Todd Hamilton had no hesitation in naming the club most responsible for him
becoming Open champion.
The 38-year-old used what he called a "hybrid" three-wood, not only off some
tees where he did not want to hit driver, but also for chipping.
And as long as he plays he will never play a better chip than the one from
short of the green at the fourth and final hole of his play-off with Ernie Els
at Royal Troon.
"I've always been blessed with pretty good hand-eye co-ordination," he
said.
"I feel my penmanship is nice and neat - people can read it.
"I don't know how that translates to golf, but my hands have always been very
good to me, whether it be chipping or putting.
"I hit a lot of those shots in the practice rounds, but not from 30 yards off
the green. I use that club when you're able to bump and run shots like that
one.
"It's a very versatile club. It's about a 14-degree loft, so it's basically a
one-iron, which is great to chip and run with.
"It's difficult to judge the distance from that far off the green, but the
fairways are cut so tight and they're nice and firm it's basically a green."
He got the ball to within three feet of the cup and after Els had missed a
10-foot birdie putt just like he had at the final hole of regulation play
Hamilton stepped up and made his winning par.
THE OPEN NEWS
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