I just can't help thinking that with a caddy that had given him some alternative advice on angles, trajectory, weight and timing that he could have made it on to the second tee. Quite honestly, here is consummate pro, with a proven track record that has had to compete against others given a favourable handicap. He has had some judges that clearly have no idea of how to evaluate his performance and a public that favours the younger apprentices.

Come the nineteenth hole, he should have held the trophy and bought the drinks. Instead, he has had to slide into near oblivion. His third shot, a chip out of the bunker, was consummate. All of the others, pah, never made par.

4!!!!!!! :d

I did feel a bit sorry for him.

It's almost as if the judges wanted to paint him as the "totally useless old one" even before he'd set foot on the floor. His Waltz certainly wasn't as bad Craig as made out.

Also, why TPTB (that terms getting used a lot nowadays, think of them as a glittery illuminati) gave him the Charleston as his second dance I'll never know. Even Paul Daniels was given better treatment than that, and they made that poor sod dance the Rumba with the Incredible Gyrating Woman.

As we say, a caddy or a "well meaning friend" can give you all the advice they like, on club selection, stance, grip, back-swing, turn, timing, but in the end it's you who has to hit the ruddy ball.
Unfortunately, dancing on Strictly isn't a pursuit where you get a "handicap," i.e a "start," as you do in golf.
Jacklin was just a "name" that part of the audience could remember well, he went when he should.

Bouzouki Boy,bravo for the punology

21stCenturyBoy,it does seem like they set up one sacrificial lamb for an easy choice at the first elimination.

They gave him a Charleston because they wanted to make the 'Swing' pun, shame they didn't seem to consider any other factors when assigning it!

What he really needed after his first effort went, "out of bounds" was to "play a provisional with a rescue club," or better still be given a "Mulligan."

I zoned out so badly, OP - I'm sorry. I can't stand golf.

Can we just blame Aliona for everything please?

I'm lost!

Aliona is responsible for every bad thing that has ever happened on Strictly. Even before she joined the show.

Where is she btw, anyone know? And is she coming back this series?

He wasn't as appealing as Dave to the voting public with the exception of a few of us of course because he did not have the entertainment value of Dave but he was a better dancer than Dave by a mile. There is always one contestant the judges treat exceedingly harshly and this year it was Tony. There are also contestants that the judges ignore or play down their faults because they are entertaining. I do think he was probably best to go early because I did not feel he was fit enough for the hours of training required although I suspect this was over exaggerated by VTs shown of him in training. By selecting a tiny section of training it is easy to make viewers believe it is worse than reality. Sadly all part of the pantomime Strictly has turned into in order to win over the viewing public.

I thought he was lovely, one of my favourite contestants this year. As I know very little about golf, I hadn't heard of him so wasn't sure what to expect. I think he did himself and Aliona proud, obviously Tony's lack of fitness was a problem but he gave it his best shot and that's all anyone can ask for. I found his waltz quite touching.

I didn't like the way he was treated and the costume for the Charleston was just silly, but as said they wanted to shoehorn the golf theme in - he seemed to take everything in good spirit though including Craig's rather harsh judging. I think he was charming and gracious through out and I like the way he brought out a softer more protective side in Aliona.

He was badly advised by his agent and would have been better off not joining the circus to become first round fodder.

What are you all on about?... he was useless............

That is over harsh, Tonys problem was that he didn't raise his fitness level in preparation for the show, in that respect he was badly advised.

She'll be back this weekend, and apparently doing the Xmas special in some capacity, I think she's actually got a celeb partner.

Um. Rose tinted glasses, much? Tony really wasn't "a better dancer than Dave by a mile".

training a celeb in the US for the Christmas Special, she will be back for the pro dances on saturday

Stomping around is not dancing which is what Dave did. Just saying.