2 weeks Ago
What a performance in the US Masters that made him only the sixth golfer in the modern era to do the career Grand Slam and, remarkably, the only European. I was glued to it at the weekend. There is something that always appealed to me about the so-called ‘single sports’.
I was a team player, although I did hear that being called into question a few times when I was out on the pitch. “Haw, Ritchie! Stop bein’ bliddy greedy! Pass the baw tae a team-mate!”..
.and that was just Benny Rooney! At least in a team, if something went wrong, you could just blame one of your colleagues..
.I usually did! But the ‘single sports’ are different. It’s really just you and it’s all about your focus.
I was interested to see the controversy, though, about McIlroy playing the last 18 holes in the third round with Bryson DeChambeau and not speaking to him once. Focus, you see, although Rory’s sports psychologist said that was all part of the game plan, and, fair enough. Now, this is where it gets interesting – is there actually such a thing as a ‘single sport’ now? When the ‘Golden Bear’ Jack Nicklaus was winning the majors, there was no ‘Team Nicklaus’.
No psychologists, masseurs, coaches etc...
it was just him. I am hoping to visit Wimbledon this year and it always makes me laugh when I see a player hitting a passing shot winner and turning up to his entourage in the box to fist pump. You never saw John McEnroe do that kind of thing! If he had all he would have seen was his dad and maybe his missus.
Nowadays the family are lucky if they get into the box! I also love the darts and the snooker, and I am looking forward to the green baize glory that is the Crucible Theatre soon and the World Championships. Ronnie O’Sullivan gets my vote every time. He encapsulates that single-mindedness that Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor always exhibited at the oche when he was the king of darts.
Perhaps those boys have an entourage but, I don’t see it. When Jock Stein was the man at Celtic, it was only him with Neil Mochan, Sean Fallon, Bob Rooney and Willie Fernie running the whole show, from reserves to first team, on a matchday. I remember wee Fergus McCann, the man who counted every dime in and out at Parkhead, lamenting the number of people in the dugout when Wim Jansen was in charge.
“How many more people are you going to have at the bus stop this week?” he would enquire as he thumbed through the monthly wage bill! However, to get back to the Rory McIlroy story – you know the nice bit about it? His caddie is his best mate, Harry Diamond, who grew up with him in Belfast and shares his successes and failures. Rory calls him his ‘big brother’ – and that’s good enough for me!.
