By John Huggan
Tiger Woods almost did it during the 2000 U.S. Open. And now Eddie Pepperell has actually done it in the Turkish Airlines Open.

Run out of balls that is.

But where Woods found the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach with his second attempt—and what was, unknown to him at the time, the last ball in his bag—Pepperell continued to fire approach shots into the pond adjacent to the par-5 fourth green on the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course during Saturday’s third round until he had no ammunition left.

Uncharacteristically, the usually talkative 28-year-old Englishman, two over par on his round and even par for the tournament before playing the hole, had little to say about his premature and eccentric departure from the $7 million European Tour event. Reached by text in his hotel, the World No. 47 would only say there was “nothing to add really.” Although he did admit to being unsure as to exactly how many balls he had launched into the water on what was his 13th hole of the day alongside former U.S. Open and PGA champion Martin Kaymer and George Coetzee of South Africa. In that uncertainty, Pepperell was not alone.

“Eddie hit his shots to the green, then came over to tell us he had run out of balls,” said a rather bemused Kaymer after completing his own round of 69. “Then he walked off. I thought he lost four or five. We are about 80 per cent sure it was five, 20 per cent four. He was quick, so it was hard to keep track. He did not ask if he could borrow one from me or George. It did not look like he wanted to play. He did not putt with his putter on the third hole; he putted with a wedge. So there was a lot happening.

“I have never seen anything like that before. I only watched it on television, in ‘Tin Cup.’ This is the first time I have seen it live.”

Disqualified from the event—the official reason “failure to complete a hole”—Pepperell may face further penalty in the form of a fine. But at 41st on the Race to Dubai standings when he arrived in Turkey, he is in no danger of missing out on the next event, the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, where the top 60 available players will make up the field.

Elsewhere, Matthias Schwab of Austria continues to lead. The 24-year-old Salzburg resident made six birdies and an eagle in a third-round 66 to reach 18-under-par 198. Schwab is three shots clear of a five-strong group that contains former Masters champion Patrick Reed, up-and-coming Scotsman Robert MacIntyre, two English Ryder Cup players in Ross Fisher and Tyrrell Hatton and Benjamin Hebert of France.

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By John Huggan
Robert Rock isn’t part of the 75-player field at the $7 million Turkish Airlines Open, the sixth of eight Rolex Series events on this season’s European Tour. But golf’s most famous head of hair is still to be found on and around the picturesque Montgomerie Maxx Royal course this week. Known also for the quality and efficiency of his full swing that at its best helped him knock off Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy down the stretch to win the 2012 Abu Dhabi Championship, “Rocky” has become a unique figure on the Old World circuit. Still exempt after finishing 108th on this season’s Race to Dubai, the 42-year-old Englishman doubles as one of the most sought-after swing coaches.

“I like to consider myself an old-style golf pro,” says Rock, a two-time European Tour winner. “I’ve always taught people. I started as a club pro and never really thought I’d be playing tournaments. So I’m just returning to that, an area of the game I’ve always enjoyed and where I feel like I can make a contribution.”

Rock’s most high-profile client so far has been rising English star Matt Wallace, No. 28 in the World Ranking, but that might change. Ten-time European Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood is the latest recruit to a growing stable that numbers nearly two dozen.

“Rocky and I have grown a lot together,” Wallace says. “I love the way he teaches. And I love the stuff he tells me that has nothing to do with the swing. When I played with Tiger at the Open this year, [Rock] gave me so much great advice about how to handle that. He has taken me to the next level, really. When he tells me what will work under pressure, he really knows. And he can get inside my head better than someone who is just a swing coach.”

Rock watches Matt Wallace, one of more than 20 golfers he has begun working with as a swing instructor. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Part-time psychologist Rock may be, but his main focus is on the full swing. It is a subject in which he is well-versed.

“It’s nice to be known for my swing,” Rock says. “I’ve worked hard on it. I have always tried to eliminate extraneous movement. I like efficiency. I’m not a naturally good golfer, so I’ve learned the game bit by bit, eliminating the problem bits in my swing and the bad shots along the way. I’ve had to do it that way. I’ve never been a great putter. You can’t afford too many sloppy shots if you are not making too many putts.”

Interestingly, Rock’s coaching career started with two Ladies European Tour players, Amy Boulden and Kelsey MacDonald. European Tour player Oliver Wilson was next, the former Ryder Cupper coming to Rock in 2014 and winning the Dunhill Links Championship almost immediately. These days, the players Rock works with (alongside two associates) include Pablo Larrazabal, Nino Bertasio, Matthias Schwab, Wade Ormsby, Jason Scrivener, Thomas Bjorn and Bradley Dredge.

That list contains a wide and diverse range of actions, proof enough that Rock has never been tempted to create swings and players in his image. He retains a somewhat old-fashioned approach to his second job.

“Aesthetics are not that important to me,” Rock says. “A really good swing tends to look quite nice, but it doesn’t have to. If you are careful and organize the bits that matter, you can make just about anything work. Plus, I don’t want to be the sort of coach that uses endless devices to help a player. TrackMan doesn’t have ears, which is why I like to work out what players are doing. I like to watch. I like to listen to the strike. I like to make sure shots sound as if they are coming off the club properly. That is something that only comes after years of paying attention. OK, shots often look similar. But if they don’t sound crisp, the player isn’t going to be too consistent, especially under pressure.”

What Wallace also appreciates about working with Rock is that he doesn’t necessarily take himself too seriously. “He’s older than me. He’s uglier than me. But he does have great hair,” Wallace jokes. “I can’t imagine what he has lost in hat endorsements.”

As for his playing career going forward, Rock is sanguine but realistic. He recognizes that the potential “black hole” that can engulf so many in their mid-40s—no longer competitive on the regular tour, too young for the senior circuit—is getting closer.

“I’m going to play as long as I am exempt,” Rock said. “This year I’ve played 20 events. I’ll do the same next year. As I’m going to be on tour anyway, I might as well play. That actually helps me help my guys. I can relate exactly to what they are seeing and doing, which is not to say many players couldn’t do what I am doing. Guys out here know more than they think they know. But people get a little bit scared by coaching. They think you have to know loads—and I suppose you do—but I can think of plenty who would have a lot to offer as coaches even as they are still playing. Right now, though, I’m the only one.”

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