Alan McDermaid
Well, that was quite a Sunday over in Los Angeles as the Northern Trust (aka L.A.) Open reached an exciting conclusion. A classic course, possibly the best risk and reward short par 4 in golf (the 10th), and three of America’s golfing heavyweights slugging it out for the title. Add to that not one, but two, monster playoff forcing birdies on the 72nd hole then all the talking points must be about the golf, surely?
Wrong. Step forward Mr Keegan Bradley and his overactive salivatory glands.
The electronic airwaves were a-buzz with chatter regarding Bradley and his propensity for spitting. To most a disgusting and unnecessary habit, although perhaps viewed with more distaste on the china teacup and saucer side of the Atlantic. It even forced a tweeted apology from Bradley, who admitted it was a reflex habit he had to break. “Hi, my name is Keegan… and I’m a gobber” is not quite what he said, but is more or less how his admission came across.
Although this “incident” has masked a more glaring atrocity from the final round on Sunday. Namely, the pace of play, with the final 3 ball taking more than 5 hours to complete their round. The PGA Tour have a policy and penalty process in place, but yet when was the last time a player was penalised strokes for slow play? Not in my living memory, and I’m the wrong side of forty.
Is it such a big issue? Golf is not a race, these are professionals who rely on playing well in order to make a living. It is their job, when all is said and done. However, if the glacial pace of play is turning fans away from golf then there is clearly a problem. It cannot be unreasonable to insist that a three ball take no more than 4 and a half hours, with penalty strokes applied if exceeded. It will only take one or two penalties to be enforced before the players fall into line.
Mind you, modern technology does provide the armchair fan with the perfect answer. Those of us who can digitally record programmes or pause live TV need only tune in a couple of hours after the leaders have tee’d off, and then skip forward through the ad breaks, boring bits (yes, Simon Holmes, that’s you) and delays (such as greens being mopped after the fluid-rich Bradley has passed through). Time it right, and you will have caught up with play as the leaders reach the last hole. It’s an art I’ve mastered over the past year, although I’m not sure the sponsors of the tours and the sports channels will be impressed if this approach is universally adopted.
Anyway, much to look forward to this week with the start of the WGC Matchplay tournament, with Luke Donald defending his title. Let’s just hope the talking points next week are all about the golf once more.
