Watson backs Open Championship bid
GOLF
FORMER USA Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson last week put his weight behind attempts to bring the Open Championship to Royal Porthcawl, writes Tony Poole.
It came as the Lock’s Common club once more did a superb job in presenting the Rolex Senior Championship won for a third time by German Bernhard Langer.
Course manager Ian Kinley won praise for course presentation, as it took everything that adverse weather could throw at it.
Watson said before the tournament got underway: “Royal Porthcawl is one of the great courses in world golf.
“It’s everything you want in a links course; I simply love playing it and I have nothing but the highest regard for the club.
“And I have been lobbying hard for the Claret Jug to come to Royal Porthcawl.’’
But for this to happen, Royal Porthcawl would have to make it on to the Open Rota which currently contains 10 links courses.
The game’s governing body – the Royal & Ancient (R & A) - has in the past cast doubt on Royal Porthcawl staging an Open, owing to golf course logistics and infrastructure in the town.
To ease congestion during the two Senior Open Championships that the club has hosted, players teed off on the 18th hole.
But while the R & A seem not for turning, they have in recent times had a major change of heart regarding Royal Portrush.
The Northern Ireland club last staged a Major back in 1951 and though in 2012 the R & A casted doubt on it ever again staging another Open, two years later they agreed to take the 2019 championship there.
But last month the Open at Royal Birkdale attracted a record crowd of 235,000 for an event staged in England only.
But with the Senior Open in Royal Porthcawl having twice catered for attendances a quarter below that level, it places things in perspective.
It means the politicians will have to work on it, as they played a part in the 2010 Ryder Cup going to Celtic Manor in Newport.
Royal Porthcawl, the Welsh answer to Pebble Beach in California, has so much going for it in sheer beauty that the Welsh golfing hierarchy must believe the R & A are for turning.