They say golf is game for life

Phil Mickelson grabbed worldwide headlines with his win in the PGA Championship in the United States but there was a win of similar nature just a couple of weeks earlier.

It came on the European Tour when Richard Bland won the British Masters in England.

I was watching recorded television coverage of the tournament the following evening. I had no idea of what was about to unfold and I had never heard of Bland.

But even though this was recorded coverage, I found myself captivated. I was cheering for Bland, just like I would be two weeks later with Mickelson.

Bland sunk a long putt on the 72nd hole to become the clubhouse leader at 13 under par. He was ecstatic, pumping his fist in victory-like fashion.

The television commentators were equally ecstatic but I remember thinking, whoa, whoa.

Yes, Bland had the lead but there were still players behind him that could easily overtake him.

Among them was Guido Migliozzi from Italy who birdied the 15th and 16th holes to tie Bland for the lead.

Bland’s party looked to be over when Migliozzi reached the par five 17th in two. His eagle putt was nearly holed but then he missed the putt coming back and he walked off the 17th with a deflating par.

Migliozzi could only par the 18th and the excitement was again stirred — remember I’m only watching recorded television — as a playoff would now be required to determine the winner.

Bland was faced with a difficult second shot on the first playoff hole. He had a difficult lie just off the fairway and had to play a low shot across water.

But, like a highly experienced golfer with dozens of wins under his belt, he delivered exactly the shot required, with his ball finishing at the back of the green, although some distance from the hole.

Migliozzi, on the other hand, was in prime position in the middle of the fairway with a short iron in his hand for his second shot. But the shot went wide and he finished about the same distance from the hole as Bland.

As I write this, I am amazed I am explaining in such detail what happened in a tournament that I had watched recorded coverage of and about a winner who I had not previously heard of.

But I had become emotionally involved as I cheered for the underdog.

The tournament had something of a limp conclusion. Migliozzi missed his second putt which allowed Bland a two-putt victory.

Then came the celebrations.

This was Bland’s first win on the European Tour at his 478th attempt. At age 48 he became the oldest first-time winner on the European Tour. Bland made his debut on the European Tour 23 years earlier and had drifted on and off the tour several times in that time.

Adding to the emotion was the television victory interview by Tim Barter, who is a long-time coach of Bland. Barter had as much emotion asking the questions as Bland had answering them.

So a 48-year-old wins on the European Tour for the first time and a fortnight later Mickelson becomes the oldest winner of a major championship a few weeks short of his 51st birthday.

The game of golf is dominated by young guns but it’s nice to see the old guys still compete with the best in the game.