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What follows is a trip report on day 1 of the Australian Open, held at Kingston Heath Golf Club. I arrived at 8.30am with overcast conditions (approx. 20 degrees). The day fined up in the afternoon to probably 25 or so, with a light breeze blowing from the south — fluctuated a little during the day, stronger for the afternoon players. A beautiful day for golf really. Made me wanna jump the ropes and chuck a ball down 
Tough course — if you stray at all. Mostly ankle deep spinefex grass or if you are very bad knee deep Of course spectatators will trample quite a lot of it, so you may see some luck here, but around the bunkers (esp. greenside) the rough is definately to be avoided. Greens were firm and fairly quick, surely they will be deadly by the weekend if the good weather continues. Key holes on the back nine: 12, 15, 16, 17. 12 played very tough into the breeze today, lots of bad scores to be had if you stray at all. 16 would not hold a ball which landed on it (not unusual, but perhaps surprising on the first day). 15 is a beautiful par 3 and sure to be a key hole, it started Peter O’Malleys demise today. I followed brett ogle early. Typically chirpy self, very happy to chat with fans and pose for pictures *during* his round. Played well through 11 holes, but then started to struggle. As he said on the 11th: "I am on a mission this week". Good luck brett, great to see you out there! Nick Faldo was solid today. Slow, but steady. Robert Allenby and Greg Norman were in awful form early in their rounds (allenby was three over after four holes) but they all recovered. A little lucky that they played in the morning where more birdies were available later in the round. I left them to follow other groups and sure enough they played well after that… doh! I mainly followed stuart appleby, mark o’meara and peter o’malley in the afternoon — I thought thats where the scoring would be. Peter was by far the best out there today, absolutely fantastic putting and excellent from tee to green. Shame he came partially undone with the 15 and 16th holes he really was on fire on the front nine. Appleby was wayward especially with irons. Usually long off the tee, but missing seemingly simple iron shots to the green. His putter kept him in contention. He must have driven over 300 yards to the 18th, maybe up to 330 yards: but he finished with par after not getting the approach shot to within 30ft. If he is to have a chance, he has to get it closer, more often. Mark O’Meara played well today early, but fell away through the tough stretch of holes I mentioned earlier. Great to see mark out here — other american golfers should take note! Also great to see Matt Kuchar doing well today. But I missed matt out on the course — and this is a pet peeve, over zealous marshalling which prevents crowds from moving to catch up with players playing well. Pity. Equipment-wise: 975s and (ugh) ERC’s seemed to be popular drivers. UST proforce, TT EI-70 and grafalloy prolite’s seemed to be popular wood shafts. Ben Hogan irons (esp. wedges) seemed to be in quite a few bags and offset putter models seem to rule the roost (ping, oddesey & scotty cameron models) All in all, a great day. Crowd seemed a little low (even for a thursday). Perhaps everyone is over budget following the olympics. — Andrew Cassin
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What follows is a trip report on day 1 of the Australian Open, held at Kingston Heath Golf Club.
Thanks Andrew. I watched a fair bit on the TV during the afternoon. The course seemed to be playing pretty hard for a day when the weather seemed reasonably benign, and given the amount of rain we’ve had. But I love watching golf at Kingston Heath. The bunkers are just superb. Pity O’Malley bombed out late in his round. He looked like he was going really well. Appleby’s messing up in the drain on 12 for a seven was rather poor too. Baddeley played a pretty good and sensible round I thought. It was interesting watching him take on the fairway bunker on 11 (and clear it easily) when even Adam Scott layed up safely behind it with an iron. The 12th is one of the holes they lengthened, used to be 476 metres, now it’s 530. The bunker in the middle of the fairway really comes into play, especially into the wind … hardly any players took it on. FWIW, my son had the thrill of a birdie on the 15th when he played there in March. Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
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Thanks Andrew. I watched a fair bit on the TV during the afternoon. The course seemed to be playing pretty hard for a day when the weather seemed reasonably benign, and given the amount of rain we’ve had. But I love watching golf at Kingston Heath. The bunkers are just superb.
Yeah, they are *tough* tho. I would actually rather be in the pot than miss than leave it in the tall grass in and around them. Its gonna be an interesting weekend… The second hole is very tough if you miss the fairway. If the wind gets up I reckon that hole will average a full shot over par. Pity O’Malley bombed out late in his round. He looked like he was going really well.
Yeah I watched him bomb out on 15 & 16, a late-afternoon putt straight down the hill on fifteen saw the collapse begin, and bad judgement saw him land the ball too far on 16 (from the rough) where he had no chance of stopping the ball on the green and left it under a tree at the back. Instant double… Appleby’s messing up in the drain on 12 for a seven was rather poor too.
Yes, I missed that hole live, but I saw the tape of it. Whats going on? Why did he pick the ball up after the second drop and place it? Very ugly golf. Stuart doesnt really seem comfortable out there. The TV made his performance seem better than what it really was. Missed iron shots where a significant problem for him, but all you see on TV were the par saves dropping in… He also seemed rushed to get to the first tee (a few quick chips & putts and then onto the tee). Maybe he had already completed his practice hours earlier… Baddeley played a pretty good and sensible round I thought. It was interesting watching him take on the fairway bunker on 11 (and clear it easily) when even Adam Scott layed up safely behind it with an iron.
Yeah thats a risky play though. Gotta be confident… — Andrew Cassin
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Yes, I missed that hole live, but I saw the tape of it. Whats going on? Why did he pick the ball up after the second drop and place it? I can only assume that it rolled closer to the hole. It certainly seemed to stop, but there was a Rules Official there, so I guess it was OK.
Actually that was good organisation, most groups had an official right there on hand. Which helps with all the trouble out there Perhaps the official made a mistake?
I cant see how that would be classified as nearer the hole. Nearer moorabbin airport maybe… but not the hole The dropping was all moot anyway, as no matter where it was going to end up he would still get line-of-sight relief from the TV tower in front of him. Dropping was just to go through the correct process to determine where to get relief from the lateral hazard, then subsequently from the TV tower.
Doesnt the ball has to be in play before you can take line-of-sight? Thats the question in my mind. I should dig up my rules book… I would like a clarification of what rules the official made his judgement on and his interpretation of events. I think stuart is covered since he just followed the official advice anyway. Even then he didn’t do a good job of it, hitting straight into the bunker further down the fairway. It took him a further four strokes to get in the hole!
Indeed. Heat of the moment thing I would say. As I said before he doesnt look relaxed. After five holes today he is again one over par… Baddeley is charging into the lead again. — Andrew Cassin
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Does anyone outside our great brown land actually give a Rats about our Open ? I doubt it. Personally though, i’m headed back to CentreBet to get on Paul Gow.
I give a Rats about it. I have greatly admired golfers throughout the world, despite the american media believing that there aren’t any others besides Americans and a couple of others I get a secret glee out of seeing Player, Montgomerie, Garcia, Price, Els, Parnevik,Westwood —– on and on and on ——play at the level they do and then astound the americans in head to head competition. To say nothing of the women of scandanavia and the girls of the far east! We have a country of privilege and 270 million people to choose from. Many of those venues have far smaller populations and fewer opportunities; but they produce some GREAT golfers. I LOVE to hear of others of great ability besides what our press shoves down our throats with overweening unctuousness. God bless those who fight their way up the media maze to get ANY press/tv time. So there. George
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Yes, I missed that hole live, but I saw the tape of it. Whats going on? Why did he pick the ball up after the second drop and place it?
I can only assume that it rolled closer to the hole. It certainly seemed to stop, but there was a Rules Official there, so I guess it was OK. Perhaps the official made a mistake? The dropping was all moot anyway, as no matter where it was going to end up he would still get line-of-sight relief from the TV tower in front of him. Dropping was just to go through the correct process to determine where to get relief from the lateral hazard, then subsequently from the TV tower. Even then he didn’t do a good job of it, hitting straight into the bunker further down the fairway. It took him a further four strokes to get in the hole! Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
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I cant see how that would be classified as nearer the hole. Nearer moorabbin airport maybe… but not the hole Doesnt the ball has to be in play before you can take line-of-sight? Thats the question in my mind. I should dig up my rules book… I would like a clarification of what rules the official made his judgement on and his interpretation of events. I think stuart is covered since he just followed the official advice anyway.
If the ball was not nearer the hole (it only has to be an inch, it was hard to see the angle on TV) the only other possibilities are that it rolled back inside the lateral hazard, or the official was generous. This is the only point of conjecture, but from either spots, Appleby would have been entitled to relief from the TV tower anyway. Relief in this situation is a two-step process. You have to take relief from the lateral hazard (point of entry), which is what he did the first time. Then the ball is "in play", because you have dropped it. Then, when you find that the TV tower is in the line that you want to play your next shot, you are entitled to relief again. You go at right angles (i.e. no nearer to the hole) to the point where it is no longer in the way. There was discussion at one point where the official and Appleby were talking about "right angles, not 45 degrees". After dropping it the second time, the ball is in play. Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
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Does anyone outside our great brown land actually give a Rats about our Open ? I doubt it. Personally though, i’m headed back to CentreBet to get on Paul Gow.
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Does anyone outside our great brown land actually give a Rats about our Open ? I doubt it. Personally though, i’m headed back to CentreBet to get on Paul Gow.
I do. I just like golf wherever it is played. I can check results on GolfWeb. Bruce RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/newmanb.htm http://go.to/bruce_newman
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It is looking like Mr O’Meara will not be playing on the weekend. A coupla questions: – would he be getting paid appearance money ? – if so, how much do you reckon ? – With appearance, do you think there are stipulations with the fee whether he/she make the cut ?
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Richard, I’m interested and enjoying the commentary. I encourage "acassin" and Colin to keep posting the results and their comments. Tom K. Excluded from all cliques.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone outside our great brown land actually give a Rats about our Open ? I doubt it. Personally though, i’m headed back to CentreBet to get on Paul Gow.
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It is looking like Mr O’Meara will not be playing on the weekend.
He won’t be. He’s finished +5, probable cut +2 or +3. A coupla questions: would he be getting paid appearance money ?
Yep. if so, how much do you reckon ?
I saw the figure of A$100,000-150,000 mentioned in the press somewhere for both O’Meara and Faldo. They’re probably getting better value from the unpaid twenty-somethings this time though than the paid forty-somethings. With appearance, do you think there are stipulations with the fee whether he/she make the cut ?
Probably not, although it might be reduced. I really don’t know. Don’t forget also that O’Meara is a past Australian Open Champion. I believe that in past years even Greg Norman commanded an appearance fee for some events here when he was at the height of his powers. Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
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Does anyone outside our great brown land actually give a Rats about our Open? I doubt it.
Who cares? This is an international newsgroup. We Aussies can talk amongst ourselves if we have to. At least it’s on-topic (sarcastic tone here). Personally though, i’m headed back to CentreBet to get on Paul Gow.
See what he does this afternoon. I reckon Baddeley’s looking rather good for a repeat. Famous last words. Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
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It is looking like Mr O’Meara will not be playing on the weekend.
Actually, I didnt he was playing too badly (mostly just missing with the flatstick). He wasnt giving much distance to appleby and seemed to be keeping it out of trouble ok. It was very illumunating to see him approach the ninth green. Just held some grass to guage the wind, asked the caddy how far to the front. 89 was the reply. And the pin? 10 on. Ok, so 99. Then proceeded to play promptly a 99 yard shot within 20 seconds. Pity he missed it 10 foot left Great stuff to watch and learn from, something you cant really gauge from TV. — Andrew Cassin
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Richard, I’m interested and enjoying the commentary. I encourage "acassin" and Colin to keep posting the results and their comments.
I’d love to, but I am not going to the event on another day. Too busy playing I heartily recommend US viewers tape the channel seven coverage as it far superior to the crap coverage offered by us networks. We actually see much of the field for much of their rounds, even players not playing well. — Andrew Cassin
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Doesnt the ball has to be in play before you can take line-of-sight? Thats the question in my mind. I should dig up my rules book…
It is not in the Rule book…the ‘line of sight’ rule is a local rule giving relief from ‘TIO’ (temporary immovable obstructions). You will find it in most competiitons where there are temporary stands, advertising signs, TV camera towers and the like. I would like a clarification of what rules the official made his judgement on and his interpretation of events. I think stuart is covered since he just followed the official advice anyway. If the ball was not nearer the hole (it only has to be an inch, it was hard to see the angle on TV) the only other possibilities are that it rolled back inside the lateral hazard, or the official was generous.
The ball rolled back into the hazard….although it wasn’t too clear from the camera angle there was definitely a red line indicating the margin of the hazard at the point that Appleby stopped the ball. He placed the ball properly in accordance with the Rule. This is the only point of conjecture, but from either spots, Appleby would have been entitled to relief from the TV tower anyway. Relief in this situation is a two-step process. You have to take relief from the lateral hazard (point of entry), which is what he did the first time. Then the ball is "in play", because you have dropped it.
Correct Then, when you find that the TV tower is in the line that you want to play your next shot, you are entitled to relief again.
Not quite right…….the TIO has to interfere with a reasonable direct shot with your ball to the pin…it is not simply the ‘line that you want to play your next shot’….it is interference with the flight line to the pin that obtains the relief.. I mention this in this manner because you may be choosing a draw or a fade shot, possibly but not necessarily around some other obstacle, in order to reach the pin…if the TIO interferes with that flight line then you get relief even though it may not be on a direct line to the pin. (If the TIO was 400 yards from the pin you would not get relief as it is not reasonable that you would reach the pin) You go at right angles (i.e. no nearer to the hole) to the point where it is no longer in the way. There was discussion at one point where the official and Appleby were talking about "right angles, not 45 degrees". After dropping it the second time, the ball is in play.
Actually, the appropriate procedure is to mark the ground at the point that lines up the edge of the TIO with the pin…the local rule deems that interference still exists a further club length clear of that line……that is the ‘right angles’ that Appleby was referring to. He was measuring the extra club-length to the edge of the area where interference is deemed to exist. He is then permitted to drop a ball within a FURTHER club-length of that point. Hope this clears it up ! david
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I’d love to, but I am not going to the event on another day. Too busy playing I heartily recommend US viewers tape the channel seven coverage as it far superior to the crap coverage offered by us networks. We actually see much of the field for much of their rounds, even players not playing well.
I thought it was pretty good. They cover lots of players and lots of holes. They even played Larry Canning’s (finished +7) shot today at the par 3 15th after he holed out yesterday. Today he only birdied it. But that means he’s taken three strokes on the hole, except he’s played it twice! Pity the rest of his round wasn’t as good. 
The only negatives I can find: 1. Sometimes they bring up the player’s name banner at the bottom of the screen over the top of the putt. They turn it off just as the ball gets near the hole, but you can’t track the putt completely. 2. Sandy Roberts’ Shark cliches. How many times can he say "the shark is "circling", or "in the hunt"? 3. Today they (rightly) complained about people with mobile phones when Nick O’Hern was about to play. But yesterday Robert Allenby had to repeat his pre-shot routine after their own on-ground commentator Lindsay Stephen talked too loudly, too close! Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
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I can check results on GolfWeb.
Just on this … I’ve viewed "live scoring" on pgatour.com/golfweb and the European Tour web site for various events. But I think the Java live scoring at the Australian Open site is one of the best I’ve seen (http://www.holdenaustralianopengolf.com/draws/livescoring/default.sps). At first I didn’t allow it enough time to load, as nothing seemed to be happening. But I waited long enough and it came up (my 31200 connection is not fast). You can click on any player’s score and get an instant read-out of their rounds to date. Overall, it’s well-designed, easy to read, gives good notation of birdies, pars, bogeys etc. and is pretty quick once it’s loaded. You can even custom display selected players, search the leaderboard by name or country, even alter the update interval with a slider control and turn the ticker on or off. Worth a look, if only to get an idea of what’s possible. Cheers Colin Wilson RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
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2. Sandy Roberts’ Shark cliches. How many times can he say "the shark is "circling", or "in the hunt"?
Sandy Roberts’ commentaries have always annoyed me…he seems to treat the game of golf as something between a long distance horse race, a game of league football, and a US Presidential election process!. He wants to create drama out of just about every minor situation, and he also attempts to build up a ‘tradition’ feature about every golf course and competition he is involved with. His most annoying thing with this particular event is his constant reference to the Kingston Heath golf course as ‘the heath’. I doubt that the members would be too impressed with that…….if it was Augusta he would be banned for life! I believe he is a keen amateur golfer too….doesn’t seem too familiar with the nuances of the game though. david
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But I think the Java live scoring at the Australian Open site is one of the best I’ve seen (http://www.holdenaustralianopengolf.com/draws/livescoring/default.sps).
this is true. the USPGAtour live scoreboard is waaaay beyond the times. regards Mark Blake Fairway: [faer-wai] "An unfamiliar tract of mown grass running directly from tee to the green. Your ball can usually be found immediately to the left or right of it." RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/blakem.htm
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It is looking like Mr O’Meara will not be playing on the weekend. A coupla questions: – would he be getting paid appearance money ? – if so, how much do you reckon ? – With appearance, do you think there are stipulations with the fee whether he/she make the cut ?
given some of the debacles regarding some players who are paid to play here, there should be a performance condition in their contract. about half would be fair if the missed the cut. i think some have come here for a paid holiday at times. regards Mark Blake Fairway: [faer-wai] "An unfamiliar tract of mown grass running directly from tee to the green. Your ball can usually be found immediately to the left or right of it." RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/blakem.htm
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 2. Sandy Roberts’ Shark cliches. How many times can he say "the shark is "circling", or "in the hunt"? Sandy Roberts’ commentaries have always annoyed me…he seems to treat the game of golf as something between a long distance horse race, a game of league football, and a US Presidential election process!. He wants to create drama out of just about every minor situation, and he also attempts to build up a ‘tradition’ feature about every golf course and competition he is involved with. His most annoying thing with this particular event is his constant reference to the Kingston Heath golf course as ‘the heath’. I doubt that the members would be too impressed with that…….if it was Augusta he would be banned for life! I believe he is a keen amateur golfer too….doesn’t seem too familiar with the nuances of the game though. david
David — I have the same complaint about some broadcasting here in the old US of A. Some of these networks seem to thrive on announcing by non-golfers [as evidenced by their lack of really understanding what the golfer is doing] employed EXACTLY to do what you phrase so well: try to create drama out of just about every minor situation. I often watch with the sound muted unless one of the announcers IS a golfer (I like Johnny Miller and Curtis Strange, for example). The damned underlying greed and manipulation of audiences [canned laugh tracks and hired shills in audiences.....!] is just deeply revolting. George