September, 2015 | Peter Stone Golf

Entering the Confessional

Those who’ve read my scribbling on golf through the years would know I am passionate about the game, its history and its integrity but it is time to enter the confessional.

As a school house sports captain at Bendigo High in 1961, I had nothing but scorn for those who chose to play golf on our weekly sports afternoon rather than engage in more vigorous and athletic pursuits like Australian Rules football, cricket, tennis, swimming, athletics, anything really but not golf.

Golf, I thought, was a game for folk after they’d played “real” sport, an activity easily pursued when their bodies could take no more of the aches and pains of more physical sports. Then, after golf, there was always lawn bowls.

The Masters

Augusta National and The Masters folklore has it “the shot that was heard around the world” – Gene Sarazen’s albatross at the 15^th in the final round of the 1935 Masters that ultimately tied him with Craig Wood who Sarazen then defeated him in a 36-hole playoff the following day – was the making of what is now the most-watched golf tournament on the planet.

In truth, according to five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson who played the Masters eight times in the 1950s and 1960s with a best finish of fifth in 1957, is that’s a myth.

Jason Day

Hard to believe, isn’t it, that Jason Day who is now such a household name in Australia, especially so since the events of last Sunday when he walked away from Royal Melbourne with $US1.5 million, has only played 12 professional tournaments in his homeland since 2004, five as an amateur.

It was almost a case of “do not forsake me” e from the movie High Noon, or “when will I see you again … will I ever see you again”, to use another song, with the 26-year-old from Queensland.

He was here for the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne and the Open at The Lakes two years ago but then went missing again last year, remaining at home in Ohio with his American wife Ellie and now 16-month-old son Dash.