Sandy has earned the right to play at The Open
THERE have been calls for Sandy Lyle to step aside from The Open, but I don’t advocate that view.
It was disappointing to see the big man finish dead last at Royal Troon after shooting rounds of 85 and 78 on the opening two days.
But as long he is still eligible, he should keep playing.
When you win The Open, you win the right to come back every year until you are 60. That is one of the prizes for lifting the Claret Jug. It is the same whether you are Tom Watson or Todd Hamilton.
This is what makes The Open different from run-of-the-mill tournaments. These former Open Champions are not denying a spot to others.
It is part of the history and tradition of golf ’s most-famous event that these winners return every year. They have all shaped the tournament’s history.
That is what Sandy did when he won at Royal St George’s in 1985. It was a huge moment for British golf.
Spectators still want to watch Sandy and show their appreciation for what he did in his pomp.
He’s 58 now, and he will be able to bow out at Carnoustie in 2018. It’s fitting that he will bid farewell in Scotland.
While Sir Nick Faldo waved goodbye over the Swilken Burn at St Andrews last year, Sandy can do the same over the Barry Burn.
I remember playing a practice round at The Open with the legendary Gene Sarazen way back in 1970. It was one of the proudest moments of my career to be in the company of one of golf ’s all-time greats, who had lifted the Claret Jug in 1932.
Gene was 68 at the time, but that didn’t bother me. Three years later, he was getting a hole-in-one at the Postage Stamp to create another indelible memory.
As with most Opens, the first few days at Troon have been dominated by the weather. We’ve gone from dead calm sunshine to heavy wind and rain – with everything in between.
There was Phil Mickelson almost shooting a 62 one afternoon, and the whole field struggling to break par the following afternoon.
But that’s the beauty of links golf and The Open. You expect to have difficult weather at some point and it’s about how you cope.
Frailties in your game are exposed. Bubba Watson struggled with his high ball flight. Jordan Spieth has looked uncomfortable on the greens when he has been buffeted by the winds.
Occasionally you have years where the draw has a massive say in the final outcome.
It was like that at St Andrews in 2010 for Louis Oosthuizen when he had the more favourable conditions and built up a fivestroke lead at halfway.
That gave him the opportunity to win, which he grabbed with both hands. It is the same for all the leading players today as they chase glory.
Only your name will be written on the Claret Jug – not what time you teed off or what weather you encountered.