If you are a regular reader you might remember a couple of days ago I talked about how Robert Allenby wasn't too happy about the bar on the 11th hole of the Australian open. This was his response:
Robert Allenby produced some rare theatrics at the $1.75 million Australian Open, donning bright red earmuffs and pumping up the crowd before putting himself in contention for another Stonehaven Cup.
Allenby fired a two-under par 70 at The Australian course to move to seven under overall, one shot behind West Australians Nick O'Hern (66) and Kim Felton (69).
Defending champion John Senden missed the cut, joining Mark Hensby, Brett Rumford and struggling former US Open champion Michael Campbell on the sidelines this weekend.
But all the talk was about Allenby's colourful display, the likes of which is rarely witnessed on professional golf's pristine fairways.
Speculation was rife all week that Allenby, who is chasing a third Open to add to his 1994 and 2005 victories, would cop an earful from the crowd after he criticised tournament organisers for putting a bar and music at the par three 11th hole.
But he came prepared with the perfect response, pulling the earmuffs from his golf bag as he approached the 11th green and encouraging the crowd to find its voice.
Allenby admitted the whole episode gave him such an adrenaline rush he had no chance of making his birdie putt, but he had no regrets after getting a friend to track down the earmuffs.
"I knew it would set (the crowd) off. My intentions were to make them as loud as possible," he said.
"It was deafening. It was great. Everyone was happy and having a good time.
"Even (playing partners) Geoff (Ogilvy) and Brandt (Snedeker) were laughing."
Allenby's display overshadowed a second round when O'Hern put himself in contention for a first Open title and Craig Parry equalled the course record of 64 held by former major winners Greg Norman and Steve Elkington.
O'Hern has regularly been in contention at his national championship and was in the identical position he finds himself in now back in 1997, leading after the second round.
He faded to fifth that year, but feels he now has the experience to win an Australian Open...
