Burns' Eye View

Tom Watson is a man I admire enormously.

His rare levels of grace and dignity (especially when under pressure) reveal the quality of the man. He is the most wonderful example to all current and future sportsmen as to how to conduct oneself in the spotlight. Put simply, he is pure class, on and off the golf course.

In 2009, when he was within a whisker of winning The Open Championship at Turnberry, (the scene of his famous ‘Duel in the Sun’ with Jack Nicklaus in 1977), his magic touch let him down at the vital moment on one of his favorite courses. By over-running the 18th green with his approach shot and missing his ‘up and down’ putt, he finished joint first and then lost in a play-off.

His moment was lost, and The Open Championship went to Stewart Cink, but ‘Gentleman Tom’ won more than the Gold Medal he would have won as ‘The Champion Golfer’ of 2009. He earned great respect from the world’s sporting public for his performance at 59 years old, and more importantly, everyone’s deepest respect for the manner in which he conducted himself in the post-tournament presentations and the aftermath.

His class shone like a beacon from Turnberry’s lighthouse.

I went to watch him a few days later at Sunningdale in 2009, at The Seniors Open. It was a privilege to observe him charm the galleries, and watch his graceful swing alongside the other legends of the game. The feel-good factor which surrounded him after Turnberry was quite tangible.

If, after Turnberry 2009, we thought it would be the last time we could see one of golf’s greatest players, and finest ambassadors, at the sharp end of elite golf, we were all mistaken. Tom Watson was not ready for his pipe and slippers just yet!

He continues to be competitive in Major Championships. His experience and enviable temperament may be worth more than the power and distance off the tee belonging to his younger peers. His know-how with regard to getting the ball around the golf course remains a priceless commodity. His experience of winning golf tournaments, (and being a multiple Major winner), puts him in a very exclusive club amongst current playing professionals.

This year, at The Open Championship at Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, he played with Tom Lewis who was the leading Amateur and won the Silver Medal. They teed off together in the first two rounds which was a remarkable experience for the young man from Welwyn Garden City, especially when one considers that he was named by his parents after Tom Watson!

A similarly special experience was enjoyed by the teenage Italian Manassero at Turnberry in 2009, who was also inspired to win the Silver Medal for the best Amateur score. Co-incidence, or the power of Tom Watson’s influence on a young man’s sub-conscious?

For Lewis and Manassero, I imagine their legendary playing partner’s calmness and humility put them at ease. It certainly inspired Tom Lewis to play one of the most memorable rounds of golf in The Open Championship on the first day at Royal St George’s.

Not to be upstaged by a ‘young shaver’, the veteran American achieved a ‘hole-in-one’ at Sandwich, and threatened the leaderboard, before eventually finishing the 2011 Open Championship in 22nd position. Another remarkable performance by a truly top-class sportsman.

This past week, has seen The Seniors Open being played at Walton Heath, 30 years after The Ryder Cup was staged at the beautiful Surrey heathland course. On that occasion Watson triumphed as USA recorded an important victory.

On Thursday, I went to follow Tom Watson around Walton Heath and be in his presence. It felt a little odd to be so close to a man who I hold up as an excellent role model every day of my working life as a Professional Mentor, when sharing my ideals with young sportspeople. In my humble opinion, EVERYONE NEEDS to understand that class behaviour can win every time, irrespective of the result or level of personal performance.

There are so many mis-placed assumptions about ‘winners’. Nonsense like ”nice guys always come second” and ”you have to be a b****** to be a winner” is often spoken to young people. It is irresponsible to feed such information into young, pliable minds. Far better to watch Tom Watson’s personal example.

in order to learn more, I wanted to observe his personality and game more closely so, once I realised that it would probably rain at Lord’s on Thursday, and because England was batting first it meant that I wouldn’t be missing out on Sachin Tendulkar’s possible 100th International century. Instead, I headed for the fairwyas of Walton Heath Golf Club.

Despite the heavy rain, and some strong wind to accompany my afternoon, I was in heaven watching a truly great golfer at work. Despite him missing several putts and ending up four over par and seemingly out of contention, Tom Watson’s score was almost irrelevant to me.  I wanted to observe his responses to successes and setbacks as he made his way round the course. I wanted to learn more about the man, first hand.

By pure chance, I gained a surprising, and greater insight to the man universally known in sport just as ‘Tom’ (you know you’re famous when people know your surname without it having to be spoken). The insight came from meeting some charming ladies including the delightful Mrs Hilary Watson on the 11th fairway whilst sheltering from the rain at the coffee stand. I ended up meeting her similarly stunning sister Leigh, and some of their family, and in doing so, learned more about the ‘real’ Tom Watson from his friends and family. Unsurprisingly, they all love him. He really does seem to be the real deal as a man.

Sport is truly blessed when its champions are real. We have been ‘conned’ by others in the past and their manufactured ‘positive’ public image is far removed from the reality that lies within them, and how they really live their lives.

I went to Lord’s on Friday and experienced a wonderful occasion but sadly did not see Sachin Tendulkar bat – England and Kevin Pietersen in particular dominated the day. Meanwhile, my iphone checked the golf scores, and told me that Tom Watson was beginning to make a charge towards the top of the leaderboard at Walton Heath. Another good round yesterday by the crowd favorite from Kansas, led me to follow him round again today.

He was class personified throughout the final round.

His 67 wasn’t enough to win the day, but his reception from the galleries on every green showed how much he is revered, both as a competitor and as a man. The applause wasn’t for his previous shot – it was for the thousands of others he has played so gracefully throughout his long and distinguished career.

I was right behind the line of his birdie putt on 16, and five yards away from his tee shot at 17, as he finished his round with four 3′s. A champion finish by a champion individual.

As I journeyed home from Walton Heath tonight, the reflective nature of my personality kicked in.  What a day! What a week! What a pleasure to be so close to greatness….

Amidst all the hype about the 2,000th Test at Lord’s, and Sachin Tendulkar’s pursuit of his 100th International century, Duncan Fletcher is due to complete 100 Tests as an International Coach.

It is a remarkable achievement in a world which is intolerable of failure, and jettisons coaches as the scapegoats, rather than players (or administrators) for the under-performance of an international team.

I first came across Duncan in Cape Town when he moved from Zimbabwe, and played for Claremont Cricket Club in Constantia. He gained selection for Western Province as an all-rounder, but played little. He was focused on a career in the computer industry and after retiring as a player, began coaching part-time at University of Cape Town (UCT) CC, where he began working with Gary Kirsten at the UCT nets. Kirsten was an off-spinner who batted at number 8 for UCT!

At the time, I was Player/Coach (in the same Western Province Premier League) for Northerns-Goodwood CC, and then Bellville CC, and enjoyed the opportunity to see Duncan at work. This was even more so, when he took up full-time coaching as the Head Coach of Western Province.

Fletcher inherited a powerful provincial team from previous coaches Robin Jackman and Hylton Ackerman, but also developed a core of talented young players himself, who would serve Western Province and South Africa well. HD Ackerman, Herschelle Gibbs, and Jacques Kallis were nurtured by ‘Fletch’, and Gary Kirsten became known in cricketing circles as his prodigal son.

‘Fletch’ famously hauled Kirsten out of the pub in Cape Town and told him he could be a Test cricketer, and to stop wasting his time by ‘playing’ at the game. Kirsten changed his lifestyle, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Gary Kirsten’s journey has been a remarkable testimony to his mentor’s ability to inspire and nurture. The irony of the present situation, is that ‘Fletch’ is the Head Coach of Team India largely because of Gary’s strong recommendation, as well as his success as England Coach.

Over the past three years, Gary was a phenomenally successful coach of India, especially when one considers he had no formal experience of coaching a cricket team, let alone an international one. However, he knows the game inside out and has a passion for learning and life, added to a rare humility in top sportsmen. His relationship with ‘Fletch’ has been a key factor in his progress in the game, and the two have become firm friends.

‘Fletch’ is an interesting cove. He is regarded as taciturn, and very few perople claim to know him properly. Steve James, the former Glamorgan and England opening batsman penned his autobiography ‘Behind the Shades’ after his tenure as England’s Coach, and also played for him at Glamorgan when they won the County Championship. However, he doesn’t claim to ‘know’ him.

Nasser Hussain was thrust into a working relationship with ‘Fletch’ in 1999 when the two were appointed as Captain and Coach respectively of a ‘new’ England. They started off inauspiciously, with England 2 for 4 wickets on the morning of the 1st Test at The Wanderers, Johannesburg, and lost in four days. However, they formed a trusting and mutually respectful alliance to lead England out of the doldrums and towards Ashes success in 2005. Hussain has a deep affection for his former England Coach, as does Michael Vaughan, and key members of the teams who played for him.

Therein lies what I believe is the ‘secret’ of Duncan Fletcher’s continued success – his ability to build trusted relationships with the key lieutenants in his cricket teams. While some of his coaching peers may prefer to get their administrative bosses on side (sometime at the expense of their coaching charges) ‘Fletch’ has always built a tightness around his core group of senior players. However, loyalty in sport only goes so far if you can’t make a difference to a player’s game. This is where he excels – his tactical and technical input is carefully thought through and skilfully communicated to ensure maximum impact. Players never forget such input as it can make or break a career.

One of his most trusted men, is my good friend Eric Simons, a man of great integrity. Eric was a key player for ‘Fletch’ at Western Province, then became his successful Captain, and went on to become the South Africa Head Coach. He is now Assistant Coach to Team India, having originally been appointed by Gary Kirsten. To see Simons and Fletcher together again, running a cricket team, does not bode well for opponents. They are experienced, wise men who mean business.

For ‘Fletch’ the return to Lord’s for his 100th Test as an International Coach, will possibly spring a few regrets too. His departure as England Coach was ignominious. Losing an Ashes Series 5-0 in Australia was humiliating for all involved, and the World Cup performance in the West Indies which followed, was similarly woeful. His departure from English Cricket was a loss - he should have been nurturing the next generation of England players and coaches, as his coaching experience and technical expertise is peerless. His ability to spot talent is impressive as both Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan’s careers testify. Both were doing ok at best in County Cricket, but the then England Coach saw past their form, and recognised the qualities which could enable them to develop and succeed in the highest form of the game.

His subsequent consultancy roles have helped New Zealand, Hampshire and his home country South Africa, where his calmness and tactical input contributed to their series win in Australia two years ago. Jacques Kallis has also benefitted from the re-connection, and has taken his game to another level in the period too, thus making him an increasingly invaluable cricketer for South Africa.

When India steps out at Lord’s on Thursday, Duncan Fletcher can feel very proud of his achievement and despite his reputation, will probably afford himself a quiet smile at the rewarding journey he has trod, and be excited about the next steps.

Today, July 18th, is the anniversary of the birth of London County’s Founder, Dr WG Grace.

If he were alive, he would have been 163 not out today. On his 56th birthday, he scored his final First-Class century (166) for London County v MCC, in 1904.

He was the first icon of Cricket, played in the first-ever Test in England (1880 at The Oval), scoring England’s first-ever Test century.

Grace was a walking first: first two triple-centuries in first-class cricket, in 1876, first to make 2000 first-class runs in a season (2739 in 1871), first to 1000 runs in May (1895), first to 50,000 first-class runs, first to 100 hundreds, first Test century in England, and first Englishman to make a century on debut. His other Test century came against the Aussies at The Oval too, (170 in 1886). Grace captained England in the last 13 of his 22 Tests.

This week, at Lord’s, the 2,00th Test is being played. Grace played in the match in which the Ashes were created (1882 at The Oval), and if he knew how big the contest would become, I imagine he would be amazed. It is one of the pillars of modern sport.

Remarkably, in keeping with our London County theme and the phenomenon of the number 166, July 18th is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, meaning that there are 166 days remaining until the end of the year!

Grace  shares the birthday with Nelson Mandela, legendary Fast Bowler Dennis Lillee, former MCC President Hubert Doggart, Entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, Olympian David Hemery and Golfer Sir Nick Faldo.

On this day in 1896, Grace’s good, and fellow London County Cricketing Great, KS Ranjitsinhji, made a century on Test debut (154 not out) at Old Trafford for England against Australia.

In 2009,  Henry Allingham died on this day. Allingham was the world’s oldest man at the time, and the only living person to have seen WG play Cricket. This was at The Oval., the scene of so many of Grace’s triumphs.

To celebrate London County Founder’s Day in 2011, we have a London County Colts fixture against Sussex Under 12′s at Blackstone.

I wonder if 166 will feature in the game today ?!