Botham and Co ready to ‘help’ the pros at Dunhill Links
ST ANDREWS, Scotland: Former England Test cricket legend Sir Ian Botham will be 15 not out when he tees up in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews next week, having played every year since it began in its current format in 2001. “I’ve enjoyed every single one; every one has been different,” he says.
As you would expect from someone as competitive as he is, Botham has made the cut four times. And he is hoping to make it five this year.
“I’m not there just to walk round a golf course and look at the wild life, I am there to try and help my pro, because it’s worth money to the pro if we do well as a team. I am really looking forward to it. And anything I can contribute is a bonus,” he says of the separate pro-am event in which celebrities from the sport, business and entertainment world team up with the top professionals.
Australian Shane Warne is a witness to Botham’s determination. Although they never played Test cricket against each other, he has been in the same group many times in the Alfred Dunhill Links. “Both of us are super competitive, perhaps I was a bit too competitive as a cricketer. Beefy’s certainly very competitive on the golf course and if a putt needs to be made, he’ll bloody well make it.”
And son Liam Botham said: “It’s always been a competition with him throughout my life. He’s never let me win, so it’s very satisfying now when I beat him at golf. But it’s also fun playing with him.”
Liam also recalls, with a mischievous smile, another moment several years ago when his Dad sliced his shot from the 1st tee on the Old Course over the out of bounds fence. “It was like a shot over extra cover and was heading for the beach when it hit the middle of a giant TV screen. Knowing his luck, it bounced back onto the fairway and he made a par.
“He would probably have said his grip was wet – when you are playing with Dad it’s never his fault. It’s either a bad lie, the caddie has given him the wrong line, the wrong club, or the wind’s off the wrong direction. Whatever he does, whether it’s shooting, fishing, golf, it’s never his fault. It’s always something else. We always take the mickey,” added Liam.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has a unique format. With a prize fund of US$5-m (R70-m), all 168 professionals and their amateur playing partners play each of three courses – the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns – over the first three days with the final round being contested over the Old Course.
The camaraderie between professionals and amateurs and between the amateurs themselves, makes it a unique event, says Warne. “The Dunhill is the best week of the year. It’s the best invite you can get. It’s a fantastic tournament. I think the professionals actually enjoy playing with us. They really enjoy the week too and try to help us as well.”
And Botham sr adds: “I have had loads of special moments. Every one of the 15 years produces something new. I have played with people like Ian Woosnam, David Howell, John Daly – that was fun – and David Horsey (a recent winner on the European Tour in Denmark).”
With so many cricketers in the field (Kevin Pietersen makes his debut this year), is there a golfing equivalent of sledging? “Not really,” says Warne. “At the Dunhill we sort of support each other because of the pressure cooker you’re playing in with the pros. You don’t want to embarrass yourself so you encourage each other.” And Liam adds: “You’d probably call it banter, rather than sledging.”
The Championship is a celebration of links golf at its finest, and Sir Ian rates all three courses highly.
“Everybody loves St Andrews, walking over the Swilken Burn, just the history of St Andrews makes that special. Carnoustie is always the toughest course, where you always hope and pray you get a nice still day, and then Kingsbarns ... it’s only been there 15 years, but it looks as if it’s been there 150.”
How will he do this year? “I don’t play as much as I would like to, particularly this year with England playing the Ashes, so my TV work has been pretty full on and I’m playing off a 10 (handicap) at the moment. Frankly I could do with a few more strokes.”
Liam agrees. “Dad doesn’t really practise. He might be better if he did. His warm-up is a coffee with a small dram in it. If Dad drives the ball well then he’s OK, because he’s got a very good short game. It’s the atmosphere he just loves. He seems to play better golf the more people there are around him. He thrives in that kind of setting. As a former sportsman, I think that’s one of the things you miss. Around the 17th and the 18th on the Old Course with the crowds, I think he gets that buzz again.”
Sir Ian is a renowned walker for charity and his walks have raised millions. His latest – “Beefy walking the Rainbow Nation” – takes place in South Africa in December. He said: “I’m looking forward to it and will be supporting two local charities in South Africa. One of the greatest persons I’ve ever had time with was Nelson Mandela and he has a hospital over there, so we will be supporting that, and also the Lighthouse Trust which helps orphans in the townships.”