By the time you read this, the 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge will be over and you will be in no doubt of who did
what during the week.
As I write, however, the tournament formerly known as The Million Dollar looms in the distance. You therefore have the advantage over me. Or do you? What with the whole tournament going legit and all that, I’m willing to bet that none of what follows was observed in the shadow of the Pilanesberg this year.
A large man with a black eye, checked trousers and a cap pulled unnaturally low, swinging his clubs somewhat gingerly.
That was Craig Stadler back in the early days of the tournament. Legend has it that on the Wednesday night before the first round, he stayed up rather late. The combined effects of the late hour and more than one alcoholic beverage caused the Walrus to stumble on the steps leading down to Raffles nightclub, and collide with a large mirror.
A young, blond fellow, hurling a television set out of an upper-storey window at the Cascades Hotel.
That was John Daly, who won The PGA Championship at Crooked Stick in 1991 as the ninth alternate. His now well-known addictive personality was advertised in colourful fashion at Sun City in the same year.
A short, somewhat chubby Italian demanding his glass of whisky be exactly that, not a shot topped up with ice and water.
That was Costantino Rocca, the former factory worker who turned pro later than most and never let himself forget how lucky he was. At the beach party at the Valley of the Waves on the Wednesday night he was determined to enjoy himself. In his only appearance at the tournament, Rocca shot 76, 75, 67, 73, but still took home $100 000.
A large, Afrikaans boertjie telling jokes in a creche.
That was Ernie Els in the circular baby-care centre, which is adapted to the needs of the fourth estate every year. On day one, Ernie was paired with big-hitting American, Fred Couples. After the round we asked him how his length compared with Boom-Boom’s. ‘I don’t know,’ replied Ernie, ‘I didn’t shower with him’.
A slender Spanish youth, hitting balls on the range with his hands taped to the shaft of the club.
That was Sergio Garcia in the midst of the horrors few can appreciate. He had developed a nervous habit of gripping and regripping the club as he stood over the ball. Someone once counted 113 of these twitches before a shot. At Sun City, Sergio’s father came up with an idea to eliminate this habit. It must have worked; after all, he won The Masters this year.
A laid-back Zimbabwean giving an interview to a former England cricketer on his golf cart, while driving to the tee to begin a playoff with Tiger Woods.
That was Nick Price in 1998, talking to Robin Jackman after Tiger had holed his chip on the 18th to take the tournament into extra time. Jackers couldn’t believe his luck as his chat went out live on Radio 2000 and he got a lift to the tee box at the same time. And in case you were wondering, Nicky won.
