Some greats draw a line in the sand

CADDIE'S ROLE:The greats of the game are often more reluctant to give any help or tips to those they regard as serious contenders, writes COLIN BYRNE

MOST PLAYERS have swing coaches, some even have short-game teachers that specialise from a 100 yards and down. On top of the expert tutors, who seem to follow the players around like shadows in this new era of professional golf, players can learn greatly from each other.

I remember Billy Foster telling us a story about when he caddied for Seve Ballesteros.

They were at the British Open and practising around the chipping green. Seve of course was the best short-game exponent in the world and there is still no one who could match his prowess around the greens.

Tom Kite, who was still a great player at the time, if somewhat fading, had been watching Seve hit shots from the bunker. He had his inimitable way of hunkering down low in the sand, digging in with his feet and pulling at the crease on the left leg of his trousers in order to get even lower and consolidate his set position. He was a genius and you would often have a gaggle of players mesmerised by his display of sand shots.

But like many great players with innate talent, he was either unaware of what it was he actually did to get such control of the ball from the sand or reluctant to impart his knowledge to other competitors.

So Kite got into the same trap and started hitting shots and asked Seve to have a look at him.

Seve watched pensively as he continuously clipped balls off the links sand on to the green. Finally, after a bucket of balls, he gave Kite his assessment of his bunker action. He said in his distinctive but slightly-flawed English: “Tom your set-up is perfect, no, slightly open with bent knees,” he continued, “the angle of the club is good, no. The club enters the sand perfectly well, no, and hits the sand with a nice sound like you use the bounce well Tom, no. I think you are in good shape Senor Kite,” he called as he walked away towards the driving range.

Kite waved back in appreciation. Then well out of earshot “El Gran Senor” turned to his caddie, Billy, and said: “That was a rubbish action Billy, no.”

I also recall Fred Couples going over to a great player at the time on the range in an event in California and inquiring about how he learned how to swing the club shorter than he did when he started out. Fred still over-swings on the way back. His eyes lit up as the player started talking, Fred thought he was about to receive an invaluable tip from one of the greats.

The player kept hitting balls with his new, shortened swing, tantalising Couples and then looked at him and simply said: “You know I just decided to swing the club shorter one day and that was it, it went shorter.”

Couples sloped off, smiling and shaking his head knowing it wasn’t going to be as simple as asking in order to find the answer to his life-long problem.

Not all players are as reticent as the above, but I do think that the greats are more reluctant to give any help or tips to those they regard as serious contenders.

When my player, Alex Noren, had a bad day in the bunkers during the third round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship last week, we started our post-round practice session in the practice bunker.

As I was watching my man splashing sand somewhat dejectedly I remarked to one of my colleagues that it must be the only sport where players spend over four hours in competition and then go straight out and practice again.

Anyway, Alex needed to figure out his bunker play.

As luck would have it probably the best player unofficially elected as the undisputed short-game guru, the west Australian Brett Rumford, was practising his chipping close to Alex.

They started chatting and finally Rumford ended up in the bunker for about 45 minutes explaining in detail his theories on sand play. When Brett hunkers down in the bunker, it is rare these days that he doesn’t draw a gathering from the playing and coaching ranks and holds them in awe with his continuous display of bunker wizardry.

As he drew lines in the sand, set his sand wedge low and explained the angle he wanted the club to descend towards the ball and the arc he wanted it to follow, a small gathering assembled around the bunker to observe the sand specialist at work.

I talked to Camilo Villegas as he looked on in amazement at the consistent quality of trap shots the Australian was exhibiting. Another coach came along and explained that Rumford’s technique was as close to Seve’s as he has ever seen and went on to say that he is probably the only one who has been able to explain what Seve actually did, because due to choice or otherwise, Seve never did explain what he was doing in a trap, he just did it.

No matter how many coaches the players have, sometimes it’s better to absorb tips directly from your fellow players.

Depending on their characters some will even impart their invaluable knowledge with an informal lesson.

What they say to their caddie out of earshot is a matter for themselves.