Mediate says he’ll play in next week’s British Open
GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) – Rocco Mediate said he’ll play in the British Open next week, but not because Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus criticized him for saying he’d skip the tournament because he had no chance to win. After a disappointing showing in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y., last month, Mediate said it would be “a waste of time” to play in the British Open.
“If you can’t win somewhere, why go?” Mediate said.
Palmer and Nicklaus, playing at a charity tournament several days later, criticized Mediate, a five-time PGA Tour winner who’s ranked No. 12 in the world, and said today’s golfers don’t have the competitive drive they should.
Palmer, of Latrobe, views himself as a mentor to Mediate, who grew up in nearby Greensburg, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh. Wiping away mock tears, Palmer said of Mediate’s comments, “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”
Mediate called Palmer to explain that his chronically bad back – not a lack of spine – prompted his remarks.
Mediate, who withdrew from the British Open because of back pain after an opening-round 73 last year, said he’s leaving for Scotland on Friday hoping to practice, relax and loosen up for the British Open that begins July 18 at Muirfield Golf Club. Mediate plans to fly to Scotland in Phil Mickelson’s private plane.
“I don’t let what anyone says affect my decisions. I’m a big boy,” Mediate said. Nicklaus and Palmer “didn’t have any influence on my decision.”
But Mediate said the incident did come up when he played with Palmer on Sunday at the elder statesman’s home course, Latrobe Country Club.
“After playing with him this weekend, I’m convinced he could win the British Open, hands down,” Palmer said. “His ability to make the shots is ironclad.”
Mediate said he now sees Palmer’s rebuke in a new light.
“The fact that Mr. Palmer said what he said at first was kind of a little flattering,” Mediate said. “If he didn’t care (about me) he wouldn’t have said anything. He probably thought, ‘What in the world is this guy doing, not going to the British Open?”‘