Carnoustie Links chief Philp to retire

JOHN Philp, the man who had the finger of blame pointed at him when Carnoustie was dubbed “Car-nasty” during the 1999 Open Championship, won’t be in charge when tournament next returns to the Angus course.

Philp, 64 is retiring as Links Superintendent at Carnoustie in June after 26 years.

Carnoustie was in the golfing wilderness when Philp arrived from St Andrews, with the Open not having been held there since 1975, when Tom Watson lifted the Claret Jug on his debut in the event.

But, thanks to Philp’s expertise, the course was eventually restored to its former glory and the R&A returned Carnoustie to the Open rota in 1999. While that staging of the tournament proved memorable for Scottish golf as Paul Lawrie emerged as the winner, the severity of the course set-up was also a major talking point.

Philp was described by one American golf writer as “the mad agronomist” and derided by David Duval, who won the event two years later, as an “out-of-control groundskeeper”.

Despite the furore, the event returned to Carnoustie in 2007, when Padraig Harrington made his major breakthrough over a course that had been set up less severely.

Announcing his retirement, Philp said: “I consider it to have been a privilege to have been part of a great team effort whose original target was the resurgence of Carnoustie Links in world golf. I have cherished many moments experienced over the last 26 years and none more so than the return of The Open to Carnoustie. That was the major highlight.”

During his tenure, the course has also staged the Scottish Open, Dunhill Links, Senior Open and, last year, for the first time, the Women’s British Open.

Philp’s last week in post will coincide with Carnoustie hosting the Ladies’ Open Amateur Championship on 26-30 June.

No date has been set for The Open to return to Carnoustie, with 2016 the first available slot.