Players pay respect to Renwick
PLAYERS wore black ribbons during the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic yesterday as a mark of respect for Scots caddie Dave Renwick.
Renwick, who died aged 62 at his home i n East Calder following a battle with cancer, was the bag man for no fewer than three major champions when t hey e nj oyed t hei r moments of glory.
He stood alongside Jose Maria Olazabal when he won the 1994 Masters and Steve Elkington at the 1995 USPGA.
However, his most profitable relationship was with Vijay Singh when the Fijian won the 1998 PGA, 2000 Masters and 2004 PGA titles.
Among those paying tribute yesterday were former Open champion Paul Lawrie, who Tweeted: ‘Very sad to hear of Davy Renwick passing, great guy great caddie RIP my friend,’ while fellow Scot Marc Warren wrote: ‘We play with a heavy heart today but his memory will live on. A true legend of Scottish golf gone but not forgotten.’
On the course, meanwhile, Rory McIlroy carded a 68 to be tucked in behind the leaders.
There were classy birdies on two of the toughest holes to compensate for messing up two of the easiest, where he had to hole good putts for bogeys.
This was the best and worst of McIlroy. The former came at the sixth, a difficult par four by any standards, where his seven iron from 191 yards finished two inches from the hole.
‘Any time you make a three on that hole, it’s a bonus,’ he said, but it could so easily have been a spectacular eagle two.
That made up for probably the worst drive he will strike all year. Trying to make it on to the putting surface at the 350-yard second hole — his 11th — he succeeded only i n hitting a smothered hook that travelled barely half that length.
McIlroy is trying to become just the second golfer after Ernie Els to win this title three times, but one man who might have a say about that is the big South African himself.
Now 46, he believes he has found a cure for the putting ills that have held him back in recent years and his new-found confidence on the greens was on display yesterday as he shot a 68 in the tricky afternoon conditions.
Alex Noren hit a 66 to lead, while one of the best rounds of the day came from amateur James Allan, playing in his first European Tour event, who shot a remarkably composed 69.
Scott Jamieson was leading Scot with the same score, while Stephen Gallacher shot 70.
Warren and Lawrie both struggled to one-over-par 73s.