There’s life in old dogs yet

THE golden oldies could prevail in Kent – with their experience of course management providing a huge edge. Phil Mickelson turned back the clock to his glory days with a staggering victory in May at Kiawah Island to land the US PGA at the age of 50. And TV pundit Nick Dougherty believes veteran stars could shine as brightly this week at Royal St George’s, the venue which saw Darren Clarke (above) win in 2011, at the age of 42. Dougherty said: “If ever there was a tournament where one of the more senior professionals on the circuit could win, it’s this one. “It rewards patience and intelligence, in terms of how you manage your ball, your game and your emotions. “And that’s one of the things that makes golf a great sport. It transcends the physical activity to become a mental one. This course in particular is a stern mental test.

“It’s about plotting your away around. If you find yourself in one of those pot bunkers then you are going to have to take your medicine.

“It can reward the person who scrambles well – even the American players love it. You’d might think they’d resent it, given the fact that over there if you have a bad shot, you know exactly which club to use for your next one. Here, there are no second guesses.

“It’s not just about being the best driver, a good iron player, good from the rough or how well you can play in the wind or how good you are on the greens. It’s how you blend all those elements. It’s a nod to everything.

“We’re so excited to have about 32,000 people a day there, too.

“We’re doing the Open Zone and Skyscope – the 4D image where you move around the player to see all different aspects of the swing.

“The players have seen it and it’s been so successful. They love it.”

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