Have you attended any sporting occasion that has gone down in the annals of that sport's history as being a defining moment? England v Germany in 1966 perhaps? Or maybe the 2003 rugby world cup?
I have.
A chum of mine used to work for a leading golf outfitter and had been promising me for years to get me in to one of the big events at which his company provided sponsorship. Then, one day in 2001, onto my doormat dropped an envelope - the contents of which informed me that I was to be spending the final day's play of the 2001 Volvo PGA Championship in the clubhouse on the 18th at Wentworth.
And what a day it was. You may recall the controversy surrounding the comments made by a number of golfing hacks about Andrew Oldcorn, the leader by 5 strokes at the end of the 3rd round, as being "mediocre" and a "journeyman pro" mushrooms. Well, the air was abuzz that morning as I ensconced myself in the clubhouse for a few sherbets in anticipation of watching the tournament leaders sink their final putts on the 18th. There was a real clamouring for Oldcorn to maintain his lead after the disparaging remarks and the fact that Nick Faldo was snapping at his heels raised the level of tension even more.
Anyhow, suffice to say that I was greenside to watch Oldcorn sink his winning putt and, if you watch the footage of that shot on TV, the inebriated cry of "Get in the hole!" as the ball tooters towards the flag comes from the mouth of none other than yours truly himself.
What a day. Here's a pic of Andrew celebrating his famous victory:
I have.
A chum of mine used to work for a leading golf outfitter and had been promising me for years to get me in to one of the big events at which his company provided sponsorship. Then, one day in 2001, onto my doormat dropped an envelope - the contents of which informed me that I was to be spending the final day's play of the 2001 Volvo PGA Championship in the clubhouse on the 18th at Wentworth.
And what a day it was. You may recall the controversy surrounding the comments made by a number of golfing hacks about Andrew Oldcorn, the leader by 5 strokes at the end of the 3rd round, as being "mediocre" and a "journeyman pro" mushrooms. Well, the air was abuzz that morning as I ensconced myself in the clubhouse for a few sherbets in anticipation of watching the tournament leaders sink their final putts on the 18th. There was a real clamouring for Oldcorn to maintain his lead after the disparaging remarks and the fact that Nick Faldo was snapping at his heels raised the level of tension even more.
Anyhow, suffice to say that I was greenside to watch Oldcorn sink his winning putt and, if you watch the footage of that shot on TV, the inebriated cry of "Get in the hole!" as the ball tooters towards the flag comes from the mouth of none other than yours truly himself.
What a day. Here's a pic of Andrew celebrating his famous victory:
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