Open players offer tributes after death of ‘fantastic’ Bob Torrance

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/19/open-tributes-bob-torrance-tiger-woods

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Tiger Woods was among those to wear a black ribbon during the third round of the Open, to mark the death on Friday of the much-loved golf coach Bob Torrance.

Torrance, who coached Padraig Harrington towards three major wins and was the father of the former Ryder Cup captain Sam, died in his sleep at the age of 82 after a long illness. He was admired throughout the world of golf and a host of Open competitors showed their respect by wearing the ribbons on their hats.

Torrance never coached Woods but the 14-times major winner would routinely turn to the Scot for advice. “I knew Bob for a lot of years,” said Woods. “Even from my amateur days when I came over here. He had been fantastic to me. We had a lot of great conversations about golf. It was always fun picking his brain about the game, how it’s evolved and how he believed it should be played. I’m going to miss him very much.”

Tom Watson was another to offer a Saturday tribute to Torrance, whose growling style was legendary. “I always had a good relationship with Bob,” said Watson. “I think he had a good relationship with everybody. We’re going to miss him. He was a character, but he knew the golf swing. Sometimes you could understand him and sometimes you couldn’t. But he was a kind and generous man. I always enjoyed his company.”

Darren Clarke, who won the Open in 2011, credits Torrance with his emergence in professional golf. The pair had worked together from 1990, when Clarke moved from the amateur ranks.

“I spent many, many days and hours with Bob up on the range up in Largs,” Clarke said. “Bob was a very, very special man. I would not be the golfer that I am without the help of Bob Torrance. He will be sadly missed on the turf and he was a character; difficult to understand at times, even for those of us who knew him. But he was a great man. And the world is a worse place without Bob Torrance.”