Local Southport architect George Tonge designed the Garrick Theatre in Southport in the early 1930’s. Later that decade an equally impressive art-deco designed structure was unveiled. Resembling a ship in design, the Royal Birkdale clubhouse was unveiled. The same clubhouse Mark O’Meara played up to over 60 years later on the 18th hole; en route to the second of his two Major wins.
It was on this day in 1998, that the American with a penchant for hunting and fly-fishing in the pursuit of Steelhead and Atlantic Salmon, cast his eyes onto the Claret Jug. But first he had to overcome fellow American – albeit Canadian by birth - Brian Watts.
A four hole play-off saw O’Meara birdie the first while Watts parred. With pars for both on the 2nd and 3rd play-off hole, O’Meara parred the last and secured the contest with two strokes.
His friend Tiger Woods has joined O’Meara on a number of occasions over the years on the river, with Spey rod in hand; but was unable to keep pace with the two elder players, finishing third on one over. The tight scoring was reflective of a compact, competitive field; Jesper Parnevik, Raymond Russell, Jim Furyk and Justin Rose {then an amateur}, were all ultimately a tie for fourth on two over.
O’Meara was relatively fresh from winning his first major – the Augusta Masters – in April. One of the three birdies of the final four holes in Georgia was a birdie for a putt on the final hole. It was enough, just, to win the tournament by one stroke over Fred Couples and David Duval.
1998 promised much, however, it has been the zenith of his career. He made his most consecutive cuts in the mid to late ‘90s (11) and with just one win on the European Tour in 2004 at the Dubai Desert Classic, at 60, another Major win looks improbable. But again, when his family moved above a golf course in California when he was 13 and he fell in love with the game, the measured success of the affable former champion shouldn’t be undermined.
With his approach play and putting still prominent, if not as arresting as it was in his prime, there will still be plenty of interest in his 6:35 am tee off at Birkdale on Thursday morning. He will hit the first drive in Southport, with compatriot Ryan Moore, and Chris Wood; the 29-year-old from Bristol who was an amateur when he played at Waterloo Road in 2008, but still managed a stirring fifth place finish.
But for O’Meara, who claims to plan his golfing schedule around his fishing schedule, the pressure is off. But as with fishing, his instinct has not simply disappeared with time. He may not drive with the same gusto as he did in 1998, but the nuances are still there. The patience and the know-how are in the locker. O’Meara may just still make an impression this week at Royal Birkdale.
