Making the hard calls

ON A course he says is cruel to a golf buggy’s batteries, John Paramor may be inflicting considerable pain on his cart at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club this week.

The European Tour’s chief referee, possibly the most recognisable face of the Rules of Golf, will be relying on his buggy more than usual this week at the Kerry venue given he underwent keyhole knee surgery just three weeks ago.

Paramor was injured during the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart and underwent the operation the following Tuesday. By the Wednesday he was at Royal St George’s, officiating at his 21st consecutive British Open and this week he will be prowling the Killeen Course at what is clearly one of his favourite tournaments of the year.