By Michael Davis
Jack Newton still finds it hard to believe Seve Ballesteros is no longer with us. He can still hear the Spaniard calling him ''Yak'' instead of Jack. Ballesteros' English was never that good.
Any time their paths crossed Seve would say, ''Yak, I remember that time at the Masters. I was lucky to win'. I think he was being kind,'' Newton told PSSST.
Mates: Jack Newton and Seve Ballesteros during the 1980 Masters at Augusta.Credit: Getty Images
Newton’s illustrious golf career ended after he lost an arm when he walked into the propeller of a light aircraft at Sydney airport in 1983. And while much is rightly made of Greg Norman’s freaky near misses in majors, it is often overlooked that with an ounce of luck, Newton could have won two.
His 18-hole play-off with Tom Watson for the 1975 British Open championship at Carnoustie is still regarded as one of golf’s epic contests. And Newton almost hauled in Ballesteros in the final round at Augusta in 1980, even though the dashing Spaniard had started the day nine strokes clear of him.
''By the time we hit off the 15th, a par five, he was only two in front,'' Newton recalled. ''He was unravelling big time and swearing in Spanish. The only words I knew in Spanish were the swear words, so I knew he wasn’t a happy chappie. We were both on the 15th in two and I needed to hole my eagle putt to be a chance. I lipped out and went six feet past the hole. Seve made birdie and that stopped the rot.''
Newton also was equal leader going into the final day at Augusta in 1979 before ''doing a Seve'' and shooting 76. He first played at Augusta in 1976, securing an invitation, as you had to in those days, by virtue of his gallant second to Watson at Carnoustie the previous year. ''I played in new golf shoes, not realising it was so hilly, and you don’t realise that from watching it on TV, where everything is made to look flatter than it is.''
The result was that he played almost crippled with blistered feet in the second round. ''I could hardly walk due to my own stupidity,'' he said. ''Anyway, after the round, Clifford Roberts, the venerable tournament director, called me into his office and said: 'I hear you played injured and didn’t complain about it'.'' He invited Newton back every year afterwards.
Newton still finds it inspiring driving down Magnolia Lane to Augusta’s magnificent southern-style clubhouse. ''The tees and fairways are immaculate. You could eat your dinner off them and the greens are lightning quick, although not as quick as they were before they went to bent grass. But they are sloping and still pretty quick.''
Newton will always remember the fifth green at Augusta for a memorable four-putt – the only one he ever had in professional golf.
He is enjoying the success of the Australians on golf’s world stage and will not be at all surprised if another Australian – or perhaps Adam Scott for a second successive year – dons the green winner’s jacket.
''Adam Scott’s success has shown the others the way, that if he can do it, so can they,'' Newton said. ''It was the same when Greg [Norman] was taking the world by storm. He dragged everyone else along with him and no doubt that had plenty to do with 'Grades' [Wayne Grady] winning the 1990 USPGA and 'IBF' [Ian Baker-Finch] winning The Open the following year.''
Newton said he did not endear himself to Scott a few years ago when he questioned why he was trying to change his swing when many thought he already had one better than Tiger Woods. ''The big difference for Adam has been getting a long putter and a caddie, Steve Williams, who demands perfection. Just look at the players he has caddied for – Ray Floyd, a great player but a difficult man to work for, Greg Norman and Woods.''
Victories in the US by Jason Day – ''I am convinced he will win a Masters but maybe the thumb injury will hold him back this year'' – Steven Bowditch, Matt Jones and John Senden confirm Newton’s long-held belief Australian players peak between the ages of 30 and 40.
''We are an island on the other side of the world. It takes us longer to become accustomed to playing in the US. We have always been among the best ball strikers in the world. But I don’t think the Australians, as a rule, spend enough time on their short games, whereas the Yanks can get it up and won out of the ball washer.''
Newton reckons all Australians should come home to play the local circuit to ''get a bit of Australiana and have a break from all the hoo-ha in the States''.
''It can wear you down hearing about everything in the US being 'the longest, the biggest and the best'. I think it’s important for the Australians to come home, see their parents and have a few beers with their mates.''
THE WATCHMAN
0 minutes to midnight for - Harry Kewell and Steve Hooker. Two great, if occasionally controversial, Australian sportsmen have finally called it quits.
LOCAL HERO
Keeping an eye out for your mates will be the message of "Man Therapy" a new educational campaign about depression and anxiety to be launched by Beyond Blue and Channel Seven during this weekend's football broadcasts. The campaign will encourage men to talk about their problems and seek support.
WHAT THEY SHOULD DO
... currently, far too many marks are being awarded that do not travel the minimum regulated distance of 15 metres. A regular morning or evening stroll around suburbia, where standard blocks of land are generally 15 metres wide, would give the umps a better understanding of distance, than the current farcical circumstances. In fact, let's get sophisticated and issue them with Laser measuring wands. - Christopher K Holdstock, Glenroy
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