What is a great sportsman?
The above question might seem facile as the obvious answer is someone at the top of heir sport for a significant period of time. An obvious candidate would be 18 time major winner Jack Nicklaus but I would say he is as much qualified for his sportsmanship. We use the words ” sport” and ” sporting” outside sport to indicate a gesture of significant courtesy and consideration. In 1969 the Ryder Cup was contested on the Open Course this month, Royal Birkdale. Contested is the right word as it rivalled ” the war on the shore” at Kiawah. The Britsh non playing Captain ( it was not yet open for Europeans) Eric Brown instructed his players not to look for the opponents’ ball whilst American Ken Still stood too close to Maurice Bembridge. The contest went to the final hole of the last singles between Jack Nicklaus , who incredibly aged 29 was a rookie, and Tony Jacklin. Jacklin had a three foot putt he had to sink when The Golden Bear picked up the marker and threw it to him with e words’ I didnt think you will miss it” but did not want to put it to the test. The two became great friends for the next 50 years even naming a course they jointly designed ” The Concession”. Looking up more details of the first drawn Ryder Cup, I also noted that a young 20 year old Bernard Gallacher beat Lee Trevino 4 and 3.
Alan Tanner wrote of Bobby Moore not coming on the pitch in the 1975 Cup Final as his presence might attract unwelcome attention spoiling the day for his team mates ; Miles Piper write yesterday of titans in their field having the time for unknown younger people; yet with the utmost respect to both can this rival Jack Nicklaus in the very heat of battle conceding a crucial putt?
