I’ve seen golf in the desert and very occasionally in the snow but in the middle of the swamp is a first. Among the expensive vanity projects constructed for these Olympics, draining 18 holes worth of liquid land and turning it into a course designed by American architect Gil Hanse has to be among the most needless.
It would have been cheaper yesterday to bus every player, caddy and fan up to Florida and let them loose. For all the regular street protests that we’ve come across at the Games, none has been asking the economically-challenged government for better putting surfaces and a little extra rough down the fairways. “What do we want? Better pin positions! When do we want it? Now!” At least, you’d hope, the sand came free.
But still for every hater there’s a lover and the golfer’s golf legend Gary Player was a man with so much excitement that you feared he might simply explode. “What a job you’ve done,” he said in an enthusiastic address to the troops. “Look at the greens. They’re like a snooker table.” Don’t tell Ronnie O’Sullivan. He’ll only want a shot. Even if 147 just wouldn’t do.
Despite all the chatter about whether men’s golf deserves its place in the schedule, redemption in the form of Justin Rose came along. Record TV ratings, Gary mentioned. This is a man who knows what sells. And has been a sense that the female faces of the sport want to take advantage of this spot in the shop window and reach out to those who wouldn’t know their Charley Hull from their Greta Grimsby.
We even had a smattering of Scots lining the ropes at the first as Catriona Matthew attempted to keep her medal hopes intact heading into the penultimate round. It didn’t go to plan. “I didn’t give them much to cheer about,” North Berwick’s lone Olympian declared. “It’s nice to have other people out watching. It’s just a shame it was such a poor day for me.”
A six-over par 77 left the former British Open champion – caddied by husband Graeme - one over for the tournament but 12 shots by the close behind Korean leader Inbee Park. And the 46-year-old was left to rue a triple bogey on the 12th that all but ended her hopes.
“Obviously I’m disappointed,” she said. “My tee shot just flew off the face and flew out and I still had 200 yards to the flag. I took another three from there. You take that out and it was ok but it kind of deflated me. I was just a bit out of it after that hole. I was struggling after that.”
British team-mate Hull saw a short put on the 18th rim out to complete the day with 74 that kept her in share of fifth at five under, three shots off the medals going into the last day. “You search for first place and if you fall short you still win a medal,” she reasoned. Unless you disappear into the swamp, of course.
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