Woods and the story of Blayne Barber

Most golfers will go the extra mile to be scrupulously fair.

Others will go to extraordinary lengths. Here’s one painful yet admirable example of the latter. His name is Blayne Barber. An exceptional amateur player — he’s been a member of the US Walker Cup team, and is therefore considered on the fast-track to a glittering career — he advanced easily out of Q School first stage last November. But something continued to trouble him about his play in the tournament’s second round at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

Barber wasn’t sure if he had brushed a leaf in the sand trap of the course’s 13th hole. His caddy, who happens to also be his brother, insisted that he hadn’t touched it. But just to be on the safe side, he penalised himself a stroke.