Tony Jacklin at Carnoustie

[imanhacker]

Can anyone get the message thru' to Tony - he's taking the place of a good golfer in The Open. Ok - he was good in his day but surely the time as come to pass his place over to a 'young gun'. There's thousands of very good golfers out there trying to win a place. An extra place at Pleasington yesterday in the Regional Qualifer for someone to go forward to Final Qualifying would have been a better option.
Tony's played 7 times in the last 20 odd years at The Open and his best finish in those trips was tied 112. Surely he's still not strapped for cash. Tony let go - or should the R&A step in?
Would like to hear any comments. [image]http://www.opengolf.com/players/player_info.sps?player=88[/image]

 

[Atticus_Finch]

I personally have no interest in watching jacklin at The Open, but I do feel he has as much right to be there as any previous champion. To be fair to him, according to you he has only played 7 times out of 20ish, so let's not be too harsh on him. It could have been worse.

 

[Dave3498]

You seem to forget imanhacker, that part of the prize for winning the Open is the automatic invitation to play in future Opens. Surely you wouldn't deny that Tony has the right to collect his full prize.

 

[shanker]

I started playing golf a couple of weeks after Tony's win at Lytham. He was a marvellous golfer and has done a lot for the game. Why shouldn't he play in the Open? Maybe I am a fogey and I do understand that the thousands of players who have since taken up the game have no interest in seeing him play but I would carry his clubs if he asked me.

 

[Trueblue]

It's a tricky one though, coz he is clearly not going to compete in the true sense of the word but then again who would the paying public, and tv audience (who afetr all pay all the prize money) rather watch - an extra qualifier or the great Tony Jacklin?

 

[imanhacker]

Quite interesting comments and I understand were you're coming from but there is a very lucrative Seniors Tour in the USA where Jacklin now resides. I believe more people would enjoy seeing him do well in this week's US Seniors Open and on the Seniors Tour than coming nowhere in the Open (I say that without knowing whether he was eligible to play in it). Let's not forget that he announced his retirement from tournament golf last season.

I still believe he is taking the place of a very talented golfer - and there's lots of them out there. I should also let it be known that I have the greatest respect for him as generally good guy and top golfer but all things come to an end. Happy birthday for tomorrow (7 July) Tony - he'll be 63 - only two more years and then he will have to qualify!

 

[longball]

i think that what you all forget is that this is the biggest event in the golfing calender,at my local club we have a pro am and for an amatuer to play in these tournaments it is one of the most exciting and memerable days ever im lucky enough to have qualified many times but a few times i have not and to sit and watch and know you cant play is one of the hardest things ever so i think no matter how old you are or how much money you have doesnt even come in to it and if we where all totally honest if we where in the same position we would be playing for as long as we could to....longball