instance, Ben Hogan's wife, Valerie, is another who springs to mind, along with Gary Player's wife Vivienne, Maria Floyd and Greg Norman's wife, Laura.

This country's leading players have been similarly blessed. Mary O'Connor once told me that when she and Christy were walking up the aisle, she remarked to him that they hadn't a shilling between them. To which Christy replied: "Don't worry, Mary. I'll earn it and you'll look after it." And so a wonderful partnership was forged.

Fred Daly, who married his teenage sweetheart Jean McCreadie, once said: "I think it was the attraction of opposites, for Jean was a quiet, reserved, serene person, very different from me. She seemed to have a calming effect on me . . ."

His good friend Harry Bradshaw also had the benefit of a wonderfully supportive wife in Elizabeth.

Then, of course, there was Dor Carr, who shared her husband Joe's passion for golf in several Milltown Mixed Foursomes triumphs. He once recalled how, in 1958, she had convinced him, prior to his departure for Scotland, that he could achieve his most treasured British Amateur triumph at St Andrews.

More recently, players such as Des Smyth and Christy O'Connor Jnr have been able to draw similar strength from their partners. Indeed, looking back at the game's great players at home and abroad, it is revealing to note the number who have benefited from stable, family backgrounds.

"SOMETIMES losing is good because it'll make him realise he's got to keep learning and working on his game."

- Mark O'Meara, in Kuala Lumpur last weekend, pointing out the simple reality that Tiger Woods is going to lose more tournaments that he'll win - though not just now.

NOW that the World Cup, as it was known for 46 years, has ended, it may be appropriate to place the performances of Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley over the last three years in context: their record of first, sixth and third over that period is easily the best by an Irish duo.

Closest to them, predictably, were Christy O'Connor Snr and Harry Bradshaw, whose best three performances together were first (1958), tied 10th (1956) and 12th (1959). But on the two occasions they played together, Norman Drew and O'Connor were twice fourth - at Portmarnock in 1960 and in Puerto Rico the following year.

The only other duo to seriously rival either of our winning partnerships over three appearances were Eamonn Darcy and Ronan Rafferty, who were eighth in 1984, tied fourth in 1987 and tied eighth in 1991.

Best individual performances were second by Bradshaw (1958) and Christy O'Connor Jnr (1985), third by O'Connor Snr (1961) and David Feherty (1990), fourth by McGinley (1997) and fifth by Bradshaw (1955), O'Connor Snr (1960), Darren Clarke (1995) and Harrington (1997).

AT 84, American Ray Billows has been recalling a golfing career which gave him the unwanted distinction of losing three finals of the US Amateur Championship. And he does so with remarkable humility and good humour, suggesting that "every match I won was an upset".

Though he captured the New York State title seven times, his most precious golfing memory involved a defeat - by one hole to Ireland's Cecil Ewing. It happened during the 1938 Walker Cup at St Andrews, where he earned his place in the American team by being runner-up in the US Amateur that year.

"It was my greatest thrill in golf," he said. "We sailed over on the Aquitania. I didn't win my match and the team lost, but it was a wonderful experience. I stayed over to play in the British Open (at Royal St George's) and played pretty well for the 72 holes." Which, for those who doubted, proves that winning isn't everything, certainly where career amateurs are concerned.

IT took Gary Nicklaus nine years to achieve the breakthrough of winning a tour card at the US Qualifying School last Monday. But American observers felt it only fair to point out that no son has lived up to his father's golfing accomplishments since Young Tom Morris won four successive British Open titles, starting the year after his father, Old Tom, had won for a fourth time in 1867.

BETWEEN the team and individual titles, Tiger Woods officially earned $300,000 in the World Cup last weekend. Then there was his appearance fee of $1.1 million.

On Wednesday, victory in the PGA Grand Slam yielded $400,000 plus his standard $1 million appearance fee. Which means that his coffers were enhanced by $2.8 million in four days. And in terms of public appeal, there seems to be no doubt he's worth it.

Now comes the news that Buick will be paying up to $15 million to have their logo on Woods' golf bag over the next two years. It will be noted that, next to a hat or visor, the bag is considered to be most visible and attractive to corporate sponsors. It is expected that Woods will also promote another General Motors marque overseas.

Bidding got under way when the world number one signed a new, three-year deal with Titleist last month in which the company ceded the right to use him in advertisements. Apparently they were happy in the knowledge that he wouldn't be playing another company's clubs.

THIS day in golf history: On November 27th, 1966, Billy Casper captured the Vardon Trophy for a fourth time, having completed the season with a stroke-average of 70.27. He was also the US Tour's leading money winner, with four victories contributing to earnings of $121,945.

Teaser: A player consistently places his ball-marker approximately two inches behind the ball on the green. He says that he does so to ensure that he does not accidentally move the ball. Does such a procedure comply with the Rules?

Answer: No. A player who places a ball-marker two inches behind his ball cannot be considered to have marked the position of the ball with sufficient accuracy. Accordingly, each time he does so, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke, as provided in Rule 20-1, and must place the ball as near as possible to the spot from which it was lifted (Rule 20-3c). The player's action was unnecessary because Rule 20-1 states that no penalty is incurred if a ball is accidentally moved in the process of marking or lifting it under a rule.