By Alex Myers
The most piercing shots of the 148th Open Championship so far were delivered not by golf balls, but rather through the pointed words of one of the game’s most successful coaches. Pete Cowen, well known in Dubai where he has academies at all three Dubai Golf properties, was asked about the recent on-course antics of British golfer Matt Wallace. And he did not mince words.

In an interview with The Times published on Wednesday, Cowen condemned the fiery Wallace specifically for a berating he gave his caddie, Dave McNeilly, during the BMW International last month.

RELATED: Live Open coverage to be streamed to Middle East fans

“He is a complete idiot and the European Tour has to do something about it,” Cowen, who works with Brooks Koepka and Gary Woodland among others, told The Times. “A b——–g is no good, a fine is no good. He needs a ban. It’s a form of cheating because you’re putting your opponent off. The best thing would have been if his caddie had dropped his bag — I’d have chucked it in the bloody lake — but that wouldn’t do Dave McNeilly any good.”

Wallace, the 23rd-ranked player in the world, shot a final-round 70 to finish tied for third at the BMW, two shots out of a playoff eventually won by Andrea Pavan. After, Bunkered reported the European Tour was reviewing the matter for potential caddie abuse, but no punishment was issued. Wallace, who was also widely criticised for a putter slam at the British Masters in May, apologised and vowed to improve his behaviour on the eve of the Open.

Wallace’s agent, Chubby Chandler, responded to Cowen’s comments to Telegraph Sport’s James Corrigan. Chandler contends, “Matt and Dave have a terrific relationship and are very close,” and says, “Matt admits that sometimes his eagerness to succeed has got the better of him and has faced up to it, both with his team and the media.”

Chandler also closed with a jab at Cowen: “He’s a good kid who hasn’t smashed up markers or abused officials unlike some other players and to say he should be banned is utterly ridiculous. It’s funny, I remember a young player who I was on Tour with in the 70s who was renowned for his tantrums and snapping clubs. His name was Pete Cowen.”

Wallace will certainly be in a prominent spot at Royal Portrush: He’s paired with Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed for the first two rounds.

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By John Huggan
It went public just before the Open Championship in July. After more than 24 years together, it was announced that 10-time European Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood would no longer use International Sports Management founder and agent Andrew (Chubby) Chandler to handle his business affairs. And now, after four months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the formal split between these former close friends is complete.

“Lee and I concluded the legal stuff this week,” Chandler says. “Everything that has to be signed has now been signed. A short statement is all that will be said publicly about that. There is a confidentiality agreement in place. Now we all start again.”

Understandably, long-held emotional ties may take a little longer to heal. Speaking exclusively to Golf World, Chandler expressed some sadness at what has come to pass.

Westwood, the 23-time European Tour winner who is now represented by IMG, wasn’t saying as much, but it is understood that the relationship between the two men is all but non-existent, or “less than zero” as one figure close to the situation put it.

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This is apparently the season for splits. In the wake of player-caddie Phil Mickelson and Jim (Bones) Mackay going separate ways, one of the most familiar player-agent partnerships in the game has come to an end. Lee Westwood has left Andrew (Chubby) Chandler’s International Sports Management company after being a client for 24 years. After former Open champion Darren Clarke, Westwood was ISM’s longest-serving client—and one of Chandler’s closest friends.

According to various sources, the 44-year-old Westwood—who is also currently going though a divorce from wife, Laurae—has signed with International Management Group. Guy Kinnings, IMG’s Global Head of Golf, is another long-time chum of the 10-time Ryder Cup player.

Reached by text, Westwood had no immediate comment to make on his departure from the close-knit Chandler group. Nor did ISM, who also recently lost former U.S. Amateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick.

So far in the 2017 season, Westwood has had four top-15 finishes in 11 European Tour starts and is ranked 57th in the world.

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