Catch Seve at the cinema
Those behind Seve the Movie are at least due 10 out of 10 for originality. Golf, after all, doesn’t have a habit of drawing the paying public towards cinemas. But Severiano Ballesteros was always box office. That apparently remains the case, three years after the Spaniard’s untimely death.
This film, which charts the inspirational rise of someone who emerged from humble beginnings on the north coast of Spain as a golfing legend, may well be more notable for its collection of archive footage than acting performance. That is not to say the performance of José Luis Gutiérrez, who plays the young Seve in the early part of the film, should be underplayed. This is a role bearing a heavy weight of pressure and responsibility. Even for Gutiérrez – a 16-year-old with a handicap of four – Ballesteros is iconic to the level that he admitted to being “frightened” about not being up to the task.
Gutiérrez made a welcome studio appearance during Sky Sports’ golf coverage on Sunday, and it was obvious how honoured this talented player is to be playing the part of a great. Gutiérrez had never so much as appeared in a school play before his selection by the film director John Paul Davidson but can now display mannerisms and golf swing quirks which are instantly identifiable as Seve-esque.
When this is blended with a collection of special exerts of Ballesteros himself, the result is terrific. Basically, this film does everything possible to chart every detail of Seve’s extraordinary life.
The Ballesteros tale is notable on two fronts. Firstly, he overcame no shortage of struggles and hardship not only to progress into the realms of professional golf but then to become the flagbearer for the European game in the United States. Earlier, he hadn’t even been allowed to play on his local golf course.
Ballesteros single-handedly opened doors for players on this continent, loved nothing more than success in or against the United States, and made such an impression on the Ryder Cup that he will for ever be associated with the event.
The Seve style must also be recognised. He was the model of on-course improvisation, just as he had to do even to play golf at all during his early years. At a time when too much professional golf regresses into the realms of dull and boring, young players should still glance towards Ballesteros. His range of shots was spell-binding. He made golf eye-catching in the manner only a handful of players throughout history have done. If you sought entertainment at a golfing venue, Seve was the man to see. And always with such a ferocious competitive edge.
Seve the Movie appears in UK cinemas from Friday 27 June. This is a wholly welcome mix of golf and film; and just as valuable a lesson to aspiring golfers of today as those who were first-hand witnesses of Seve’s brilliance.
Bradley Neil victory gives Scotland something to smile about
Given the country’s status as the home of golf, it should serve as an embarrassment to Scotland to lay claim to only a single player inside the world top 100.
That counts as fewer than Italy, Denmark and Canada. It is the same as the Netherlands, Finland and Austria. Hardly auspicious stuff.
It is a surprise if there are more than two Scottish participants in major championships. Those who do play continually fail to make an impact at the summit of leaderboards. For all Colin Montgomerie has been criticised for never winning a major, at least he was routinely competitive against the world’s best.
It was pleasing, therefore, to watch Bradley Neil from Blairgowrie triumph in the British Amateur Championship at Portrush on Sunday. The 18-year-old is Scotland’s first such winner in a decade.
At next month’s Open Championship and next year’s US Open, Neil will boost his nation’s numbers. Here’s hoping he is soon doing more than that.
British media branded pathetic for women’s coverage
There was a rare newsworthy outburst from Catriona Matthew on Twitter at the weekend. The 44-year-old major winner branded the British media as “pathetic” because of a lack of representation at the women’s US Open.
The British equivalent, to be held at the superb Royal Birkdale, won’t be helped by a clash this year with the men’s Scottish Open. That tournament, at Royal Aberdeen, will boast its best field in years. There is also the small matter of a World Cup final the same day those events conclude.
Still, the appearance of the newly crowned US Open champion Michelle Wie in the field is notable. Wie’s next challenge is to go on a major-winning roll, thereby endorsing the potential of her teenage years.
“I had my best finish in the Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale [tied third in 2005] so I know it suits my game and I have some really great memories of playing there,” Wie said. “I’ll be heading over there with really high expectations, especially now I’ve proved to myself I can get over the line. It will really be something to be announced on the tee as the US Open champion.”
