Woosnam returns to lay ghost of BellSouth Classic

SIX of the record 21 Europeans in next week’s Masters tee off in the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta today.

They include Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam, whose last appearance in the event ended in controversial fashion. Woosnam was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard in 2001, even though officials had been tipped off before the end of his first round a mistake might have been made.

Only after the former world number one had left the Sugarloaf course was it confirmed his two-over 74 was actually a 75 and, by then, it was too late to save him. Woosnam, Masters champion in 1991, shouldered some of the blame as well, of course, for not checking the card carefully enough.