A PLAYER-CADDIE partnership has more peaks and troughs than your average relationship with the mother-in-law and a few coarse words were exchanged around The Wynyard Club throughout the day.

In fact it would come as no surprise to learn that the difference of opinions carried on through the night in some cases, especially bearing in mind what was at stake here.

At about the same time as the normally easy-going Irishman Paul McGinley was blasting his caddie, Bradley Dredge was choosing to keep to etiquette and refrain from publically humiliating his club carrier, Nick Fidgeon.

To be fair, both had reason to be unimpressed. But perhaps Dredge was more likely to be the one maintaining his disagreement at Crathorne Hall last night.

The Welshman had given his pairing - with fellow countryman Stephen Dodd - the worst possible start yesterday when he walked to the tee with an extra club in his bag.

A common mistake by amateurs but inexcusable for a pro, and Dredge had to concede the opening hole.

McGinley, meanwhile, was disgusted at his bag-packer's wrong guidance at the 424-yard fourth.

Having played the perfect tee shot to within around 150-yards of the green, McGinley's approach shot left him with a 30-foot putt to win the hole.

Not good enough by the Ryder Cup hero's standards and he turned and directed his anger to his caddie. 'Sack the caddie,' was the call from the galleries.

Henrik Stenson's right-hand man, Grant Berry, has worked with a long line of players, including Gordon Brand Jnr and Howard Clark, and admits the working relationship can be a fraught affair.

"It can be really very tense at times," said Grant, who has only worked with Stenson for five weeks.

"I think that's the reason why players seem to keep changing their caddies. There's a lot of pressure out there and it can show sometimes."

WHEN most of the paying public have returned to their humble homes they are missing out on a rare treat here.

As the final group finish up on the 18th green and the spectators quickly disperse, the legendary Seve Ballesteros - whose brainwave it was to start this competition five years ago - pulls out his putter and goes on to the putting green.

The three-times Open Championship winner is adored by the British golfing fraternity and has been willing to share a joke or two with the remaining spectators.

After the Spaniard holed one from 15 feet, one jolly punter posed the question: 'Seve, you never lose it do you?' To which Ballesteros, with a casual smile, responded 'no'.

IF anyone thought golf journalists had a great life then you'd be right. Scribes from all over Europe are inside the media centre at The Wynyard and some of them barely move an inch all day - except to use their free lunch voucher and get another cup of tea.

Yesterday morning 12 of them took their hosts up on an offer of a free round of golf at the nearby Seaton Carew Golf Club.

The challenging links course can be tricky on the sunniest of days but, when the rain lashed down by the North Sea yesterday, the visiting group of press men ducked for cover as soon as the heavens opened.

Did they finish the full 18 holes? No chance. They were back in the media marquee before the real action along the A689 started.

HE'S only gone and done it again.

After firing his drive to the edge of the 387-yard 13th green on Thursday, Henrik Stenson yesterday drove all the way to the dancefloor.

Miguel Angel Jiminez bore the look of a startled rabbit as Stenson's effort dropped yards away as he lined up a putt.

"He's a monster,'' said the Sky Sports commentators. Few can argue

Published: 24/09/2005