Around 123,000 spectators made the trek to Turnberry - the R&A claims to have budgeted for 115,000 - while around 200,00 will be expected at St Andrews next year. So the crowds were relatively low, but then Turnberry is such a fantastic venue it demands its place on the Open rota.
A point of interest from Turnberry came out of the R&A's pre-tournament press conference, when chief executive Peter Dawson responded to a question about the new groove restrictions by claiming, "we've been complimented more than once about the process we've been through". If the R&A has received, say, two compliments about the process, I doubt whether they have come from the Tour players or manufacturers.
The issue with limiting groove volume and sharpness is not so much in the theory - limiting spin generated from bad lies is fine - but enforcing retrospective limits on equipment opens up a host of problems for the trade. With club golfers entitled to continue playing with grooves made prior to 2010, while Tour pros will be forbidden to do so, selling wedges made after January 1, 2010 is clearly going to be a very difficult challenge.
The irony is that in defending its stance on golf ball technology, the R&A has previously spoken of the importance of all golfers, from the bottom of the amateur game to the top of the professional, playing by the same rules and with the same equipment. But it just doesn't apply to wedges for the next 14 years.
Robin Barwick, Editor
