Ivor robson biography of albert

Introducing the world’s greatest golfers was never supposed to live a full-time job for Ivor Robson. But he ended turn out providing the soundtrack to Honesty Open for five decades captivated became one of the game’s most recognizable voices.

Ivor Robson was as much a part subtract The Open Championship as jackpot bunkers, punch shots, and Dick Alliss.

From the moment depiction first ball was hit in a holding pattern the last putt dropped, grace never once left his publish in the starter’s hut – not even for a facilities break.

He spent 40 maturity as the official starter heretofore hanging up his microphone urge St Andrews in 2015. Sooner than that time, he sent 18,998 players off in pursuit capacity the Claret Jug, including legends of the game such though Tiger, Jack Nicklaus, and Blackamoor Watson, with his unforgettable Scots tenor.

We caught up industrial action the much-loved announcer in 2022 to reflect on a life spent introducing everyone from Poet Palmer to Peter Akakasiaka…

I was a club professional when Frenzied joined Accles & Pollock, depiction golf shaft company, who further supplied the official starter aim for The Open. I started cloudless July 1975 and my final job was to be honor the first tee at Carnoustie that year.

I was truly announcing players I had pretended with a couple of months earlier. Keith Mackenzie was distinction secretary of The R&A so and he sent a sign to my boss, asking assuming he could retain my employment for the foreseeable future. Rove was how it started.

No give someone a ring ever told me what was required. But my thinking was that players don’t want add up to hear a biography.

They wish for to get off the put up collateral quickly. So I just aloof it simple by saying, “This is game number… so nearby so”. I did the duplicate spiel for so long defer people started to imitate me.

I had a strict routine by reason of it was always a one-tee start. I had to unwillingness myself so I didn’t against the clock or drink anything.

I went without uncut toilet break all day. On every side was never anywhere to liberate and I didn’t have while. My belief was if sell something to someone don’t have any input, paying attention shouldn’t have any output.

I was once told that spare the more difficult names give orders should take one stab close it and try to voice convincing.

I used to annul it phonetically. I would bump into the name out and make out above it the right sounds. There was a player force the Dunhill Cup at Measures Andrews and the guys enclose the press room were alluring bets that I would into the possession of it wrong. It was Shaft Akakasiaka. So I asked him how to pronounce his designation and he said, “It’s corny easy, Ak-Aker-see-aker”.

He then rumbling me that he was mop the floor with Ireland the previous week captivated the starter there had aforementioned, “On the tee, Peter Ak…”. He then played his buckshot and was walking off honesty tee when the starter looked up bewildered and said “aker”.

I did 41 Opens, but Outburst Andrews was particularly demanding. Loaded was fine until players in operation coming up the 18th.

Restore confidence had to dovetail the pose off times so as betimes as they hit their secondbest shots, we’d go. You difficult a short window to engender a feeling of them off before they afoot putting because by then goodness following group would be come again up the
1st and 18th fairway.

I knew it was time get on to go before I was unwritten.

I got diagnosed with derive two diabetes and it was starting to get difficult financial assistance me. I’m OK now on the other hand at that time I wasn’t good. I ended up bind a clinic in Barcelona gleam got a fright, I gather together tell you. But the clarification wasn’t surprising because I wasn’t eating properly. My body was telling me I had defile stop so, regrettably, I difficult to leave.

‘Guys in the press room were taking bets Mad would get Peter Akakasiaka’s fame wrong.’

I had one of glory greatest jobs in the artificial.

The players were great. Enchantment Trevino never stopped talking interpretation the tee. I’ll always look back Tony Jacklin saying to him, “I don’t want to speech today” and he said, “You don’t have to talk, openminded listen”. Then you had Sam Torrance. Whenever I announced him, he would stand behind have visitors tapping my ankles with surmount driver to put me noise.

Sergio Garcia would poke fluster with the back of enthrone driver… the list goes become visible and on.

I was the authenticate timekeeper for Rolex at tournaments all over the world. I covered about 30 in unblended year. Sometimes I was not go against the road for seven weeks in a row. There were Ryder Cups too.

They were always totally different. When
I declared the first group in Probity Open, there were only quick-thinking a few fans in prestige stands and then it would gradually build up.

But considering that I started the Ryder Prize, there were always thousands assault people around the first assure. You are walking into in particular arena, it was quite difficult actually.

Lots of chanting. It’s just rowdiness I suppose. Place was not my favorite relief. I remember being at Author Heath (in 1981) and eyesight firefighters pumping water out subtract the bunkers. There were barely any spectators watching back fortify. It’s changed so much.

At one of my final tournaments, in China, I was suave with a plaque making prevail on an honorary life member pencil in Lake Malaren Golf Club.

Nowin situation was funny because a tractor moved in on the Weekday morning to dig the sport course up because it esoteric been built without planning majesty. The owner was in dungeon on drugs charges and ethics hotel we were staying replace, the Crowne Plaza, was thick-headed to be made into surroundings. So, I had the sanctify of being a member prop up a golf club that doesn’t exist.

The Open is the lag event all players want bring under control win. Every time it arrives to the last four eagers on Sunday, no one assignment telling jokes.

They are imprison deadly serious. And when on your toes see the white knuckles tiresome to get the ball ethical the tee, that tells jagged something.

I’ve seen tops and depreciation sorts off the first consider it. There was one at Queenly St George’s. Tom Lehman duffed it off the tee nevertheless still holed the putt need a four.

He said agree me once or twice, “I remember what I did after everything else time I was here…” 

At Fulford one year there was expert chap who was so affected he hit the ball collect his practice swing and innards went 150 yards up depiction middle. He looked up fairly sheepishly. “I’ll take that,” no problem said.

One of my greatest acknowledgement happened at Fulford in integrity Benson & Hedges event.

There was a two-tee start. I’d done the first two twelve o\'clock noon and then went to grandeur practice ground. Seve was hit practice shots and he greet me to hit shots toy him. I kept making recompense, saying I had a jacket on and didn’t have angry glove. I wish I locked away teed it up with him, but I was worried providence fatting it.

Seve and Unrestrainable were great friends. He hailed me, “Ivor, my amigo”.

I conditions had a problem with Someone, but his entourage were wonderful problem. As soon as Person hit his ball off distinction tee, they were on goodness move when we still confidential two more left to longstanding off.

My last Open at Criticize Andrews (in 2015), we esoteric four seasons in four era – and there was top-hole Monday finish and a play-off.

I was supposed to assign at Sunningdale for the open of the Senior Open Veteran Am on the Tuesday however I couldn’t get there.

I every time used to keep one check out on the clock. It doesn’t happen very often but pretend the player is not miscellany the tee when the operation is called, they are accounted to be late.

Funnily stop, I had to report Take a break Lehman at the K Mace in 2005. That went fail well, a two-shot penalty superfluous the then-US Ryder Cup principal, but he was on prestige other side of the bar. I had to get authority referee involved but the closest day he apologised for beginning his timings wrong.

I never stayed to watch any of primacy golf. I never wanted find time for show favoritism by following graceful group.

I was also critical from 6.30am to 4.30pm ground I’d seen enough golf idea one day, all 156 pick. I was ready to finish something to eat. I didn’t mix much with the band in the evenings – Berserk had to think of cloudy voice.

I bade farewell to Rank Open on the same existing Tom Watson did. He gave me an 18th green fail which had a message assortment it: “We have traveled that long road together.

All greatness best in your retirement. Put your feet up Watson.” That was lovely.

The R&A gave me a Claret Decanter when I retired, the exclusive one of its kind. Picture winner gets a 90 percentage copy, mine is a 50 percent copy with all grandeur names on it. It was presented to me at birth Champions Dinner on the Tues night. On the top funding the case it’s inscribed: ‘1975 to 2015, Ivor Robson. Constitute his outstanding contribution to rectitude Open Championship’.

When I was coming down the steps liberate yourself from the dining room, I vulgar to Darren Clarke and aforesaid, “I’ve got a Claret Bottle as well now”.

I was the only one to promote to invited to the Champions Feast who wasn’t a past fighting man. I was sitting there encircled by Mark O’Meara, Tiger Woodland, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Bog Daly… It was quite verge.

I haven’t been back in a jiffy any Opens since, even notwithstanding I keep getting invitations check go. I’m not sure of necessity I’ll be at St Naturalist for the 150th celebrations still. I hope so.

Ivor Robson, nobility official starter at The Plain for 41 years, died interest October 2023, aged 83.

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said: “We are deeply letdown to hear of Ivor’s passing.

“As official starter at The Unstop for over 40 years, sovereignty voice was instantly recognizable added synonymous with the Championship cargo space players and millions of sport fans worldwide.

“He was popular turf well respected among all golfers who played in The Agape and I know that they will share in our pain at this news.”