I was up in Scotland watching the Alfred Dunhill recently and went to Carnoustie on the Sunday when they were packing the event up as the last day is only played at St Andrews.The course was empty as I stood in the car park just off the 18th.I watched Jean Van Der Velde's Open collapse in 99 on youtube on my phone whilst looking at the hole.
Looking where he hit each shot on the course it defies belief how he managed to mess up so much to throw the Open but of course he still had to win it and thats what pressure does for you.I know if's and buts but its clear to see that Van Der Velde wanted to win the Open with a par,you can see his caddy is telling him to play short of the burn thats in front of the green for his second shot but as is Open history we know the catastrophe that happened after his second shot that lost him the Open and a place in golf history.In the pro shop at Carnoustie they have got the actual putter on the wall that Jean used during the 99 Open,the pro in the shop told me that he gave it to them before he left the course he also said that Van Der Velde was there at the course just this year 17 years after the event playing in the British Seniors Open and he was in the pro shop looking at the putter.I bet that brought back some memories for him of what if but according to the pro in the shop Van Der Velde in very accepting of what happened all those years ago.The pro summed it up saying all people talk about is Van Der Velde's loss they never mention Lawrie's win which I think is very true.It was nice to see that Never Compromise putter on the wall though,only if it could speak
.
Looking where he hit each shot on the course it defies belief how he managed to mess up so much to throw the Open but of course he still had to win it and thats what pressure does for you.I know if's and buts but its clear to see that Van Der Velde wanted to win the Open with a par,you can see his caddy is telling him to play short of the burn thats in front of the green for his second shot but as is Open history we know the catastrophe that happened after his second shot that lost him the Open and a place in golf history.In the pro shop at Carnoustie they have got the actual putter on the wall that Jean used during the 99 Open,the pro in the shop told me that he gave it to them before he left the course he also said that Van Der Velde was there at the course just this year 17 years after the event playing in the British Seniors Open and he was in the pro shop looking at the putter.I bet that brought back some memories for him of what if but according to the pro in the shop Van Der Velde in very accepting of what happened all those years ago.The pro summed it up saying all people talk about is Van Der Velde's loss they never mention Lawrie's win which I think is very true.It was nice to see that Never Compromise putter on the wall though,only if it could speak
.
