The Impossible Prediction

The story of an old-time golfing maverick and the scoring feat that almost defies belief

- Richard Russell

What’s the greatest round of golf ever played? Was it Johnny Miller’s closing 63 to win the ‘73 US Open? Or Stenson’s 63 to win the 2016 Open? How about Jack’s epic 65 at the ’86 Masters? Or was it my dogged 81 in the howling wind and rain at Rye a few weeks back?

None of the above. I strongly contend that the greatest round of golf ever played is the 64 from Joe Ezar, a journeyman US pro, in the third round of the 1936 Italian Open at Sestrieres.

Joe who? Sestri-what? The Italian Open? I know, but trust me. If you don’t know about this round then prepare to have your strictly regulation kneelength golf socks blown off.

Joe Ezar was a colourful, unpredictable character who played golf all round the world, living by his wits and his clubs. He arrived at the Italian Open in good form, and wearing a magnificent leather-trimmed camel hair coat bought with his winnings from the previous week’s German Open (a coat he insisted on wearing between shots when playing, despite the sunny weather, slung around his shoulders like a cape).