European Tour Bans Caddie for hiding extra club in a bush.

Thought you should know this, cheating is not just restricted to the soccer field or rugby pitch, it has now surfaced at the wonderful game of golf, at the highest level, the European Tour.

Jose Manuel Lara was disqualified from the BMW International Open by the European Tour, after his Caddie was caught trying to hide an extra club he had accidentally put in Jose Manuel Lara’s bag at the beginning of the round. The caddie, Mathias Vinson, created a ruse on the second hole of the round to try and dispose of the 15th club, in a bush. Playing partners Damien McGrane and Peter Hedblom noticed Vinson going toward the bush and asked him what he was doing.

According to European Tour chief referee John Paramor, Vinson replied to the players;

” I’ve got this wrong. I’ve done something bad. I wish it hadn’t happened.”

Normally the penalty for having an extra club in the bag would have been assessed as a pair of two-shot penalties, one for each hole he had the extra club in the bag. But this was not a normal affair, John Paramor said:

“It was clearly the caddie doing what he felt at the time was the right thing, but was clearly the wrong thing. He’s kind of been asked not to come back and that’s how the matter has been resolved.”

What strikes me as funny is that the two playing partners saw what was happening, but Jose did not apparently. You don’t suppose the caddie told Jose of the error, and it was then Jose’s idea to get around the problem, knowing if the caddie did get caught he could absolve himself of all blame. I wonder if John Paramor will be keeping a close watch on Jose Manuel Lara, and I also wonder what corrective action would have been taken if it was proved that Jose instigated the dastardly course of action.

Your comments are awaited.

Robert Rock leads Joburg Open

Englands Robert Rock took the lead in the Joburg Open in the second round before a thunderstorm halted play for the day. Robert has a score of 11 under par after posting an eagle and four birdies.                                             Jamie Elson, one of the leaders after the first round, was unable to start, it has yet been reported why. Damien McGrane, who shared that first-round lead with Jamie Elson, was one over after three holes on Friday.

The second round will have to be completed tomorrow, an anxious wait for Charl Schwartzel to see if he makes the half way cut.

Warren Little/Getty Images

Robert Rock plays a drive at the 10th during the Joburg Open

Jamie Elson leads Joburg Open

England’s Jamie Elson has stormed into a share of the first round lead at the Joburg Open, shooting an eight under par 63 over Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s West Course.
“I got off to a flyer. I birdied the first, second, third and then chipped in at the fourth.

He was joined at the top of the leader board by Ireland’s Damien McGrane, who managed to reach the clubhouse before thunderstorms halted play.
In all about four hours were lost because of the real threat of lightning, and some of the players unable to complete their rounds before darkness set.
Elson was able to play his final three holes after the storm and picked up two shots in his last three holes of the day
“I had just hit a good shot on 16, the par three, and there was a strong downwind,” he said.
“With the water short it was a pretty good shot and left myself with an eight footer when I resumed play. I managed to knock that in and then finished well”
.“I had a good year here last year, I think I shot six-under on the second day at the hard course, so if I can do that again it would be nice.”

Damien was also pleased with his start to the tournament saying, “I am delighted to be in a good position after round one. For the last three or four years Irish golf has been quite incredible, and I think we feed off each other. For a small nation it sure is great to be there or thereabouts”
.“I stacked up a few birdies during the round, but that eagle really turned my round.
“I played beautifully from start to finish, and this course does give up opportunities. The greens and weather were perfect, so if you’re on your game there are birdie chances. Needless to say you have to make the chances and today I holed a few nice putts.

“I hit plenty of fairways and holed a few nice putts for birdie, it was just the bogey at the last which was disappointing. Apart from that it was a perfect round of golf.”

Lets hope these two happy soldiers are still at the top tomorrow.

(Getty Images)