If you could hit one shot again – what would you choose?
Alex: The US Open is over and we’re all starting to get excited about The Open. Logistics aside, which course would you like to see host golf’s oldest major? You can’t say Royal North Devon, because that’s mine.
Mark: Having the Open, with all its over-priced merchandise tents, would go against the very soul of RND. That said I’d love the Open to be held in Wales and the only place that could happen is Royal Porthcawl. This will never happen sadly.
James: It would never happen for logistical or political reasons but I’d love the see the world’s best playing at Trump International in Aberdeen. It’s such a cool and unique course it would make fascinating viewing. I’d also like to see the Open back at Turnberry – one of the best stretches of golf holes anywhere in the world. But there’s another problem with that place too…
Keel: The South West of England is in need of some love. There are some stunning courses in Cornwall. I’ll go with Trevose.
Mark: I’m offering you a career mulligan so you can replay a certain shot that has haunted you for years. Mine would be a shank from some hard pan at the 1st at Royal Mid Surrey in a well-known foursomes competition in 1988. It was a 36-hole comp, we had six shots and we opened up treble-treble…
James: Playing against a colleague in one of our annual match play tournaments I was 3 up with 3 to play. Nerves kicked in and I found myself 1 up going down 18. I reached the edge of the green in two, my opponent was on the green in two. I had a shot. If I’d have just bunted an 8-iron towards the middle of the green, I’d have an easy two-putt to win the match. I duffed a couple of lob wedges and made a 6 as my opponent two-putted for a 4. It was right at the start of the season and gave me bad vibes for the rest of the year.
Keel: I was in a team fourball match and was two up with three holes remaining. We were comfortable and the lead really should have been a lot more. Somehow we lost the next two holes so we were standing on the 18th tee all square. My partner topped his drive into the nearest bush so it was all on me to hit a good one. Of course, I hit the biggest hook you’re likely to ever see into a forest. We managed to save bogey, but one of the guys we were playing against rolled in a 30-footer for par to win the match. I still think about it to this day. If only I had got that drive in play…
Alex: Years ago I was playing at Wyke Green in London with some friends. I hit two of the best shots I’ve ever hit and found myself with a three-foot, dead straight, uphill putt for eagle. At that point I’d never had an eagle on a par 5 before and, for some reason, I decided to announce this information to my playing partners BEFORE I hit the shot. Obviously I missed it. I’ve had one since, but I think about the one that got away a lot.
The golf club that’s moving 10 miles down the road
From junior champion to World No. 1: How Westwood found success by keeping things familiar
