Wayne Riley
Unfortunately, I was flying back to London during the weatherdelayed final round of the Players Championship, so I missed out on watching my compatriot Cam Smith win the biggest event of his career live. Still, I saw the highlights the next day and it was an incredible performance. He’s such a good player and he has the most amazing demeanour on the course – he looks like nothing fazes him and he even found time to sign a young fan’s cap during the back nine while he was in the heat of battle.
He’s a really good kid. If I’m out on the golf course with him, all he does is come over and take the mickey out of me! He’s an amazing guy and an amazing golfer and he’s now up to World No.6. That up-and-down on the last hole was something else and he’s up there with the best putters I’ve seen.
It’s his combination of all-round game, deadly putting stroke and laid-back personality that means he’s now a Major Champion in the making. He’s come close at The Masters before, but I think he’s in great shape to win The Open – maybe not this year at St Andrews, but certainly in the future. He’s ready.
Someone who’s already in the Major winners’ club is Rory Mcilroy, who didn’t have a week to remember at Sawgrass. I had a day to remember a couple of weeks before, though, when I played with him, his dad and Nick Dougherty at Seminole GC in Florida.
Myself and Nick were chatting with Rory at the Genesis Invitational and I mentioned that I was playing with his dad, Gerry, who I often talk to on the fairways when I’m commentating on his son, the following week. He just said “Can I play?” There’s only one answer to that!
It was incredible how well he played. He shot the easiest 66 I’ve ever seen and I’m telling you now, if he’d played like that at Sawgrass, no one would have got close. I’m not quite sure why it’s not happening for him in the big events at the moment, but my god he’s impressive. Him and his dad teamed up and ended up taking myself and Dougherty to the cleaners, which I’m sure will surprise no one.
It was just four mates having a knock, as you would with your regular four-ball. That’s just what Rory is like. He’s the politest person and there are no airs and graces about him whatsoever – he’s just a humble, normal guy. To see him and play with him outside of tournament week was great – he was just relaxed and having a laugh – but to be honest that’s how he is when he comes over to me during an event. He doesn’t change much and that’s a testament to him and how he’s been raised.
I’m a bit annoyed that I didn’t play well and better resemble the player that I used to be, but that’s life! I’m not sure it would have made much of a difference to the overall score anyway. But we had a giggle and a laugh and that’s what it’s all about. After the golf, we went into the clubhouse and the locker room and had a drink, sat around and had a good chat. It was just like shooting the breeze with your mates after your regular Saturday morning game. It was really cool.
Hopefully it won’t be long before we see Rory in the thick of contention during a Major and adding to his tally of four. I don’t know if he’s overthinking things in the big ones, or whether being the chairman of the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council is occupying too much of his time and energy. It’s admirable that he’s taken that on, but I’m not convinced it’s helping him on the course. Just go out there and play golf. He wants to be a spokesperson and there’s no doubt he’s an appropriate person to assume a role like that given his eloquence, passion for the tour and prominence, but I just want him to win more Majors and go and have a Tom Watson-esque career. He’s easily capable of winning eight Majors, but it’s been almost eight years since his last one. Hopefully this is his time.
“There are no airs and graces about Rory at all – he’s a humble, normal guy”