Sports Tuesday, April 14, 2020 13 Colourful ‘Peacock of the Fairways’ Sanders passes away AFP Tour, and if you gave me one LOS ANGELES birdie, four pars and a bogey wherever I could put them, I’d DOUG Sanders, who missed have five majors. one of the most heartbreak- “But it’s that putt that eve- ing potential winning putts in rybody remembers. What can British Open history, died on I say? It’s what I remember Sunday of natural causes. He most, too.” was 86. Sanders likewise finished a The US PGA Tour Cham- stroke behind Bob Rosburg in pions website said he died in the 1959 US PGA Champion- Woods Houston, Texas. ship at Minneapolis Golf Club. Known as the “Peacock of He was a stroke back of the Fairways,” Sanders was one Gene Littler at the 1961 US of the most colourful person- Open at Oakland Hills, and alities on golf’s US PGA Tour, one short of Nicklaus in the capturing 20 titles including the 1966 Open Championship at relives joy 1956 Canadian Open. Muirfield. He had four close runner- He also had the third-round up finishes in majors with the lead at the 1960 US PGA Cham- 1970 Open Championship at pionship but finished two back St Andrews engrained in the of winner Jay Herbert. memories of most golf fans. Esquire magazine once When he reached the 72nd chose Sanders as one of Amer- of winning green, he was left with less than ica’s “Ten Best Dressed Jocks.” three feet for par to beat Jack He liked to say the two most Nicklaus by one shot. frequent questions on tour But Sanders nervously were, “What did Arnold Palm- pushed his putt right of the er shoot?” and “What’s Doug hole, sending the tournament to Sanders wearing?” an 18-hole playoff the next day The Cedartown, Georgia na- fifth Masters where Nicklaus prevailed on the tive bragged that he owned over final hole. 300 pairs of shoes. “Clothes In this file photo taken on April 14, 2019, Tiger Woods of the US celebrates winning the Masters during the final round at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (AFP) “I missed a 30-inch putt on make the man,” Sanders said. the last green that would have Sanders also played in 218 AFP tory,” Woods told CBS televi- particular week. Looking back, Woods said don’t remember that part. won the 1970 British Open. events on the senior Champi- LOS ANGELES sion on Sunday. “So hopefully we’ll have it he remembers little about his It’s all anybody wants to talk ons Tour and hosted his own The American broadcast- in November, and we’ll be able merrymaking on the green LOW TIMES about,” Sanders said. tournament, the Doug Sanders FIFTEEN-TIME major winner er replayed Woods’ stunning to compete for it.” after holing the final putt 12 “I remember ‘Where the “I won 20 times on the PGA Celebrity Classic. Tiger Woods says he can’t help comeback victory on Sunday The Masters has been months ago. hell’s Joey (LaCava)? I need feeling like the green jacket he with the five-time Masters rescheduled for November “Well, the funny part about Joey.’ And I finally found Joey claimed for winning the Mas- winner adding his own com- 12-15. the whole thing is -- I don’t re- and said, ‘We did it.’ Joey was ters last year doesn’t belong in mentary from his home in member screaming. I don’t re- there helping me go to soccer his locker anymore. Florida. RARING TO DEFEND TITLE member putting my arms up, games when I couldn’t drive The 44-year-old Woods Woods said it felt odd not Woods says he was raring and I don’t remember yelling. a car. He came down here as doesn’t like the idea of hold- to be in full training for a ma- to go and would have been “That’s one of those kind a friend and helped try and ing onto the coveted sports jor and also to be keeping the healthy for this year’s event. of blackout moments. There’s nurse me back to health. He coat due to the world-wide winner’s jacket for another “Yes, I would have been certain celebrations through- was there in those low times.” coronavirus epidemic that led seven months. good to go,” Woods said. out my career that I’ve made What was extra special to the 2020 Masters tourna- “This is not the way I “Mind and body were coming putts or celebrated, I just don’t to Woods was embracing his ment being postponed until wanted to have the jacket for together. I was not my normal recall it. I guess I’m so locked mother at the final green. November. a longer period of time,” he self (earlier in the week), and into the moment,” he told CBS. “My mom’s there and she’s The pandemic “has been said. “Come Masters Tuesday, all of my normal pre-major “What I do remember is patting me on my back, and a shock to all of us. We know after our Champions Dinner, championship self. my eyes coming back down kept saying she’s so proud of (From left) In this file photo pro golfer Doug Sanders, Debbie Williams, it’s still going to continue to we put our jackets back up in “I’m used to having this and seeing people in front of me, my dad would be so proud and entertainer Peter Marshall attend a memorial service for entertainer get worse. It’s a very diffi- our lockers, and the next per- four times a year. I kind of get me. I do remember that. I re- if he were here. She said, ‘I Andy Williams on October 21, 2012 in Branson, Missouri. Doug Sanders, cult situation, a very difficult son who gets to take it off the in that mode. And it started member all the arms up. But love you,’ and I said, ‘I love who missed one of the most heartbreaking potential winning putts in time, a unique time in his- grounds is the champion that happening again.” as far as me celebrating, I you, too, Mom.’” British Open history, died on Sunday. (AFP) McIlroy hopes schedule change De Villiers doubtful about his T20 WC participation AGENCIES “I can’t see six months into of person who felt I should get JOHANNESBURG the future... “If the tournament just what I wanted.” can earn him career grand slam is postponed to next year a De Villiers also stated that THE cloud of uncertainty whole lot of things will change. he didn’t want to create false AFP months that is also scheduled to be a different Masters this over the participation of AB At the moment I feel available, hopes among his fans, his team LONDON to include the PGA Champion- year but personally, maybe de Villiers in the World T20 but at the same time I don’t members and the board over his ship, US Open and Ryder Cup. selfishly, that’s what I need to in Australia has darkened know how my body will see it return to the side. He refrained RORY McIlroy is hoping the “The Masters means so get the jacket.” amidst the coronavirus out- and if I will be healthy at that from committing to anything, rescheduling of the 2020 golf much. Obviously it’s the last The Northern Irishman is break. In an interview with time.” fearing harsh repercussions calendar can help him com- major for me to win but putting also hoping to get the chance Afrikaans-language Sunday He clarified that he was a from all quarters. plete a career grand slam at the that aside, it is such a special to represent Europe in the Ry- newspaper Rapport, de Vil- person who played only when “I’m terribly afraid to say Masters in November. place, so many great memories der Cup, which has so far re- liers opened up about his fu- he thought he could give 100 now yes, I’m available. And All four of golf’s majors already,” McIlroy said in an In- tained its original dates from ture with the national side, AB de Villiers per cent in the middle, and if then in six months, my whole have been affected by strict stagram Live with Nike Golf. September 25-27 at Whistling which might be determined the T20 WC was postponed to life has changed as a result of government restrictions to “I always feel there’s Straits in Wisconsin. over the next few months. South Africa head coach, de Vil- a later date, things would get the virus, or other uncertainties help prevent the spread of this bit of anticipation However, European cap- Not more than a month ago, liers’ return became more than tougher for him as he would around the world, and I have to coronavirus. going into Augusta, the tain Padraig Harrington be- the former South African cap- just a theory, with their camara- have to prove his fitness level all withdraw. Then a lot of people The Open Champion- first big event of the lieves the biennial event will tain was contemplating a return derie well known among crick- over again to Boucher. will be angry with me again. ship has been cancelled and year. There’s all this be postponed if fans cannot to the national side for the mega eting circles.