Five lessons from Lytham

Sunday 29 July 2012

1 GOLF'S AUTHORITIES have been asleep at the wheel on the matter of broomhandle and belly putters.

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When broomhandles first appeared almost 25 years ago, concern was not limited to the sport's dyed-in-the wool traditionalists, but the R&A and USGA failed to act decisively at the time.

Now they have to. Three of the past four Majors have been won by players using long putters and more than 25% of the players at Lytham had them in their bag. R&A chief executive Peter Dawson indicated last week that a decision was likely this year, but with so many out there already it is likely to be a fudge to allow players time to adapt to the new rules.

2 TIGER WOODS is nearly there. The 14-times Major winner paid the price for his early conservatism when he left himself too much to do on the final day. His chances of making a push for the title were then lost in the greenside bunker at the sixth, where he ran up a calamitous 7. But, aside from a couple of loose drives, there was an all-round precision about Woods' game that suggested a return to the winner's circle is not far off. Seasoned Tiger watchers also commented that there is a new confidence in his bearing, if not in every part of his game. His 15th Major looks more a matter of when than if.3 THE OPEN needs to get out of its comfort zone. No new course has been added to its rota for 35 years and there is a same-old feel to some of the venues. Royal Lytham was a worthy track, but there is not much to be said for the surrounding area. Well, not unless you like faded Lancastrian seaside resorts. The case for taking the Open to Royal Portrush is overwhelming, However, the R&A have made it clear they are not prepared to take on the challenge of hosting their tournament. Where there's a will, there ought to be a way, but you get the sense that they would prefer the quiet life and carry on as they are. They owe it to the game to try harder.4 STEVE WILLIAMS, pictured, is clearly not the genius caddie that his reputation suggests. Carrying the clubs for 13 of Tiger Woods' 14 Majors, the irascible New Zealander was hailed as the best bagman on earth – not least by Woods himself – and many felt his presence would be a huge benefit to Adam Scott during the final round last Sunday.However, Scott's four-bogey finish gave the lie to that idea. Just at the point where everyone thought Williams would be a calming influence on the Australian, Scott went into meltdown and Williams was powerless to help. When Williams left Woods he was immediately snapped up by Scott; next time he moves on he may have a longer wait for a job.5 ERNIE ELS won the Open. A statement of the obvious, perhaps, but one that still needs to be made. All the talk last Sunday was of how Scott had lost it coming down the stretch, but Els was far more than the lucky beneficiary of another player's misfortune.When the wind got up for the final round, the South African's class shone through. His final round was a masterclass, and it was all the more impressive that he saved his best for last, covering the back nine in a four-under-par 32. The oldest and truest aphorism in golf? It's not how, but how much.Alasdair Reid

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