Lefty Takes New Open Approach

Bones, Lefty and Butch

Phil Mickelson is making a fresh start in his approach to links golf after 17 attempts have yielded one third place at Royal Troon in 2004 and a host of lowly and disappointing finishes. “I’m entering this year kind of like a fresh start. I’m not going to worry about past performances and I’m going to try to learn and enjoy the challenge of playing links golf. I don’t want to look back on past performances that haven’t been what I expect. But I feel excited and kind of reinvigorated to try to learn this style of golf and play it effectively.” He admitted that during today’s practice round he had played terribly. “But I really enjoyed it,” he insisted.

With a strong wind scouring the course he hit a driver at the 243-yard par-three 11th hole. “I busted a driver and came up short,” he said. “It was interesting to see a drive on 17 go 380 yards and a drive on 11 go 210. The air is so thick and the wind is so strong and it shows the importance of trajectory and flight. I think it’s a fun challenge whether I play well or not.”

After the thick rough and narrow fairways of 2003 he believes the course is now a much fairer test. “I’m very excited about the way the course is playing and the way it’s set up. It was really fun today. I wouldn’t say there’s an absence of rough, but it’s certainly not the wedge-out thick rough that we had in ‘03.

“To me the subtleties of this golf course come through now that we’re able to keep playing and not having to wedge back to the fairway. The first hole is a great example of what I see throughout the rest of the golf course. There are three bunkers in front of the green that you have to clear and the front of the green is pitched away pretty severely so you have to be in the fairway to get the ball stopped. If you’re coming out of the rough and it doesn’t have any spin, there’s no way you’ll stop the ball on the green.

“In 2003 the rough was so thick that you didn’t have a shot if you missed the fairway. You had to wedge back to the fairway so everyone was hitting from the fairway essentially even though only a third of the field managed to hit the fairway. Because of that the subtleties and the nuances and what really makes this course strategic didn’t come through the way they are this week and now its starting to really shine. I know the guys are really starting to enjoy it. I know I am and I’m starting to appreciate the golf course now.”

The man who has won three Masters and a USPGA Championship has no concerns over the lack of American success in the Majors over the past two years — five have now passed without the Stars and Stripes being raised — and he puts it down to the depth of talent that is now so evident internationally. “The quality of play now on the international circuit is some of the best I’ve seen. That probably explains it.”

Tee times

Golf Loses the Voice of Alex Hay

Alex Hay, who has died, aged 78, was a much respected Scottish PGA professional who rose from Club Professional to Managing Director at Woburn Golf and Country Club and also forged one of the most recognisable commentary partnerships in sport alongside Peter Alliss as part of the BBC golf team.

Hay was born in Edinburgh and educated at Musselburgh Grammar School. He joined Ben Sayers as an apprentice golf club maker and then became assistant to Bill Shankland, with whom Tony Jacklin, the 1969 Open Champion and 1970 US Open champion, started his career, at Potters Bar in Hertfordshire.

Hay, who qualified as a PGA in 1952, enjoyed spells as club professional at East Herts and Dunham Forest before moving to Ashridge Golf Club where he held a similar position for 13 years. In 1977 he joined Woburn Golf and Country Club as head PGA club professional and later became Managing Director.

George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We were very sad to learn that Alex had passed away. Alex was a true trail-blazer in that he made the move from club professional to Managing Director at Woburn Golf Club which hosted no fewer than 16 times the British Masters on The European Tour International Schedule. We will remember him for his passion, desire and dedication and on behalf of everyone at The European Tour, I offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Ann, and their sons, Graham and David.”

Hay was co-presenter with his great friend Peter Alliss of BBC’s coverage of golf, including The Open Championship and The Ryder Cup, between 1978 and 2004. Together they enjoyed a special rapport and brought humour and emotion to the commentary box in addition to a deep knowledge of the game for which they were much respected.

Alliss said: “It is a very sad day. I’ve known Alex some 35 years. I first met him before he was at Dunham Forest and have watched him develop, both as a teacher, as an artist – he was also a very good drawer and painter. I watched him as a professional at Woburn which he made into a really fantastic club.

“I greatly enjoyed working with Alex on television – he had a great sense of humour and we complemented each other well.

“Alex will be sorely missed by the golf community. He had a wonderful life – he said to me ‘Peter I’m 78, I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve been round the world three or four times without ever having to put my hand in pocket, I’ve met vagabonds and princes, now I’m not going to lose my hair and my good looks.’

“He went out with the greatest dignity. I shall miss him enormously.”

Hay, who was also a Ryder Cup referee and an entertaining after-dinner speaker, wrote several golf instruction books, many concentrating on the techniques of the swing, and he played a key role in the drawings used in the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland’s training manual. He died on July 11 after a short illness and leaves a wife, Ann, and two sons, Graham and David.

Ian Poulter, who is attached to the Woburn Golf and Country Club, commented: “This is a very sad day. Alex Hay was the voice of golf for decades and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”