One of the most photographed trees in golf, is no more. "It was dead," said a Pebble Beach spokesman by way of explaining the removal of the majestic pine which took sentinel to the right front of the 18th green. Among other things, it prevented players from taking an ultra-cautious route away from Monterey Bay.
Since its recent removal, however, the impact on the hole has been so dramatic that the owners are considering a replacement. In fact they have been quoted between $200,000 and $300,000 to transplant a worthy substitute from nearby the first hole. "We haven't really decided yet," the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, we will have to rely on film to appreciate the quality of the three-wood approach shot which Jack Nicklaus hit onto the 18th on his US Open farewell at Pebble Beach last year. Incidentally, offers to have the timber from the dead tree used for souvenirs such as putter heads, have been rejected. The view is that even pines are entitled to rest in peace.
THIS DAY IN GOLF HISTORY . . . On September 15th 1928, Bobby Jones won his fourth US Amateur Championship in five years, thrashing Phil Perkins by 10 and 9 in the final at Brae Burn CC, Massachusetts. Jones did not compete in either the British Open or the British Amateur that year, but he was runner-up to Johnny Farrell in the US Open at Olympia Fields. It was also on September 15th that Harvie Ward, beaten by Joe Carr in the final of the British Amateur in 1953, to retain the US Amateur crown in 1956, beating Chuck Kocsis by 5 and 4 in the final at Knollwood, Illinois.
TEASER: A is about to play the sixth hole, a par-three, when play is suspended by the committee. Prior to the resumption of play, A asked X, who has already played the sixth, what club he used for his tee-shot. Is A penalised under Rule 8-1?
ANSWER: No. The prohibition against giving or asking for advice applies only during a stipulated round. In this case, the stipulated round had been suspended.
RYDER CUP COUNTDOWN . . . Fred Couples beat Ian Woosnam by 8 and 7 in 1997 and Tom Kite crushed Howard Clark by the same margin in 1989.
