Why British Masters scores a V for Victory
A week like no other at the Betfred British Masters ended at Close House with a touching gesture that might also have been unique.
In America, they’re too busy firing up their private jets and moving on to the next event to worry about what’s happening when the final group gets to the 18th.
Conscious there was no crowd to greet Italy’s Renato Paratore with the acclaim his victory deserved, a number of his fellow pros stayed behind and cheered as the final putt dropped. Then they formed a guard of honour and held up golf clubs to create a victory arch for him to walk underneath. Class.
On the PGA Tour, you can get rich beyond your wildest dreams and see your ambitions fulfilled — but it’s on the european Tour where you find your best mates.
It was a heartwarming end to an eventful week, one in which the Covid19 restrictions proved too much for Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston and left Lee westwood pining for his old way of life.
Perhaps it wasn’t surprising to see Robert Rock, Andy Sullivan and Dale whitnell cope best with the stringent protocols to emerge as the three leading Brits in tied fourth place.
All three had to graft before making it on tour, taking on other jobs at times to supplement their living and keep their fantasies alive.
Life in a bubble might well have felt a breeze by comparison.
It was an event like no other to report upon. It began a week beforehand when a home testing kit arrived by courier. Then another Covid-19 test on arrival, followed by a wait of more than four hours in a car while the result came through. Now you were in the bubble.
Interviews were conducted wearing face coverings. But at the end came that selfless gesture at the 18th. It made me think: ‘This is a proper tour and these are genuine sports people worth writing about.’