Bolt returns with swing at game's 'spoiled kids'

Tommy Bolt, one of the most colourful and fiery characters in the game's history, has criticised today's players for not realising how fortunate they are.

Tommy Bolt, one of the most colourful and fiery characters in the game's history, has criticised today's players for not realising how fortunate they are.

Bolt, back at the scene of his 1958 US Open win in Tulsa, said: "They're spoiled. They don't appreciate how good they have it. All the money they have, flying in these jets all over the place.

"We didn't make the money they make nowadays. They're rotten, believe me, the majority of them are. And these kids don't dress like professionals any more. Why?"

Bolt, now 85 but with a mind as active as when he was famously hurling clubs, recalls receiving $8,000 (£5,900) for winning at Southern Hills 43 years ago. "Now the caddies get more than that. I gave mine $500 and he was happy. I told him on the first tee: 'Don't say a word, just clean my ball and keep the clubs clean. I don't want any advice, I don't want you reading the greens or doing anything'.

"We did it all ourselves back in those days. These kids with caddies now, they're all Harvard graduates and read the greens for them and select the clubs and tell them how to swing and they've got all kinds of gurus out there now."