This week six amateurs will test themselves against the best players in the world at St Andrews in the 150th Open. Almost three decades ago IAIN PYMAN played The Open at Royal St Georges in what is widely regarded as one of the all-time great golf tournaments. The then British Amateur champion was in the form of his life and he spoke to editor MARK FLANAGAN about that glorious week; about playing with Seve, Gary Player and the buzz of an appreciative crowd.
The legendary Gene Sarazen described the 122nd Open at Sandwich as the “greatest championship in all my 70 years in golf.”
Greg Norman won his second Open by two shots after a breathtaking final round 64 (-6) with Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer posting 67s to finish second and third. Close up behind were Corey Pavin, Ernie Els, Nick Price and Fred Couples. It is widely regarded as the strongest final leaderboard at any major.
Not a million miles behind those titans of the game was Yorkshire amateur Iain Pyman.
Aged just 20 and qualifying as a result of defeating Paul Page at Royal Portrush in the British Amateur just a few weeks earlier, the Sand Moor player would end a fabulous week in joint 27th, the best performance by an amateur since Jose-Maria Olazabal (25th) in 1985.
All week the crowd had got behind Iain, who had his father Dennis on the bag.
And that walk down 18 on that remarkable Sunday afternoon remains his most treasured memory in the game.
“I can still remember just about every shot I hit over those four days,” said the 49-year-old. “But what really stands out from that week were the crowds. They were phenomenal.
“I didn’t realise just how much the spectators really got behind the amateurs and they love to see an amateur doing well.
“And that walk down 18 was the highlight of my career. The reception I got was incredible. The only thing was I three putted the last to finish one over. It would have been very nice to finish level par.”
While the spine-tingling stroll down the last ensured there was a glorious conclusion, the start of the week wasn’t too bad either. Because of his connections to Seve’s West Yorkshire-based caddy Billy Foster, Iain would play a practice round with the Spanish legend.
And it’s fair to say he got a short game crash course from Señor Ballesteros.
“Seve had me chipping from every single place possible. Every hole it was like… ‘Iain come here…you do this from here and chip from here and putt from there and when the flag is here, you do this…’ I was thinking My God is this what professional golf is like.”
There would be a distinct change in tone for his final practice round. The wise-cracking Fuzzy Zoeller and sensation of Crooked Stick John Daly would be his partners.
“After the intensity of playing with Seve it was just what I needed,” said Iain. “It was so much fun and it relaxed me. Both Fuzzy and John were great. John was putting his arm around my mum and was chatting with her. It helped me realise that if I don’t enjoy the experience there’s no point.”
The draw partnered the young amateur with South African legend Gary Player and 1987 Masters champion Larry Mize and the Englishman was starting to attract considerable media attention after opening with rounds of 68 and 72.
“Gary Player was unbelievably helpful,” he added
“I remember on the fourth green I had to move my marker because I was on his line but after he putted I put my ball back without moving the marker back and he said: ‘Iain what are you doing?’ I realised straight away and apologised and he gave me a tip. He said: ‘In those circumstances put a tee peg in your hand while you are waiting and when it comes to your turn you will think why have I got a tee peg in my hand and you will remember’. And I’ve done it ever since.”
On the Friday night Player asked Iain and his dad about the prospect of playing in the Masters the following April. Having won the British Amateur it would be his last tournament as an amateur before turning pro.
Iain picks up the story.
“He (Player) asked my dad if he was going to the Masters with me and my dad explained it was too much money. He then said to my dad: ‘Do you want to go to the Masters and caddy for Iain?’ Again we explained it wasn’t really feasible but again he just asked the same question… ‘Do you want to go to The Masters…’
“My dad then answered yes and Gary Player paid for his flights and accommodation.”
Amateurs in the 2022 Open (Eng unless stated):
• Sam Bairstow (Hallowes)
• Barclay Brown (Hallamshire)
• Filippo Celli (Italy)
• Aaron Jarvis (Cayman Islands)
• Keita Nakajima (Japan)
• Aldrich Potgieter (South Africa)
Iain shot a 70 in round three to leave himself level par overall and on the same number as a certain Seve Ballesteros.
“I was really hoping to play with Seve on the final day. He was in the group ahead. I ended up being paired with Mark James which was also great because it was two Yorkshire lads.”
A friend of Iain’s videoed the final day’s coverage for him and he was taken aback to see just how much interest there was in him.
“When I watched it back I was amazed to see loads of my shots being featured.”
There would be one more Open-related treat as he made his way in the professional game. His debut was at the Memorial at Muirfield Village, another benefit of being the British Amateur champion.
But he had to check if he was still eligible to play having turned professional and was hugely relieved to discover those running Jack Nicklaus’s tournament had given him the green light.
“I was on the practice round and the only other people there where VJ Singh, Larry Mize and Jack Nicklaus.
“Larry came over and asked me if I would like to meet Jack. Of course I said yes. After being introduced to him I thanked him for inviting me to the tournament. He just said to me: ‘I’ve not invited you. You’ve earned the right to be here.’”