Tim Clark wins the Australian Open Golf Circus & Sideshow
December 15th, 2008 by Doogs
Tim Clark had given away his hat, done the post game interview and was packed and ready to go home. Mat Goggin was also ready to line up a few beers at the 19th. Kiwi David Smail was coasting to victory with a 3 shot lead late in the final round before crashing (some call in choking) and dropping four shots in two holes. Suddenly Clark and Goggin were in a playoff and it was Clark who won on the first playoff hole, Goggin again the bridesmaid.
So ended a rain soaked and generally lack lustre Australian Open. The greats used to play the Open, Nicklaus, Player, Palmer supported by the best of the locals. Now we need to pay for an international player gauranteed to attract crowds and media for all the wrong reasons (well it certainly isnt his golf) plus one of our top players prefers to stay ‘home’ in the US to get over a sore knee that wouldnt have kept him out of a ‘real’ open. Robert Allenby who has been a great supported of his national open is justifyably furious. The current powers that be are trying to hype up the Open with party holes and entertainment using the Australian Open tennis model. Main problem being, the tennis already has true major status and attracts the best of the best. The party atmosphere is just a plus, not the big drawcard.
Hopefully the Australian Open doesnt turn into a Circus, as it has in Gatlinburg Tennesee
The sad fact is that good players need to be attracted by appearance fees, how about trying to get a top 10 player from Europe, Asia and US to get a world representation. The decision to lock the Open to Sydney for the next few years is also short sighted, many players want to play the best Australia has to offer, and that includes Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne and the other Melbourne sandbelts.
No easy solution, but hopefully the Australian Open doesnt continue down the Circus strategy.
Robert needs to start playing faster to help matters. It wasn’t a surprise to see his group of two, a hole behind all day. He was definitely the slowest golfer out on course.
The golf was excellent in windy conditions yesterday and 11 top 100 players wasn’t too bad. I reckon one tournament per state isn’t a bad deal. Especially as the Masters will rotate through the sandbelt courses. It should ensure good fields in the Masters each year you’d think.
Maybe I should play Kingston Heath myself and get a good look at it…..maybe next week!
“Precious” Robert Allenby is furious? Who gives a rats?! Just when golf is trying to make a post-Norman popularity comeback Allenby gets on his sanctimonious high horse to criticise the very hand that feeds him (in Australia anyway).
This from a bloke who;
This bloke is an irritating anachronism. He does all this great charity work for cancer (Challenge Foundation) and then demonstrates his churlishness in other ways. Rob, I look forward to you promoting your own golf tournament and seeing what initiatives you bring to the sport that will capture the public’s attention.
Rob, here’s a flash. The game is bigger then you. Go and count your admirable stash of loot and let those with more intelligence administer and promote the game while you do what you do best (finish regularly in the Top 10).