Sport

Els plays second fiddle

In a recent international survey, the American magazine, Golf Digest, wanted to know with which professional most people would…

By DERMOT GILLEECE
Sat Sept 02 2000 - 01:00

In a recent international survey, the American magazine, Golf Digest, wanted to know with which professional most people would like to play a round of golf. The results from a poll conducted among 18 of the magazine's international affiliates, along with the US, were a mixture of the predictable and the surprising. For instance, Annika Sorenstam is the only woman on the list and Nick Price is more popular than Ernie Els in South Africa.

The top 10: Tiger Woods (first in Canada, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand), Fred Couples (first in the US, Korea), Jack Nicklaus (tied for first in Russia), Greg Norman (first in Australia and tied for first in Russia), Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Ernie Els, Seve Ballesteros (first in Spain and Argentina), David Duval (tied for first in Russia) and Mark O'Meara.

The second 10: Colin Montgomerie (first in UK), Phil Mickelson, Annika Sorenstam, Tom Watson, Davis Love III, Nick Price (first in South Africa), Nick Faldo (tied for first in Russia), Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer (first in Germany).

All of which proves as much or as little as you want it to prove.

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THIS DAY IN GOLF HISTORY: On September 2nd 1940, golfing legends Byron Nelson and Sam Snead met in the final of the USPGA Championship at the Hershey CC, Pennsylvania. Recalling the climax of the match, Nelson, who was one-up, said: "On the final hole, a long par three, it was my honour. I'll never forget it. I took a three-iron, almost hit the flag and went about 10 feet past the hole. I coasted that putt down the hill very gently and made my three for the title." The event was also notable in that it marked the farewell appearance of five-time winner, Walter Hagen who, at 37, won his 40th USPGA match against Vic Ghezzi before losing to Harold McSpaden in the third round.

TEASER: A player finds a ball out of bounds, thinks it is his original ball, plays it at the spot from which the original ball was played and then finds his original ball in bounds. What is the ruling?

ANSWER: The original ball is lost and the ball found out of bounds is in play under penalty of stroke and distance.