England's First Division clubs yesterday dramatically embarrassed the Rugby Football Union by declaring a vote of no confidence in, and withdrawal of goodwill from, the RFU commission on professionalism. Waudby was able to reassure the South Africans about their expenses being covered in Britain.. Lindsay yesterday described the court decision as "a massive boost" for the tournament.One further complication surrounds the two Tongans selected in the Australian squad, John Hopoate and Jim Dymock, who have been told that they will jeopardise their prospects if they opt for Tonga.Roy Waudby, a Rugby League council member, has returned from South Africa with assurances that they will be turning up for the World Cup. The ARL is taking legal advice before making any statement, but it could be regarded as flouting the court's decision if it stands its ground.The British chief executive and tournament director, Maurice Lindsay, argued strongly that Australia should send its strongest side, before agreeing to accept an exclusively ARL squad. There is also the question of promises and guarantees of future preferment given to players in order to ensure their loyalty to the ARL. An Australian team without any Super League players beat New Zealand 3-0 in a Test series and the ARL selectors and Fulton could argue that it is wrong to change a winning side, one that has shown cohesion in troubled times.The mood among a mixed squad, under the coaching of an ARL partisan such as Fulton, could be very different.

In the battle between the two factions, the Kerry Packer-backed ARL has had one strong card to play against Rupert Murdoch's Super League - the right to select only "loyalist" players for Australia.By any dispassionate measurement of form and ability, nine or 10 Super League players would be in the strongest Australian side, but the court's ruling that the ARL must "consider" them is open to varying interpretations. The Industrial Court of New South Wales has ruled in favour of a group of players, including Canberra's Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart and Bradley Clyde, in barring the ARL from excluding them. Since the division of the Australian game into two antagonistic camps earlier this year, no players recruited by Super League for its rival competition due to start next March have been selected for representative matches, either for their states or for the Test team. The 40-man squad from which the Australian coach, Bob Fulton, was to draw his party for the World Cup next month contains no Super League players. Australia's plans for the Centenary World Cup have been thrown into turmoil by a court ruling that the Australian Rugby League must consider players aligned to the rival Super League organisation. "I don't think there's going to be a problem this time," Jacobsen said "There's 24 gentlemen here I don't think anyone will fan the flames.".

I don't know if this patriotism is something that is good for the game. A good shot should be applauded from whomever it comes."During the "War on the Shore" several American players, Corey Pavin included, wore Desert Storm military caps. I thought, no, I actually like people who put their hands together."In the so-called War on the Shore at Kiawah Island in South Carolina in 1991 Jacobsen was commentating for American television. "I was appalled at the treatment the Europeans received," he said "I don't think anybody should be booed at any time. gosh, what's the word I want to use here? There was some booing and hissing on the first tee which shocked me That isn't the way we're welcomed at the Open.

I'll never forget Lanny Wadkins being introduced on the first tee. He was booed and he looked at his team-mates and said: 'God, don't cha love it'. "It's going to be a wonderful competition."For Jacobsen, the 1985 Ryder Cup was not at all wonderful "I wasn't ready for the. Whereas the caddies flew gratis, JP paid pounds 148,000 for the privilege, bidding that amount for two tickets at a charity raffle.Meanwhile Peter Jacobsen was comparing this Ryder Cup to his debut at The Belfry 10 years ago This one would be different. "It's just wonderful to be able to play at Oak Hill which I think is one of the truly magnificent golf courses in the world," Jacobsen said. Quite what JP McManus, the legendary Irish bookmaker/punter, would make of all this is another matter. Now, taking the difference between Big Ben and Eastern time into account, they arrive at about the same time that they started.Another extraordinary, and welcome, innovation is that the humble, downtrodden, weatherbeaten caddie - once fondly remembered for sleeping in hedgerows and having breath that could poleaxe a skunk at 50 paces - is now upgraded to fly supersonic with its master.