LETTER : A costly miss

I HAVE always maintained that poor Doug Sanders missed the putt in the 1970 Open ("Chokers in the pack", Sport, 16 July) due to the well- intentioned but misplaced intervention of his playing partner Lee Trevino. Just as Sanders was about to putt, the over-enthusiastic photographers released a barrage of flashes and motor winds. Sanders waited for it to subside, and then just as he was about to hit the ball, Trevino remonstrated with the photographers. This forced Sanders to wait even longer.

Sanders has never to my knowledge made reference to the enforced stoppage or complained about it. I firmly believe, however, that without it he would have sunk the putt and won.

John Harwood

New Malden, Surrey