SAM TORRANCE stood in town shoes on the 17th tee at Druid's Glen yesterday, surveying the forbidding carry of 203 yards to the island green. "Looks like a three iron," suggested Tom Craddock, code signer of the course with Pat Ruddy. Torrance picked a four iron from a set of borrowed clubs and with his customary, gentle draw, landed the ball 10 feet from the pin.
"That'll do," said the reigning Murphy's Irish Open champion, while bending down to pick up two other balls. From 25 years of experience in tournament golf, he knew he was unlikely to improve on a splendid first attempt.
Torrance had flown into Dublin yesterday morning from his home in Went worth, to have a look over the scene of his prospective defence of the Irish Open title on July 4th to 7th. "It looks lovely, remarkably mature for its age," he said. "There are some fabulous holes, particularly the 13th, 17th and 18th."
A tight schedule didn't permit him the time for a normal round so he settled for a buggy ride, stopping off to hit shots at strategic locations. For instance, he chose a six iron at the 175 yard 12th and negotiated the treacherous, 470 yard 13th with a drive and five iron. "I nailed that one," he said of his approach shot of 190 yards, before going on to suggest that the tightness of the drive would probably prompt players to hit three wood off the tee, in the heat of competition.
Surprisingly, he didn't think the 17th was too long, given the carry over water. "Its severity is eased considerably by the way the green is surrounded by bunkers. There's a certain security in knowing that you'll find sand if you narrowly miss the target."
Rookie of the Year on the European Tour in 1972, Torrance later gained the distinction of securing the winning, point in the 1985 Ryder Cup at The Belfry. And after switching successfully to the broom handle putter in 1988, he has just completed his best ever season to be currently, 18th in the World rankings.
"You can see things in courses at first glance and I've a feeling Druid's Glen is going to suit me," he said. "I'm certainly looking forward to defending the Murphy's Irish Open before the most knowledgeable galleries in golf." There was a pause before he added with a typical grin, "after the Scots, that is."
Torrance has always been a very popular visitor to these shores. Indeed such was the delight at his first Irish Open triumph at Portmarnock ink 1981, that he might have been a home winner. And there was a similar reaction when a superb, three wood second shot to Mount Juliet's long 17th, set up a winning eagle on what had become the second tie hole of the championship last July.
Apart from the change to the broom handle putter, Torrance has clearly reaped a rich dividend from a remarkably relaxed attitude to the extensive travelling which is so much a part of his chosen career. "I enjoy airports," he said with a straight face. "In fact I take great delight from looking at guys losing their head when flights get messed up.
He went on "My philosophy is that I'd rather be travelling than sitting in an office and there's no doubt that this approach has greatly benefited my career. I certainly have no plans to retire, except possibly for a couple of years when I'm 47 or 48 so that I can prepare for the Seniors Tour."
In the immediate future, Torrance is set to go back into action on Monday, March 4th when he and fellow Scot Colin Mongtomerie take on the so called Spanish Armada of Seve Ballesteros and JoseMaria Olazabal in a challenge match in the Canaries. "We'll have a few bob on it but I doubt if Monty and I will be taking it as seriously as those two guys," he said. "Either way it will be nice to meet up with Seve, now that he's been given the job of Ryder Cup captain for 1997. I'm delighted for him there has never been a better team man.
Finally, Torrance spoke of his pleasure at the recent return to form of his closest friend, David Feherty, who finished joint second to Sven Struver in the South African PGA Championship last weekend. "David's gone through a lot of pain but it's all over now," said Torrance, referring to the break up of the Ulsterman's 10 year marriage.
The 42 year old Scot went on "He's got so much talent and so much dedication that I'm convinced that his best golf has yet to come. The Tour needs him his brilliant mind and razor sharp wit." Then Torrance concluded "What a thing it would be if he and I could play together again in the Ryder Cup just as we did at Kiawah Island in 1991. That would be really special,"
With that, he went off to mix with the clubhouse gathering. Torrance likes people. And from the reaction he got, there was no doubting that the feeling was mutual.
