LYON DEAL IS STUMPED
The delay has allowed 1991 champ Woosnam to fix his long-term back problem and aim to continue his great love affair with Augusta CRICKET: AUSSIE NOT FOR HAMPSHIRE YET
IAN WOOSNAM must be the only golfer in the world who had a reason to be cheerful when this year’s Masters was postponed.
The sevenmonth delay has offered the Welshman an unlikely chance to extend his Augusta career.
Woosnam, who qualifies in perpetuity on the back of his 1991 triumph, called it a day after last year’s Masters – his 31st – because of a back problem.
But an operation in January has improved his condition to such an extent that, while he would not have been fit enough to play this week, he thinks he will be by November.
The 62-year-old’s love affair with Augusta may not be over quite yet. “I will see what my fitness is like in the autumn and, if I really feel I can do it, I will try and play the Masters again,” said Woosnam.
“The golf was never a problem but it was the fitness I couldn’t manage. It was just draining me. It was always in the back of my mind to have an operation and it went really well. “And to play again would be fantastic.” Woosnam’s win came at the end of an extraordinary run at Augusta that saw four successive British wins. It certainly irked the Americans who made their feelings known as Woosnam (below, with previous winner Nick Faldo) battled Tom Watson in the final group for two days over the weekend. “Americans hadn’t won for a long time so it got a bit feisty out there for a little while but it was good,” said Woosnam. “I was playing with someone I really admired – the way he played golf was the way I wanted to play as well – and it was fierce between us but friendly. He didn’t give much away and he was so competitive. He was never going to give up.” A see-saw final round went down to the final hole. Watson put his drive into the trees; Woosnam (below, at Augusta last year) drilled his into the far distance. Advantage Woosnam, but then a problem. “The patrons put their chairs around the 18th green and they just didn’t want to move them. I basically had to play over them,” said Woosnam.
“It was taking forever. Like playing in slow motion. And we were guessing a little bit on the yardage. It wasn’t a great time to be guessing.”
He came up short of the green and put his third to seven feet but, with Watson struggling, Woosnam had a par putt for the Masters.
“I knew it was my big opportunity. I was the kid on the practice ground putting for the Masters. I was trying to find ways to relax myself and the way I did it was to say to myself that if I missed it I was going to be in a playoff anyway. Psychologically that helped. Everything was positive. All I needed to do was hold my nerve.”
Did he know as soon as he struck it?
“Bloody hell, I think I was down with my fist up before I’d hit it!” coronavirus pandemic delaying the start of the domestic season to at least May 28, Hampshire and Lyon decided to pull the plug. Hampshire’s director of cricket Giles White said: “It was mutually agreed that he would no longer join us this season but we hope to welcome him to the club next season.”