Tony Jacklin: The R&A had no option but to finish the Open on Monday
Last Updated: 19/07/15 6:18pm
Tony Jacklin believes the R&A were left with no option but to extend the 144th Open into a fifth day following severe weather disruptions at St Andrews.
Torrential rain on Friday morning forced a delay of over three hours and left 41 players unable to complete their second rounds on schedule, and play was suspended for 10 and a half hours on day three due to fierce winds gusting up to 45mph.
The R&A, the tournament organisers, announced that they had abandoned plans to finish the Open on schedule and confirmed the final round would be played on Monday for only the second time in the event's history.
"It’s been so stop-start and difficult to get into this year, which is a huge shame," said Jacklin, who won the Open at Royal Lytham in 1969. "It's been very difficult for players. Golf is all about momentum and timing, so being so stop-start spoils it completely.
"Finishing on Monday was the only decision the R&A could take really. They had to get some sort of semblance of order back, and they took the decision when play looked unlikely for the whole of Saturday. Again it’s a shame, but I’m sure they’ll get good crowds in for Monday and it should be a great finish.
"There’s been a lot of talk about the greens being cut too much and being too fast, so if the wind blows, it’s impossible to play because balls won’t keep still on the greens. Perhaps this needs to be looked at, particularly on links courses which are more exposed to the elements.
"It’s good, and traditional, to watch players battling against the wind at an Open and coming up with creative shots that they don’t get to hit for most of the year. It would be good to see slower greens, and that way play can go on even if the wind is strong."
Watson farewell
Jacklin, now the global brand ambassador for Glenmorangie – spirit of the Open, also paid tribute to Tom Watson after the five-time champion brought the curtain down on his Open career late on Friday evening.
"Tom has been a good friend for many years now and he is one of the true Open Championship greats," he added. "It was a bit of a shame to see him playing his last hole in near-darkness on Friday night, but he got the reception he deserved.
"Tom is a five-time champion at the Open, and he almost won a sixth when he was 59, so there’s no doubt he has left an indelible mark on the tournament.
Tom is a five-time champion at the Open, and he almost won a sixth when he was 59, so there’s no doubt he has left an indelible mark on the tournament
Tony Jacklin
"It’s always a magical moment to see a great champion like Tom and Nick Faldo going through the ceremonial farewells while stood on the Swilcan Bridge at St Andrews. Faldo hasn’t said this will be his last Open, but it’s tough for him to play much these days due to his TV commitments.
"Tom Watson is still playing well in the autumn of his career, and it was fun to watch both of them playing in the Open at the Old Course.
"I played my last Open when I was 63. There was no real sense of occasion for me, I just entered and played with Greg Norman and Paul Casey. I didn’t make the cut, but at least I played nicely."
Proud Open record
One record that Jacklin still owns is that he remains the last Englishman to win an Open Championship in England, and he added: "That’s not going to change for a while! I held a few records, I won the US Open by seven and Tiger blew that away in 2000.
"It’s nice to have the record, but we’ll see. I still find it extraordinary that record has stood for almost 50 years now, but it's a fact I am very proud of."
Jacklin, now 71, also believes the future of the game is in good hands with the recent successes of Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth inspiring a generation of younger players, while he feels Dustin Johnson is one of the most exciting players in the modern game.
"Dustin hits the ball remarkable distances, and it’s no surprise to see someone like him at the top of the leaderboard," said Jacklin. "With his length off the tee, an old-fashioned course like St Andrews can be a little defenceless when the weather is good.
"It’s such a shame that Rory McIlroy isn’t here to defend his title. It was perhaps a little silly to get injured while playing football so soon before the Open, but he’s young and energetic and it is just one of those things.
"I hope Rory will be fit enough to play at the US PGA Championship next month. With the likes of McIlroy, Spieth, Fowler and Dustin Johnson, and there are so many other talented youngsters coming through at the moment, the game of golf looks to be in fantastic shape for the future."