Passing of “Gato” Romero a reminder of golf’s noble soul
Eduardo Romero
Professional golf is suffering a worrying image crisis brought on by the upstart Saudi Golf League and the cash grab that has turned the heads of players like Phil Mickelson.
But the news yesterday of the death of the great Argentinian professional Eduardo "El Gato" Romero at just 67 was a great reminder that the game continues to produce wonderful characters with a genuine social conscience.
An archetypal, burly Argentinian power player with an artist's touch, Romero won eight European Tour titles, including the French, Scottish and Spanish Opens as well more than 80 tournaments in South America and the US Senior Open in 2008.
But he also ran a charitable foundation in his home town of Villa Allende, five miles from Cordoba, winning a landslide victory when he stood for mayor on a liberal, social-democratic ticket in 2015.
He remained in the post until the end of his mandate in 2019 and was re-elected only to request a leave of absence early this year due to his battle with cancer.
"I thank life for having met Gato Romero," former Argentinian President Mauricio Macri said. "He was an example as an athlete and citizen and used all his talent, charisma and education to always represent us Argentines in the best way."
His loss was lamented by many of his former European Tour colleagues, including Des Smyth and Paul McGinley.
"One of the really great golfers and people I played on Tour with," McGinley said on Twitter. "Great sense of fun and always greeted Irish players with a smile and a "Conas atá tú?"
Smyth (69), who also played with Romero on the Champions Tour in the US, was also deeply saddened by the news.
"He was a fine fellow, a really nice man and a great player," Smyth said. "He played a lot of years in Europe and he was also the man who invested in Angel Cabrera having spotted his talent at a driving range and he supported Angel, who subsequently got himself into personal difficulties.
“Eduardo supported him and told him he could be a great golfer and he won a Masters and a US Open.
“Eduardo was a gentleman always and he loved his golf. He was a brilliant player with power to burn like all those Argentinians seemed to have. Terrific fellow.
"He always had a big smile. Amicable. You always loved to meet Eduardo. A dream pro. Everyone loved him in the pro-ams, and he was always up for a laugh and a giggle."
Smyth, who turned 69 on Saturday, keeps a close eye on the game, and while he is reluctant to be too critical of fellow professionals, he does not believe the breakaway Saudi Golf League is good for golf.
"It's a money grab, and you don't want to be too hard on players who might be in financial trouble because it's an opportunity for them," Smyth said. "But I don't see anything in it other than that.
"I am happy the PGA Tour and the European Tour have come together to stave it off because anyone with an interest in the history and the traditions of the game knows this is not what it's about."
The PGA Tour moves to Los Angeles this week for the Genesis Invitational, where Seamus Power, up one spot to 46th in the world, is joined by Rory McIlroy.
The European Tour takes a break, but the Challenge Tour moves to Royal Cape Golf Club for the Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open, where Tom McKibbin, Cormac Sharvin, Niall Kearney, Paul Dunne and John Murphy fly the flag for Irish golf.
On the Champions Tour, Pádraig Harrington joins Darren Clarke in the Chubb Classic at Tiburón Golf Club in Florida.
Harrington will also tee it up in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill the week after next.