Umbrella kept rainy day provides cover

AS press officer for the Royal and Ancient, David Begg had the idea during the 1994 British Open at Turnberry, of having leading players sign an umbrella. It hardly mattered that he had no immediate use for it. But the notion of donating it to a particularly worthy cause, gained special appeal when he noted that the eventual signatories had amassed no fewer than 60 major titles between them.

Among them were John Daly (1995 British Open), Corey Pavin (1995 US Open), Tom Lehman (1996 British Open) and Mark Brooks (1996 USPGA Championship), who had yet to make the breakthrough at that time. And the list also included Nick Price, who gained a spectacular triumph at Turnberry that year.

Thoughts of Price and his famous caddie, Jeff "Squeaky" Medlen, came to Begg as he prepared to travel to Chateau Elan for this week's Sarazen World Open. Suddenly aware that the rainy day had arrived, he packed the blue and white umbrella.

Begg remembered that Price was in the process of organising a charity event to help cover the medical expenses of his caddie, who has contracted leukaemia. In fact Medlen's doctors are still searching for a more compatible bone marrow transplant donor for the impending operation than his mother, who has a "five out of six" compatibility factor.

As it happens, Price is playing in the Sarazen. And for Medlen, it is the last event he is working this year. In fact it will probably be his last tournament before undergoing surgery in January. "I'm feeling good," he said yesterday, with typical optimism.

Meanwhile, his latest benefactor said: "I'm delighted to be able to do this for Squeaky who has become a great favourite with golfers and galleries throughout the world." Begg added: "The umbrella is really something special. All the great names are there - Nicklaus, Player, Watson, Faldo, Seve, Langer and Olazabal. And, of course, there is Squeaky's boss, Nick Price."

Finally, this week, Begg added the piece de resistance. With the signature of 94 year old Gene Sarazen, he had the first of only four players to win all four professional majors. Indeed the only member of that exclusive quartet missing from what has now become Squeaky's umbrella, is Ben Hogan.

Gene Sarazen on putting: "You have to putt to win today. I played 36 holes with Harry Vardon in 1923 and I have never seen anyone putt as badly as he did. He was a terrible putter. (Walter) Hagen was a great putter, right up to his last days. (Bobby) Jones was a great putter, but his stroke wouldn't have lasted. Too much backswing."

Arising out of a recent piece here about the new East Clare course at Bodyke, Joe Redmond, a Dubliner living in Enniscorthy, "wrote a fascinating letter. In it, he described his early days as a very junior" official in the Scariff branch of the National Bank.

"Hurling, handball and drinking porter were the main local activities in Scariff, but all changed for me when my manager was transferred and replaced by a younger man who happened to be a golf enthusiast," he wrote. "The new manager decided to introduce a new pastime and with the help of his staff, two local doctors, a few garda and some businessmen, he formed a committee to start a mini golf course.

A local farmer agreed to let him have use of a 10 acre field, provided he could leave his cattle and sheep grazing there. One of the doctors, who was a member of Lahinch GC designed a five hole course. Willing hands made light work of mowing fairways and cutting greens, though the local youngsters had great fun jeering the sergeant as he cut square patches in the middle of a field.

"Golf eventually got under way and was enjoyed by many people, some of them from Bodyke. I had a rather bizarre experience while hitting a few halls around with a local merchant's daughter.

"From badly sliced drive, the ball headed straight for a large cow grazing about 100 yards in front of us, to the right. As it happened, it hit the animal low and hard under the rail and disappeared. I was very embarrassed but my partner remarked: `You're going to have a very interesting second shot'."

He concluded: "Alas, our golfing manager was left for only a short while and after he was transferred, hurling and handball took over once again in Scariff. But I can't help wondering if the seeds of the new course at Bodyke are only flowering now having been planted 1936."

Gene Sarazen has been recalling life with his late wife Mary, who died about died eight years ago. By his own admission he was "looking for a girl who was well educated so that she could educate me." Whatever his motives, the attraction was clearly mutual, given that they were together 62 years.

Regarding married life, Sarazen takes particular delight in a story dating back to 1934 when Mary "had been working hard on her (golf) game, and was improving." He went on: "That's the year I played in the US Open at Merion and lost by a stroke to Olin Dutra. I took the train back to New York and Mary met me at the station. Her first words were: `Shot an 84 yesterday'."

The memory of the moment caused Sarazen to laugh heartily, saying: "Here I'd lost the US Open by a stroke and she couldn't wait to tell me she'd shot the best round of her life. No sympathy for me."

It will come as no surprise to observers of Vijay Singh that he loves to practise his swing in hotel rooms. "I normally rearrange the furniture when I first get there so I can have enough room to practise properly," says the hard working, 6ft 2ins Fijian. "I haven't taken any divots out of a carpet yet, but I have taken a few chunks out of a ceiling."

The only time Singh resists the urge to practise is when his wife and son are travelling with him. "That can be kind of dangerous," he acknowledged. "The rooms usually are not big enough for three people, including a guy my size swinging a golf club."

David Feherty has a full schedule here this week - but it doesn't involve hitting golf balls. In fact the former Ryder Cup player has not had a game in eight weeks and turned down sponsors invitations to three USPGA Tour events during that period.

As it happens, he played only two tournaments in the US this season for an extremely modest return of $3,060, to be languishing in 342nd position in the final money list. Europe was more rewarding. Feherty's earnings from 17 events, including runner up position in the South African PGA Championship, earned him £71,912 for 91st place in the final Order of Merit.

Meanwhile, to American observers, he is at Chateau Elan as a television personality. Which explains his role of master of ceremonies at the official pro am dinner here on Wednesday evening. Then, from Thursday, he became a key member of the television commentating team for the tournament proper.

"The odd thing is that I don't really miss playing," he admitted bemusedly. Whatever his options, however, Feherty is unlikely to have any problem finding gainful employment. The word on the grapevine here is that the CBS Network - Gary McCord et al - are prepared to offer him a lucrative contract for next season.

Visitors to Valderrama for the Volvo Masters last weekend, have returned with horror stories about accommodation for next year's Ryder Cup. For instance, a four bedroom villa within a 15 minute car journey of the course, starts at £10,000 for the week, rising rapidly to around £25,000.

And the estimate of driving time would he somewhat optimistic, given that it is based on current traffic on the Costa del Sol which will be rather different when an estimated 25,000 fans from these islands, descend on the area. Now, if they had chosen Ireland . . .

TEASER: A and B are partners in a fourball match. A's hall is closer to the hole than any other ball and it is B's turn to play. A-B decide that A shall putt before B (Rule 30-3c). However, in doing so, A would be standing on B's line of putt or the line of putt of an opponent. What is the ruling?

Answer: A would he entitled to putt first even if he would he standing on B's line. Rule 30-3c takes precedence over Rule 16-1a which prohibits touching the line of putt. A would also he entitled to putt first if he would be standing on an opponents line of putt. However, it would be a sporting gesture by A-B if they relinquished A's right to putt first in these circumstances.