The Late Late Golf Show.

It seems like I write this narrative every April - Rory McIlroy just might win the Masters and complete the Grand Slam. His performance at the Valero Texas Open was solid and hopefully, he arrives at Augusta National in a reasonable frame of mind. Just for the record Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Ludvig Aberg all had relatively perfect pre-Masters’ preparation at TPC San Antonio also. Some might say that the easiest way to complete the Grand Slam is to have victory at the Masters as the last piece of your jigsaw. The event is played at the same course every year with the risk of only subtle changes and the field is the weakest of all four Majors. If you like the course then one would presume this adds favourably to your chances but if there is scar tissue from previous failed attempts, then all bets are off and you simply play the hand that is dealt to you by the golfing Gods.

This week’s extravaganza will be the same and completely different from the Masters we have experienced over the last number of years. Yes, the course will look its magnificent best as it always does, the hype about Tiger and the possibility of him adding to his Major career tally will last until he has a few double bogies and reaches +5 during his opening round, and of course the LIV Golf narrative will be evident on all four days with the eventual winner pigeon-holed into whatever Tour they currently play on. Jack will be accompanied by his wife dressed head to toe in a white boiler suit and Gary Player and Tom Watson will ceremonially get everybody under starters orders. Golf has changed, of that, there is no doubt but as mentioned over the last few weeks, as fans we must cherish these four days because if you’re not a golf fan, you’ll simply never understand, and it's your loss, not ours. ??

I was pleased to see Patrick Kielty host a GAA-themed special on The Late Late Show last Friday. The new host thankfully has a genuine sporting background and his interaction with the audience and his guests last Friday night came across more genuinely than the person he replaced. A similar show revolving around Irish golf is no longer a pipe dream as one could easily imagine a host of sporting guests that have established Irish golf to the forefront of the world game. A new inductee into golf’s Grand Slam club, along with four other domestic Major winners, a Ryder Cup Captain, and one of the leading lady golfers on the LPGA Tour amongst other golfing royalty would be a magnificent night’s entertainment, especially as the host, a keen golfer will know what he is talking about. It would also be an opportunity to highlight the importance of the industry to the exchequer, our standing as a tourist destination and the significant role golf plays especially to rural Ireland.

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