Ambassadors of sport

While the Grand National may have produced the closest race in history, two golfers at the King’s Invitational hosted by the Royal Golf Club could not be separated after 18 holes, with Thomas Bjorn, the Danish European Tour ace who earned almost two million Euros in prize money last year, finally winning after a nearest-the-pin shoot-out.

In some respects it was better than the main Volvo Golf Champions event last year, with the golfers themselves more relaxed away from the glare of intense competition and able to mix in the exalted company of some of the most famous sportsmen of yester-year.

The Bahrain Economic Development Board deserves great credit for its vision and determination to host this event as a sporting warm-up extravaganza to this coming weekend’s Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

The invited celebrities were well-chosen for their warmth, personality and generosity – attributes that they themselves found in abundance in Bahrain, with former Italian soccer star Gianluca Vialli and fellow former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit frequently  pronouncing how ‘delighted’ they were with the welcome they received throughout their visit.

The diversity of sporting talent meant this invitational event appealed to more than the golfing fraternity, with each of the invitees also helping to inspire the youngsters of Bahrain (and the young at heart) with coaching clinics and opportunities to meet and greet.

This two-day celebration of golf attracted hundreds of families to the finale, the Pro-Celebrity golf tournament, many of whom were perhaps more interested in meeting true sporting legends as they were in watching the action.

With less on the line, the relaxed and convivial atmosphere led to all participants happily engaging with fans throughout the match. The players were quick to hand out balls and gloves while signing shirts, books and boots, providing memories for fans that will last a lifetime.

Paul Casey again lifted a trophy in Bahrain, although on this occasion it was the team trophy rather than the individual one. Bjorn’s solo victory over Casey came after both players finished level on 4-under after 18 holes. Montana shared the team prize with Casey.

The format of the competition allowed each player and celebrity to play over six holes, although the stop-start nature of this did draw some criticism with the need to warm-up again every time and also the extended duration of the event, with the Invitational stretching past six hours on a hot day, testing even the fittest.  In keeping with the event being held on the same day as the Grand National some joked about a need to be put-down!

It was wonderful to witness first hand players from different sports revelling in their own opportunities to meet others having reached the elite level and draw comparisons between sports and the differences in technique, preparation and mental controls required. It was not only the invited guests wanting to have their pictures taken with their sporting heroes.

Vialli admitted to being so excited at the chance to meet American football legend Joe Montana while Gullit revelled in being partnered with Ladies European Tour blonde and world number 3 in the women’s ranking Suzann Petterson for the full 18 holes.
 
England’s tennis favourite Tim Henman was seen deep in conversation with Casey on the course and overheard on the driving range answering Petterson’s questions about the importance of warming up before a match.

The relaxed approach from all lent itself to open banter between the players on and off the course. In a coaching clinic, course designer Colin ‘Monty’ Mongomerie referred to the finishing position of his belt buckle in his swing, at which point Bjorn joked ‘which would be better if you could see it!’

Monty returned the compliment later, picking up Bjorn’s famed belly-putter and testing it, discarded it commenting ‘you clearly have a bigger belly than I do.’

Later, on course, Monty looked visibly disturbed as Montana ran through a summary of his career injuries that perhaps lay to rest the argument about the dangers of his sport. Recovering his composure Monty then joked with the crowd about how healthy and injury-free his career had been, before tripping over his driver and nearly falling to the amusement of all around.

Players made light-hearted attempts to distract their opponents with Gullit a particular protagonist. However, as they were ‘miked-up’ this presumably restricted some of the comments with promises also made to edit out exasperated cries of anguish following poor shots!

Credit must also go to the officials and volunteers at the Royal Golf Club with the organisation matching the excellent playing conditions. The course drew accolades from all while the competition format bore comparison with the famed Dunhill Pro-Celebrity competition in Scotland, although the sudden onset of a wintry storm in the amateur competition ensured that comparisons were closer than the players would have liked.

Away from the golf the retired sporting celebrities helped to inspire future generations of Bahrain’s children.  Henman conducted a tennis master class for children ranging from ages four to 18 spread over five courts while Montana and Casey joined local basketball legend Shahram at a Question and Answer session hosted by Riffa Views International School.

Bahrain’s sports fans came well informed and armed with penetrating questions while relishing this unprecedented opportunity to rub shoulders with their heroes.

Shahram was quick to acknowledge the impact his coach had on his career while stressing the importance of working with youngsters in Bahrain.

Casey continued to endear himself to Bahrain, responding to a question about his next favourite sport with the answer: ‘F1’. Indeed, he showed his racing skills by dominating a race at the BIC International Karting track, coming home to take the chequered flag well ahead of the other celebrities and officials.

However, it was Montana that the majority of sporting fans had come to see.  He exchanged passes with the audience and spoke freely about the highs and lows of his career while refusing to be drawn on whether his sport was harder to play than rugby.

They also joked about turning to golf in retirement while happily passing on tips and posing for photos with adoring fans.

Overall, this was an amazing opportunity for fans to meet their sporting idols.

Those that got the closest were probably the volunteer caddies. St Christopher’s School parent governor David Axtell said he was ‘delighted’ to have carried the clubs for Henman, who he described as a ‘professional-standard golfer and absolute gentleman’. 

Caddying, however, is not as easy as it looks. He added: “It’s amazing that when your player hits a poor shot how many ‘spectator-experts’ criticise the advice that had been offered by the caddy!”

Barry Hobday, former Club Captain, said he was ‘delighted’ to renew acquaintances with Monty and be able to ‘discuss improvements to the course with the designer himself’, many of which he says the star ‘agreed with’.

The winners were awarded their prizes and trophies by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Supreme Council for Youth and Sport chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president, and Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and Acting CE Bahrain Economic Development Board.

Officially, the Bahrain Invitational was a two-day celebration of golf and sports, including a competitive golf tournament organised by the Bahrain Olympic Committee and Bahrain Economic Development Board and, in conjunction with IMG Worldwide.

As the visitors departed these shores heading out across the globe – Casey to China for his next competition, Gullit to London and then back to Qatar to work for Al Jazeera TV and Henman to assist with preparations for Wimbledon and the Olympics, for example – the success of the event on all fronts will hopefully generate the positive international exposure Bahrain deserves … alongside valuable word-of-mouth experiences by some truly great sporting ambassadors.

*See GolfWeekly on Page 21