Relying on the weather to tame the Tiger

GOLFER John Daly has described Jack Nicklaus’ farewell to St Andrews at last weekend’s Open as “very emotional”, while admitting that he and other competitors were relying on the weather to help reel in eventual winner Tiger Woods.

Daly was speaking in Cork, where he is co-designer with Mel Flanagan of the new Blarney Golf Resort, and didn’t think last Sunday’s victory for Woods was a matter of a return to form.

“Tiger’s never lost his form. He just seems to get better and better. We were kind of hoping for some bad weather because if you go out and you’re real, real hot, then Tiger gets on a par roll. The wind at St Andrew’s blows really hard and you’re happy with pars.

“Our only chance would have been if the weather got a lot worse.”

However, even Woods’ victory was overshadowed by the Golden Bear’s final round on Friday.

“Friday was a very emotional day even for guys that weren’t around or who played early,” said Daly.

“We all knew it was Jack’s go-around in Britain and it was a sad day for just about everyone in the field.

“I’d say about 95% of the people that were there were playing because of Jack Nicklaus. 1995 was a very emotional time for me (when Daly won the Open) because Arnold (Palmer) had left that year. Those are two of the greatest names in golf. It was a sad, sad day because we want to see them competing.”

Daly finished on five under, tying with seven others for joint 15th, and was reasonably happy with his performance.

“Ball-striking, it was one of the best three or four days I’ve ever had. I hit the ball great, I just putted really badly on the last day. I drove five par-4s which were 100, 130 feet away, which made it a little tough, but I putted awful.”

The Blarney Golf Resort is due to open in spring/summer 2006.