Beijing campaign gets a kick up the backside

Beijing's campaign to improve the behaviour of its citizens at sporting events before the 2008 Olympics got enthusiastic backing from one golf spectator at the China Open yesterday.

India's Jeev Milkha Singh had just fired a shot into trees at the 11th hole of the Honghua Golf Course in the Chinese capital when a spectator picked up the ball and began to walk away with it.

"My ball was down there and this guy was walking with my golf ball in his hand," said Singh.

"There were so many people saying so many things to him and he got confused and scared and just let the ball go."

In an ensuing melee, another man, upset at the huge breach of golf etiquette, launched a boot at the offender's backside.

Singh took a free drop and saved par at the hole before going on to win the $1.8 million event by a stroke.

Beijing authorities, concerned at what they perceive as an international reputation for bad manners, recently launched several campaigns to improve behaviour, especially at sporting events.

Event officials said behaviour at the tournament last week had generally been good although the ubiquitous use of mobile phones - banned on the course - caused occasional problems.