The Open 2003: Ben Curtis wasn't the only winner

19 February 2020 Feature Article
The team conquer the famous Himalaya bunker on the Sunday evening.jpg

The 2003 volunteer support team conquers Royal St George's Himalaya bunker

Excitement is already building ahead of this year's Open, with the BIGGA members who have been selected to take part in the volunteer support team due to be revealed on Friday. 

Ahead of that announcement, we're taking a look back at previous adventures of the team at Royal St George's, including 1993 and 2011. In this article, we look at what the team got up to in 2003, when rookie Ben Curtis secured his first and only Major championship.

The story below was first published in the August 2003 edition of Greenkeeper International.

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Neil Burchett, John Keenaghan and Alan Magee watch how it's done before they set off!

The Open at Royal St George’s was a triumph. Not just for Ben Curtis, who produced what must rank as the greatest shock in the Championship’s history – he had never played in a Major Championship before; had never claimed a top 10 finish on the US Tour was a 500-1 shot before the start and even 80-1 on Sunday morning – but for the course; Neil Metcalf and his team and the BIGGA Greenkeeping Support Team.

The course and its condition received universal praise and while the weather leading up to the Championship made fast, brown, running conditions possible Neil, his deputy Graham Royden, and the team made the most of these favourable conditions to produce a perfect test of links golf. The fact that one under par won proved that a quality golf course in testing conditions can be the equal of modern technology.

This year the BIGGA Greenkeeping Support Team was more involved than ever as, in addition to its regular duties, it was given the responsibility of raking all the bunkers before the start of play each day. Now, as the light goes earlier in the south of the country, it meant an earlier than usual start of play and with The R&A wanting the two-hour job completed half an hour before the start, a team of 14 had to leave for the course at 3.15am. The next bus left at 5am with the remainder following on a short time after. The last bus didn’t return home until around 10.30am.

The advance party on each of the four days was led by George Barr and Ian Semple and The R&A was delighted that the pre-play job was carried out in such a professional manner. As usual members of the support team were rewarded by the players with souvenirs in the shape of balls, gloves and hats, which will become treasured mementos for years to come.

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Graham Royden, St George's deputy, chats to Andrew Miller

An encounter with Tiger

Royal St George’s deputy Graham Royden took his 10-year-old son, Louis, to the championship on the Wednesday.

“The only golfers Louis knew were Tiger and Ernie and I had the chance to bring him on to the putting green on the Wednesday to watch Tiger putting for a while. I spoke with Tiger’s manager and he said he’d introduce us to Tiger. We met in the The R&A compound and we spoke about the course, which he thought was in great condition but very tough. He’d hit some straight shots that were penalised, but he knew that was links golf. He said it was fantastic and congratulated me on it.”

He then took time out to speak to Louis, signed his programme and autograph book. 

“When he left he said goodbye to Louis, who was still in a daze, so I told him that Tiger was saying goodbye. He turned around and Tiger gave him a little wave and said ‘Bye Louis’. He was absolutely stunned and couldn’t wait to get back to school and tell his pals. He’ll remember the moment forever, and so will I,” said Graham.

Philip Hales takes time out to pose during the final round.jpg

Philip Hales takes time out to pose during the final round

Other stories from the championship:

The 2001 champion, David Duval, was watching St George’s assistant Andrew Howarth as he hand watered the 11th tee on Tuesday afternoon. Andrew said: “It was late and the green wasn’t clear and he was waiting, so I asked if I could pose for a picture with him. I took off my sunglasses and said I knew he never took his off but he whipped them off and went “Ta-da!” We took the picture and he then asked if he could operate the hose. He was very good, had a good arc, but asked what would happen if he put too much on. I told him he’d be playing it.”

Alan Halfyear raked for Ben Curtis in the third round and learned before it became known in the media centre that he was using John Bickerton’s caddie. The caddie had called IMG when Bickerton had failed to qualify and asked if they knew of anyone looking for a caddie.

Ben Curtis’ father, Bob, is superintendent at Mill Creek Golf Club in Ohio. Ben’s parents weren’t at the championship but were looking forward to watching the final stages on satellite until it broke down. They listened to their son clinching The Open on radio!

Andrew Acorn, of Acorn Equipment, got closer to the action even than the greenkeeping support team. He caddied for Tony Sproston, a qualifier, who was out in the final game on the Thursday and as a result was one of those who had to return early on Friday to complete the final two holes. Tony missed the cut but gave Andrew the thrill of a lifetime, particularly as they were partnered by one of the up and coming stars of the game, Australian Matt Goggins, who finished fairly high in the field. Andrew also managed to pick up a new nickname while in Sandwich when the other caddies christened him The Squirrel.

Ping sponsored the Great BIGGA Bunker Competition this year for the first time, offering a wonderful wedge system to the press person and support team member who was closest in their prediction as to how many bunkers were found during the course of the championship. The winner of the press prize was Sue Montgomery of the Independent on Sunday with Paul Jenkins claiming the BIGGA prize. Paul was only two out with his estimate of 2,125, but spare a thought for Gavin Kyle, who was also only two out with his guess of 2,121 – a margin of error of less than 0.25 – only to lose out on a card play-off when the daily estimates for the first three days were taken into account.

Daily prizes of whisky were won by Gideon Brooks, of the Daily Express, who won the first two and was equal first on the third day, but the editor decide to give the third day’s prize to Philip Reid, of the Irish Times, to preserve Gideon’s liver. 

The support team whisky was won by George Pitts and Bert Cross, on the first day (tied); Bert Cross on the second and Mark Lewthwaite on the third. Our thanks go to Ping for the generous sponsorship of this well-established Open competition.

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Gavin Robson

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Ronan McKeown

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The staff team with BIGGA starter Ian Holoran. From left, Tony Cocker, Brad Anderson, John Pemberton, Scott MacCallum and Peter Boyd

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The team awaits its briefing at the University of Kent

News titbits, as supplied by the BIGGA Greenkeeping Support Team:

Steve Smith, Gillingham GC: "Although Hennie Otto was the first day leader coming from the first group on the course on Thursday, it was his playing partner Christopher Smith who was actually the first player to find a fairway during the round – on the 5th hole!"

George Barr, Ham Manor GC: "Former champion David Duval endured a torrid time during his first round and his patience was not helped when he was forced to wait for a butterfly-shaped balloon that flew down the middle of the 16th fairway."

Stuart Hogg, Fortrose & Rosemarkie GC: "Jerry Kelly’s opening round got off to a dreadful start with his 11 down the first but he didn’t lose his sense of humour, punching the air when he made a four down the 2nd."

Kevin Hodges, Weston Park GC: "Sergio Garcia was forced to wait on the 18th tee for a weasel that wouldn’t vacate the tee."

Ian Semple, Old Fold Manor GC: "Vijay Singh and Rich Been got their timings all wrong playing the 17th. They both played at exactly the same time and the two balls collided, landing short of the green."

Richard Saunders, St Neots GC: "Former champion Paul Lawrie was obviously a little unprepared when he got to the 1st tee, having to ask Ivor Robson if he had any spare spikes in his box."

Mark Ellis, Stocks Hotel G&CC: "US amateur Ricky Barnes topped his drive off the 9th tee, knocking it 20 yards. He then hit it 40 yards further left into long rough and eventually made seven."

Richard Barker: "Such were the weather conditions on Thursday, the flag blew off the 9th pin while players were approaching the green. It was replaced by a marshal."

Tony Woolley, Piltdown GC: "Souvenir hunting reached new heights in one of the last matches out when the young scoreboard carrier picked up a ball that had been played by the match following. He was called back from the next fairway to replace it."

On Friday we'll be revealing the BIGGA members who have been selected to join the volunteer support team for the 149th Open at Royal St George's in July.

Author

Staff Photos 2020-14.JPG
Karl Hansell
BIGGA | Head of Marketing and Communications

Karl has been head of communications for BIGGA since March 2016. His duties include editing the monthly Greenkeeper International magazine, in addition to other communications activities for the association.

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