Palmer’s team captures Challenge
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — On a day for reminiscing at the home of golf, a team led by Arnold Palmer captured the Champion Golfers’ Challenge. The four-hole exhibition on the eve of the British Open pitted squads comprised of past winners, with the best individual score on each hole going toward that team’s total.
Palmer, 85, who spawned an American invasion with his Open victories in 1961 and 1962, hit the opening tee shot for his team Wednesday. He then turned things over to Paul Lawrie, who eagled the second hole and rolled in a long birdie putt on the 18th to give his team — which also included Darren
Clarke and Bill Rogers —a 3-under total.
The squads captained by Tony Jacklin, Tom Weiskopf and Peter Thomson also were 3 under. But Palmer’s team won the top prize of $156,452, which will be donated to a charity of their choice, by having the highest average age.
Team Jacklin (which also included John Daly, Nick Faldo and Tom Lehman), Team Weiskopf ( Mark O’Meara and Tiger Woods) and Team Thomson ( Ben Curtis, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson) all posted three birdies in four holes.
Tom Watson’s team ( Ian Baker-Finch, Todd Hamilton and Louis Oosthuizen) finished at 2 under. Team Charles ( Bob Charles, David Duval, Justin Leonard and Sandy Lyle) and Team Player ( Gary Player, Stewart Cink, Mark Calcavecchia and Padraig Harrington) only managed to birdie the first hole.
No one, however, seemed too concerned about the scores. There were plenty of laughs and everyone paused for group pictures on the Swilcan Bridge at the 18th hole.
Executive’s finale
Peter Dawson downplayed his final British Open as chief executive of the Royal & Ancient. In his annual news conference on the eve of the tournament, Dawson was asked whether he had accomplished most of his goals in his 16-year tenure.
“We don’t do cult of personality at the R&A,” he said. “It’s a team effort. I think a lot of things have moved on, and perhaps the thing I’m most proud of is the way the team of people at the R&A has developed as we’ve gone. It’s a much bigger, more professional — if that’s the right word — organization than it was 16 years ago. And that’s not a criticism of what it was like then. Will I be emotional? I’m not sure yet. A bit too busy to be so at the moment.”
Forecast
The weather is supposed to be wild today, with periods of rain and shifting wind expected to reach up to 35 mph.