Things We Want to See Happen in 2023

THIS is a time of year for both reflection and for looking ahead. It is to be hoped that 2023 is a rather more uneventful year off the course.

Sports Writer Derek Clements shares what he would like to see happen in the 12 months that lie ahead...

Peace

Is it too much to hope that the PGA and DP World Tours will finally sit down with LIV Golf and work out a way in which they can co-exist? I don’t know about you, but I am growing weary of all the backstabbing, the social media rows and the calls for this person to be sacked and that person to resign. Golf is a sport - it should be played on golf courses, not played out in a courtroom. There is room for LIV Golf to exist alongside the mainstream tours. Rory McIlroy has repeatedly called for peace talks - and he is right. Whether it can be achieved while Greg Norman is the mouthpiece for the Saudis remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure - the current situation cannot the allowed to continue.

Rory McIlroy Winning The Masters

The Northern Irishman had a fabulous 2022, winning for fun, claiming the FedEx Cup, winning the Race to Dubai and reclaiming the world number-one spot in the rankings. But yet again he finished the year empty-handed in the majors. He would swap everything he achieved in 2022 for victory at Augusta in April. And I am firmly crossing my fingers that he will finally achieve his dream by having Scottie Scheffler help him into the Green Jacket.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Jordan Spieth Winning the US PGA

Rory McIlroy has been trying to wrap up the career grand slam since 2015. Spieth won The Open in 2017 to add to his Masters and US Open victories. Only Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Gene Saracen and Ben Hogan have won all four majors. What a year it would be if McIlroy could win The Masters and Spieth could claim the Wannamker Trophy. Spieth divides opinion but I think he is great fun. And he deserves full credit for emerging from a horrible slump to once again become a real contender.

A Competitive Ryder Cup

Henrik Stenson should have been leading Europe into battle at Marco Simone Golf Club in Italy but instead opted for the Saudi cash and was promptly sacked. He has been succeeded by Luke Donald, a throughout likeable man who knows all about winning the Ryder Cup. When the match was last played, at Whistling Straits in 2021, the USA handed out the sort of thrashing Europe has been used to delivering. Being on the receiving end was not pleasant. US captain Zach Johnson has lost serval players to LIV Golf but the American side looks formidable again. Donald will have several rookies on his team - I hope that they can rise to the occasion. What we all want to see is the match coming down to the final singles match. And a European holing the winning putt!

Divots

There is NOTHING more frustrating than hitting a perfect drive into the middle of the fairway and arriving at your golf ball to find it nestling in a hole, all because some thoughtless golfer couldn’t be bothered to walk a few yards, pick up his divot and replace it. It is time that the R&A addressed this issue by allowing us to take a free drop when this happens.

Tiger Woods Winning

We have to accept that Woods will not equal Jack Nicklaus record of winning 18 majors. He has faced huge struggles and challenges battling back to fitness after his life-threatening 2021 car crash, in which he very nearly lost a leg. That he was able to play all four rounds in The Masters was miraculous enough. He has won 82 times on the PGA Tour - and it would have been far more had it not been for all the injuries he has struggled with. As it stands, he shares the record for most PGA Tour wins with Sam Snead. It would be amazing to see him win one more tournament to claim that record all for himself. And you would never bet against him being able to do that.

Etiquette

It is time for a concerted campaign to “persuade” club golfers to rake bunkers and repair pitchmarks. There isn’t a golfer alive who hasn’t walked into a bunker to find their ball nestling a giant footprint. And you have to play the ball as it lies. Golf is a hard enough game as it is without being punished for somebody else’s ignorance. And don’t get me started on pitchmarks. The most common complaint club golfers have revolves around putting surfaces. And there is something we can all do about it. Is it too much to expect club golfers to repair their pitchmark? I am all for the club pro asking everybody who comes into the shop if they have a pitchmark repairer in their pocket - and if they know how to use it. Raking bunkers and repairing pitchmarks would benefit everybody who plays this game - and would help greenkeepers into the bargain.

A Warm Welcome

We all visit golf clubs and, almost without exception, have experienced a frosty reception, whether it be from the club pro, the bar steward or the club members. Is it really too much to expect that golf clubs that are prepared to relieve us of our hard-earned cash should also treat us properly and make us feel welcome?

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