Drinks With Jack Newton

But people forget what a fabulous golfer Newton was – a fearless charger, wonderful putter, handsome and charismatic.

Tom Watson beat Jack Newton to the silverwear at the ‘75 British Open.
Images: Getty Images

People forget. They know Jack Newton for his charity work in support of junior golf and diabetes awareness, raising piles of cash through his annual Celebrity Classic and corporate competitions; they may know him for his insightful and fearless TV commentary over many years; they may know him as the bloke who walked into the propeller of a light plane in 1983, losing an arm and eye; they may even know him for his son Clint’s rugby league exploits (currently playing in the UK Super League) or his daughter Kristy’s golf career and glamorous good looks; they may know him as the ardent Newcastle Knights fan or for his numerous administrative roles in Australian golf. But people forget what a fabulous golfer Newton was – a fearless charger, wonderful putter, handsome and charismatic. For more than a decade, before his career was so cruelly cut short at the peak of his powers (aged 33), Newton was one of our leading lights in the game’s golden era of the 1970s. He may have missed nabbing a major, but he came close in several, second in two, and won 30 titles in his career. With the US Masters upon us again, still the one major title to elude an Australian, Inside Sport twisted his remaining arm to blow the froth off a brew and the cobwebs off a few memories.

So how are the Newcastle Knights looking for 2009? You still a fan?

(Laughs) Yeah, still a fan but my passion’s not there anymore …

So (coach) Brian Smith hasn’t had a start at your Celebrity Classic yet?

No, not likely.

You were rather annoyed when Clint got shown the door from the Knights in 2007, weren’t you?

Well, that’s been misreported. He wasn’t shown the door at all. He left. And he left because of Brian Smith.

I’d read that Brian had told him he didn’t want him the following year ...

Well, if that’s the case, why was he trying to get him back five weeks later? I think he realised he punted the wrong bloke.

Clint certainly did alright out of the move to Melbourne that year, didn’t he?

Well, he won the comp out of it, so he can thank Brian Smith for that, but nothing else.

You have two fine athletes for offspring. How much credit do you take for that? Are you the Earl Woods type?

(Laughs) No, I’m not. I taught both the kids to play golf when they were young, but really left it up to them. I’m not one of those pushy parents – just a pretty strong armchair critic, you might say. A hard marker.