Whilst caddying for my good friend Richard Bland in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in 2002 I found myself in a very uncomfortable and slightly humorous position on the last green.
Let me explain, Richard had played pretty solidly the first 3 rounds and I think he was -5 for the tournament, Richard hadn't qualified for the open the following week and there was still a couple of spots available for the top finishers at Loch Lomond.
He played solidly again on the Sunday and when he hit his tee shot on 18 to the middle of the fairway we strode up to the ball worked out the yardage and picked the club, he struck it well and the ball pitched and stopped pin high 15 feet left of the stick, as we're walking up to the green I notice Rich is taking a long hard look at the big leader board to the left of the 18th green and as we reach the green he turns to me and says "I think if I get that putt in I'm going to get into The Open next week" he then adds "are you free next week?" to which I replied I've got loads on next week but nothing I wouldn't cancel to caddy at The Open!!
Now, Rich had read all of his own putts all week and I was just there as a mate to carry the bag and keep him relaxed or as he put it " 2 bits of advice this week keep up and shut up! "
So he's crouched down behind his ball eyeing up the line and there's quite a few people around the 18th so I thought I'll make it look like I know what I'm doing and I go and stand behind him also looking at the line, at which point to my horror he looks over his shoulder at me and says "what do you think?"
Now, here's a pro golfer with a putt to get in The Open and he's asking an 8 handicapper who doesn't putt very well to give him advice, and I can't get any words out cos I didn't want him to blame me if I read it wrong so he says "I think it's left lip" so I did what any good caddy would do in that situation and agreed with him! He hit it perfectly on the intended line only for it to hold its line and stay above ground! Idiot!!!
Matt Le Tissier
Memory added on September 24, 2012
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