The day ‘Hutch’ beat Player

DENIS Hutchinson, South Africa’s “Voice of Golf” will – as usual – be part of the television commentary team at the Joburg Open beginning at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington tomorrow.

And, in between analysing the swings and mindsets of today’s young guns with his vast knowledge of the game, “Hutch” will no doubt think back to a famous moment of his own at this very club, way back in 1959, when on the East Course he became the last amateur to win the South African Open, beating a young pro by the name of Gary Player – who was 23 at the time – by a stroke in a thrilling last day battle.

“In those days we played two rounds on the last day and I was paired with Gary who was leading after a couple of 69s, with me five behind him.

“There was a huge amount of people following us, much like the massive crowd that turned out to see Rory McIlroy in the SA Open at Glendower last month.

“There was no TV in those days, so people would come in their droves to watch the play live. It was March the 14th which happened to be my 27th birthday, and my Mom and Dad were down from Rhodesia to watch me play so it was a special day.

“Anyway, I shot 69 in the morning and Gary 70 so now I was four back. But in the afternoon he went two over par through the first three holes whereas I birdied four holes in a row from the third, and then – bloody hell – missed a fourand-a-half footer at the seventh which would have made it five straight birdies.

“Anyway, now the game was on and at the last we were level-pegging, both facing longish birdie putts. I knocked mine to about five feet, not too good, and Gary to about three feet.

“But whereas I rolled that five-footer in for a par, he missed his and I was the champion and what a great feeling it was. I mean, you don’t beat Gary Player every day of your life.”

This week may be the Joburg Open at Royal, but Hutchinson hasn’t missed a South African Open at the club, first as a player and then as a commentator, since that 1959 triumph.

In fact “Hutch” hasn’t missed a single SA Open since 1950. He played in the tournament every year until the early 1980s, and since then he’s been a commentator every year – just as he is at Royal every year for the Joburg Open.

The year 1959 was particularly significant for Hutchinson who, playing No 1 in singles and in foursomes (with Jimmy Boyd), was unbeaten in leading South Africa to victory in the Commonwealth Trophy, also at Royal, against Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and Canada.

And it was in 1959 that he joined the paid ranks, and would go on to win over 15 times as a professional.

“Hutch” turns 85 on March 14 but his mind is still sharp and he’s still a pretty useful golfer.

“I play off the forward tees now but most days I can break 80 (and therefore beat his age),” he says.

“I’d like to encourage more of us older set to use the forward tees. Then you enjoy the game more and come off the course happy. Why play off the back markers and be miserable, after having your brains beaten out?”