Fiona Xu and Justice Bosio advance at US Junior Girls

Fiona Xu – in action today – photo USGA

Queenslander Justice Bosio and New Zealander Fiona Xu have safely advanced to the match play phase of the US Junior Girls Championship in Bowling Green in Kentucky, the pair sharing 6th place at 4 under and will tackle the head to head competition over the next few days.

Xu is a winner of both the Australian and New Zealand Amateur Championships in her career to date, winning the Australian title earlier this year while Bosio, from Caboolture, has been a winner of the Jack Newton Junior and Keperra Bowl Championships.

The pair will be looking to repeat the tremendous win of Minjee Lee in this event in 2012 when the West Australian defeated American Alison Lee.


Justice Bosio – photo USGA Kathryn Riley

Match Play draw

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Steve Alker the standout amongst eleven Australasians at Gleneagles

Steve Alker has dominated in the US in 2022 – can he do the same in Scotland?

Eleven Australasians will take to the Gleneagles in Auchterarder in Scotland on Thursday, chasing one of senior golf’s finest trophies.

Steve Alker, Stuart Appleby, Michael Campbell, John Senden, Robert Allenby, Peter Fowler, Peter O’Malley, Richard Green, John Wade, Glenn Joyner and Andrew Welsford will represent our part of the world in the US$2.5 million event.

The Senior Open Championship has a history dating back to 1987 when England’s Neil Coles won the inaugural staging of the event at Turnberry in Scotland.

Since then, Australasians have won the title on only two occasions, Sir Bob Charles successful in 1989 and 1993 while, in 2001, the now late Ian Stanley defeated Charles in a playoff to win at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.

In 2022, New Zealand’s Steve Alker will begin the event as the favourite amongst the Australasians and one of the favourites overall to take the title, given his outstanding season in 2022 where he leads the Charl Schwab standings on the PGA Tour Champions by some margin.

This will be the first Senior Open Championship for Alker but already in 2022 he has won a major and finished 3rd in another and seems to be in contention nearly every week.

Alker has experience in Britain having played there earlier in his career before focusing much of his attention in the USA where his career has been taken to a whole new level since joining the PGA Tour Champions nearly twelve months ago.

Michael Campbell is struggling in senior golf but amongst the group of eleven his regular tour career was outstanding winning the 2005 US Open, finishing 3rd at the 1995 Open Championship and winning eight events in total on the European Tour.

Appleby and Allenby had a stellar career on the PGA and Australasian Tours and Appleby has played reasonably well in a few events on the PGA Tour Champions although Allenby has battled at that level.

Interesting will be the return of Peter O’Malley to Gleneagles as it was at this venue in 1992 when he played the last five holes in a remarkable 7 under par to defeat a shell-shocked Colin Montgomerie. His game is well below that level now but he will enjoy fond memories of his great win in 1992.

Joyner, Wellsford and Wade are all in the field courtesy of recent Final Qualifying and get their chance to play in such a significant event.

Below Alker talks about the impact Sir Bob Charles had on his career.

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Can Australia add another major in France

Minjee Lee with her trophy in 2021 – arrives as an even better player – photo LET

Just a week after Cameron Smith’s brilliant win at St Andrews, another Australian will start favourite to win one of women’s golf’s major championships in France this week.

Six Australasians will tee it up in the fourth major of the year in women’s golf, the US$6.5 million Amundi Evian Championship in Evian Les Bains, one of them looking to successfully defend her victory twelve months ago and, another, a former winner of the event.

Minjee Lee returns to the scene of her dramatic first major championship win in this event in 2021, her stunning final 36 holes of 65 and 64 sweeping her to a first hole playoff victory over Jeongeun Lee6 to claim the first of what are now two major championship titles.

Lee’s recent win at the US Women’s Open has her a significant leader over Jennifer Kupcho in the Race to the Globe LPGA Tour points standing and given her outstanding season to date, she will enter this week’s event as the warm favourite to win again.

Lee finished runner-up at her last start at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, three weeks after her career defining win at the US Women’s Open and everything points to her contending again.

Lee’s win has played a key role in providing the confidence to go to the level she has in 2022.

“It was my first major win and there was quite a lot of pressure put on me to win a major after so many years on tour. It was just a great confidence boost for me after that win. I was able to have a good year last year and then bring it into this year.”

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko is another to have held the Evian Championship trophy aloft having won the event seven years ago and, like Lee, she too is having a great 2022 season having a win and five other top 5 finishes this year. Ko has also been runner-up and 3rd in the event in a total of eight starts at Evian Les Bain.

Other Australasians in the event are Hannah Green, Stephanie Kyriacou, Su Oh and Sarah Kemp.

Lydia Ko when finishing 6th last year – photo LPGA – Getty

 

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Cameron Davis improves FedEx Cup standing

Cameron Davis – file photo

Cameron Davis’ 6th place finish at the Barracuda Championship in California over the weekend has moved the 27 year old seven places to 78th in the Fed Ex Cup standings and his next task is to elevate his standing further to ensure he is well placed to gains starts in the opening two events of the FedEx Cup Finals.

The top 125 at the completion of the regular season at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro on August the 7th will gain a start in the first of the Finals, the FedEx St Jude Championship in Tennessee, the leading 70 after that event are eligible for the BMW Championship in Delaware the following week and the leading 30 make it to the Tour Championship in Atlanta beginning on August 25th.

Davis continues to impress in his early years on the PGA Tour and like Cameron Smith was an Australian Amateur Champion before turning professional and was also a member of the winning Australian Eisenhower Trophy team and a winner of the individual in that event in 2016.

Davis also won the 2017 Australian Open Championship at the Australian Golf Club further stamping his potential.

His progress on the PGA Tour has not been quite as meteoric as Smith’s but it has been solid with a victory, two 3rd place finishes and numerous top tens and he appears on track for a very successful career.

At this stage, the Australasians inside the all important 125 with just three regular season PGA Tour events to play are Cameron Smith (2nd), Lucas Herbert (43rd), Marc Leishman (60th), Matt Jones (61st) Adam Scott (74th), Cameron Davis (78th), Danny Lee (83rd) and Jason Day (122nd).

FEDEX CUP STANDINGS

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Cameron Smith’s final round 64 wins Australia’s 10th Open Championship


Cameron Smith stands proudly in front of the R&A’s headquarters – photo R&A via Getty

Cameron Smith has become the fifth Australian to win the Open Championship’s Claret Jug with a stunning final round of 64 to edge out American PGA Tour rookie, Cameron Young, by one shot and Rory McIlroy by two.

He joins Peter Thomson (5), Greg Norman (2), Kel Nagle and Ian Baker Finch as Open Championship winners from Australia but joins Thomson and Nagle as champions at the Home of Golf, St Andrews.

His 72-hole total of 268 is the equal lowest ever scored in relation to par (20 under) at an Open Championship, tying the record (264) set by Henrik Stenson when he won at Royal Troon in 2016, and betters Tiger Woods’ record total at St Andrews of 269 in 2000.

For Smith the win is the culmination of his career to date but continues a remarkable year in 2022 when he has won the Tournament of Champions, the Players Championship and now a breakthrough major victory.

He will move to number two in the world ranking, his highest ever standing in the game and given he was in 21st position in the world at the end of 2021, it has been a remarkable ride with even more to come. Another US$2,500,000 won’t go astray either taking his season earnings to US$9.89 million and career earnings on the PGA Tour alone to just under US$27 million.

The Fed Ex Cup playoffs are only a few weeks away now and this win takes him to 2nd in those standings and in line for further riches at the Tour Championship in six weeks’ time.

Beginning the final round four behind McIlroy and Norway’s Viktor Hovland, Smith put together a solid front nine of 2 under 34 but he was still three behind McIlroy at that point.

It would be when turning for home that the fireworks began, however, a putter that had been only lukewarm for 27 holes all of a sudden became his friend once again.

Birdies at the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th and 14th from various ranges swept him into a one-shot lead over McIlroy and he was the chased instead of the chaser.

One of his many highlights however must surely be his great par save at the 17th. He took an aggressive line from the tee and was left with only a 9 iron for his second. He pulled and mishit it a little and finished in a seemingly impossible position behind the notorious road hole bunker but with both great imagination and skill, he putted up the slope to 12 feet and holed for par to maintain his one shot lead over McIlroy and two over Cameron Young.

Then at the last, after taking an iron from the tee on Saturday and Sunday he drove it just short of the green and proceeded to hit his approach to 3 feet. Despite Young finding the green with his drive and holing a remarkable putt from 18 feet for eagle to draw level, Smith was up to the task and converted his own birdie opportunity and was one ahead.

Back on the 17th McIlroy had hit a fine approach and, desperately needing a 3 to get within one and the driveable last still ahead, he missed his 15-footer and was left having to eagle to last to force a playoff. He was unable to do so and in fact could only make par and finished 3rd.

Smith was understandably lost for words when interviewed immediately after his round and during the prize-giving and why wouldn’t he be, given the magnitude of his achievement, but by the time he had gathered himself for the official media conference he had more to say.

“I feel like I can breathe,” said Smith referring to the tension that had built over the closing holes and the surreal nature of the immediate aftermath of the victory. “These last four or five holes aren’t easy around here, especially with the wind up off the left. Yeah, just stuck to what I was doing. Yeah, just really proud of how I kind of knuckled down today and managed to get it done.

“It was pretty tense. I think maybe after my second or third birdie there on the back nine, I was starting to think that I could really win this thing. I think I was three back with nine holes to go, and I really needed to make something happen.

“But, yeah, I would say those first three holes on that back nine really came to me, and then from there I was starting to get different emotions and really had to keep an eye on what I was thinking and just different shots into greens.

“I think, to win an Open Championship in itself is probably going to be a golfer’s highlight in their career. To do it around St Andrews, I think is just unbelievable.”

“This place is so cool. I love the golf course. I love the town. Yeah, hopefully we can keep that trend going with the every 50 years. That would be nice, wouldn’t it? (Laughter),” added Smith referring to the fact that his fellow countryman Kel Nagle had won the 100th staging of the event in 1960.

“I don’t think I hit the ball any differently all four days, to be honest. I felt like I kept hitting quality golf shots and kept giving myself looks at birdie, even from a distance, which is sometimes what you have to do around here.

“The only difference today, was the putts were dropping. I spent a little bit of time on the green yesterday night, last night, and just really wanted to see a few putts go in. Yeah, it turned out it was a pretty good thing to do.”

Smith was asked if his struggles on day three were important in steeling him for what happened today.

“I was really frustrated yesterday with how the round went. I just really put it down to links golf. I think you really have those days on these courses where you get a bit of a weird bounce here and there and puts you in a bad spot.

“So I shrugged it off pretty good, I think, last night. I really didn’t dwell on it too much. Yeah, but to go out there and really stick my head down and keep making birdies and keep making putts, yeah, it was really cool. I think that definitely helped yesterday.

“I knew my game was there. I felt really comfortable. At the end of last week, I started playing some really good golf. Yeah, I just really needed to keep doing what I was doing. I didn’t do anything wrong yesterday. It was just really one of those days.”

Cameron Young’s effort in his first Open Championship was particularly impressive keeping the pressure on the winner to the very last with his eagle at the par 4 from just under 20 feet.

Rory McIlroy left another great opportunity for his first major in eight years slip from his grasp, his putting proving his nemesis today.

Of the other Australians to make it to the weekend there were several good performances.

Adam Scott moved within four shots of the lead with four birdies in his first ten holes but struck trouble at the 12th and took double bogey bringing to an end any hopes he had of challenging for the title. Scott finished in a share of 15th along with fellow Australians Lucas Herbert and surprise packet, Anthony Quayle, who produced weekend rounds of 68 and 67 in his very first Open appearance.

Herbert also had 67 today to move up nine places for his share of 15th.

Min Woo Lee was 21st and Jason Scrivener and Brad Kennedy 53rd.

SCORES

Cameron Young eagled the last to grab second place – photo R&A via Getty 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hillier and Geary fail to capitalise in Challenge Tour event

Josh Geary – opportunity missed in Austria

Daniel Hillier and Josh Geary finished 7th and 9th respectively in a European Challenge Tour event in Austria, Hillier improving to 16th in the Race to Mallorca standings but both players unable to take full advantage of their second placed position through 54 holes.

Geary who made the cut in a PGA Tour event in the US last week is back on the Challenge tour trying to gain access to the European Tour once again but he struggled for much of the day over the Golf Club Adamstal layout in Ramsau.

Geary has played only three Challenge Tour events in 2022 and is languishing back in 90th place in the Road to Mallorca standings with only twenty to gain their 2023 European Tour cards at the end of the season. His best finish came when 10th in Scotland two months ago.

SCORES

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Dan Hillier and Josh Geary contend in Austria


Daniel Hillier – a win or top three finish tomorrow will go a long way to DP World Tour status next season

New Zealanders Josh Geary and Daniel Hillier are in a share of second place and three off the lead at the European Challenge Tour’s Euram Bank Open in Ramsau in Austria.

For both players, a win tomorrow would play a key role in their chase for European Tour status in 2023, Hillier in particular all but assured of playing at the next level should he win.

Hillier is currently 24th in the Road to Morocco standings but a win and the accompanying 40,000 points would move him to inside the top five and with the top twenty at season’s end earning their right to play the European Tour, tomorrow might prove a big moment in the life of Hiller.

Even a runner-up or 3rd place finish for Hillier would get him inside the top ten and leave him well positioned as the schedule leads into the last half of its season.

Geary would move inside the top 25 with a win and very close to the top twenty and while there are still another 13 events left before season’s end, a win would be of huge significance for both.

Hillier has missed the weekend ion four of his last five starts so this represents a major turnaround for the 23-year-old Wellingtonian his round of 63 today, the best on day three.

Hillier narrowly missed out on graduating last year when finishing 23rd in the season ending rankings and has for some time ben considered New Zealand’s brightest emerging stars. He won a Challenge Tour event last year but finished just short of the required mark to make it to the European Tour last year but could well get there in 2022.

The leader is Germany’s Freddy Schott.

SCORES

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Cameron Smith’s putter cools on day three but hopes remain


Smith’s disappointing day began with a three-putt here at the first. Photo R&A via Getty Images

Cameron Smith took a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland into round three at the Open Championship and walked from the 18th green four shots behind that pair, although, despite an unexpected round of 1 over par 73, he cannot be considered out of contention for a first major title.

After such a magnificent putting display in yesterday’s second round where he created a PGA Tour record for distance of putts holed in any one round, the putter deserted him on day three, beginning at the very first hole where a 3 putt from 30 feet set the tone for a disappointing day.

The killer for Smith, however, would come at the 13th where he struggled to a double bogey 6 after a journey down the left rough left him with still 30 feet for bogey. He missed and he had fallen four shots from the lead of Hovland and McIlroy at that point.

A missed opportunity from 9 feet at the last cost him an important boost heading into tomorrow and he might consider a different option from the tee there having played his second from well back on both Friday and Saturday.

Still for Smith, however, it is now a case of convincing himself of the glass still being half full rather then half empty. He showed on Friday that a very low round is not beyond him over the layout and although he will need one to defeat McIlroy, in particular, golf does work in strange ways.

“It was just one of those days,” said a disappointed Smith. “Unfortunately, the golfing gods weren’t with me today. I felt as though I hit lots of good putts. Just nothing was really dropping. Yeah, quite the opposite to the first couple of days, which is pretty hard to take on the chin.

“It’s always hard to back up a good round. You know, to have one like that was definitely frustrating, but it will definitely motivate me tomorrow.

“I hit the ball as good as I did the first couple of days but the putts just didn’t go in.

“I love making birdies. I love making putts. That’s what I need to go out there and do tomorrow. I need to stay aggressive. Maybe a slightly different game plan off a couple of tees and just try and make a ton of birdies.”

Adam Scott kept himself within a very low round of potential contention tomorrow when he added a third round of 70 to move to 9 under and he is within seven. Admittedly he will need something very special if he is to have any chance but he is not without hope of a very high finish.

“I just didn’t hit good enough shots early on,” said Scott. “Just a hair off. Drove it in a bunker early on 4 and did well to make bogey. Then, yeah, a poor shot off 7 and not a good recovery shot and an even worse putt and another bogey. Did well to make another bogey.

“It just didn’t go the way I needed it to go the first seven holes today. That has to change tomorrow if I want to dream of playing with anything on the line on the back nine.

“I mean, there’s a lot of good golf in there. I just made the errors early today, and I guess some experience tells me that, when you’re playing good, you keep a calm head and work all the way in and you can post a respectable score, which I did.

“But I need to get out of my own way as much as possible tomorrow heading out. If it’s possible to attack a couple of pins, maybe attack a couple pins and have a bit of fun and try and shoot 6- or 7-under somehow on the front nine and put myself in the mix with nine to go.”

Anthony Quayle, playing his first open Championship and first major, produced a very impressive round of 68 to be the next best Australian in 24th place where he is tied with Min Woo Lee and Lucas Herbert who both finished with rounds of 73.

Quayle had his Japan Tour colleague Brendan Jones on the bag today after Jones had been sick on day two but was back on the bag today, the pair agreeing a few weeks ago for one to caddy for the other if either qualified for the event. Jones has been one of the most successful foreign golfers in Japan over the last 20 years.

Brad Kennedy continued his solid week with a round of 72 to be at 4 under and tied for 34th and Jason Scrivener improved his overnight position with a round of 71 to be tied for 55th.

But Smith and Scott are chasing a very much in-form Rory McIlroy and Patrick Hovland, the latter of whom is playing in just his second Open Championship after finishing 12th on debut in 2021.

“The support that I’ve gotten this week has been absolutely incredible,” said McIlroy. “I appreciate it and I feel it out there. But at the same time I’m trying my hardest just to stay in my own little world because that’s the best way for me to get the best out of myself. I try to acknowledge as much as I can but I’m just trying to stay in my process, stay in my own little bubble and I just have to do that for one more day.

“I just have to just stick to my game plan, stick to the process. The more people bring up the result, the more I’m just going to harp on about process and sticking to my game plan, because that’s the only thing I can do, and I’ve done that well for the last three days. And it’s put me in this position. I just need to do it for one more day.”

Hovland is thriving in the atmosphere created by playing with crowd favourite Rory McIlroy who he played with in the penultimate group today but who he will duel with in the final group tomorrow.

When asked as to his feeling of being the other guy out there because of McIlroy’s popularity Hovland responded;

“I don’t mind. It doesn’t take the pressure off of anything, but I feel like I had some experience with that in the Ryder Cup last year. And at the end of the day, they’re — well, there’s still some shouts there for me as well. So I appreciate those. At the end of the day, I’ve just got to play my game and not worry about anything else.

“I mean, it’s pretty crazy from where I grew up and so far away from playing the PGA TOUR, European Tour, for that matter major championships. Just to be here is very special, but to have a chance to win one is — yeah, I have to pinch myself, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to hold back tomorrow.”

SCORES


Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland – together today and again tomorrow – photo R&A via Getty Images 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cameron Smith takes two shot lead into Saturday at St Andrews


Smith tees off at the last today – photo Stuart Franklin R&A via Getty images

Cameron Smith made a good start to the 150th Open Championship on day one but today he took things to another level with an outward nine of 31 and added one more birdie and an eagle on the way in to finish with a round of 64, and after the dust had settled he leads by two over Cameron Young and by three over Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland.

Smith holed a greater length of putts in any one round than any other golfer since such stats were first accumulated in 2004, perhaps the highlight coming with his massive putt across the green at the 14th for eagle and he was 8 under par through 14 holes.

Asked whether he felt an even lower score was in the offing after his outward nine of 31, Smith responded.

“Not really, to be honest. I knew that back nine I knew was going to be really hard. In and off the left the whole way in there isn’t the wind that right handers want. Like I said, just have to be really patient. Hit two really good shots into 14 and was able to get away with a 3 there, which was nice.”

He would safely negotiate the potentially dangerous closing holes and after his round he gave his thoughts on how he feels about what lies ahead.

“I think it’s just exciting to be leading The Open after a couple of days,” said Smith. “I think that experience tomorrow is going to be really cool. There’s a lot of Aussies in the crowd, it seems like. Had a lot of support the first couple of days and really can’t wait for the next couple.

“I think I’ve always done a pretty good job of just treating every round the same, to be honest. I think it’s going to be a really cool experience being out there. It has been this whole week. But I’ve always done a really good job of just doing the same thing, going through the same process every morning, making sure I feel the same — get on the range, hit the same shots. It’s very boring, but it does the trick.”

Asked what he might do given he leads the Open at the halfway stage Smith said: “I think probably try and stay up as much as I can tonight. I think I’m going to be a little bit tired. Just trying to have a really big sleep in. I’m not going to try to do anything for the morning. Sleep in, get on the bike, get the legs moving and get prepared as I normally would every other day.”

Smith of course is not the only Australian with chances heading into the weekend.

Adam Scott today – photo – Stuart Franklin R&A via Getty Images

Adam Scott’s bogey free 65 has him at 7 under and although six shots from Smith’s lead he is very much in the thick of things. His position is made even more impressive given he recovered from a horror start yesterday when 4 over through his first six holes – a remarkable comeback.

“Look, it was as good as the 65 was today,” said Scott referring to his comeback on day one. “I think getting back to even was huge yesterday. After six holes things weren’t feeling particularly good.

“So I’m really pleased with that. I did a lot of good stuff out there today. So hopefully more of that on the weekend.”

Scott’s close call in this event ten years ago still hurts the Queenslander, bogeys at the final four holes at Royal Lytham St Annes in 2012 costing him a first major title.

“You don’t need much extra motivation at an Open Championship. But anytime I think about letting one slip through my hands, it hurts.

“And it would be exciting if I shot a really great round tomorrow to tee off with a legitimate feeling that I’m in contention, not only for the fact that I haven’t really been in that position for a major for a little while, but also for the fact that I’ve had one hand on this jug, I feel like, and I’d like to put two on.”

This is Scott’s fifth Open Championship at St Andrews and was asked just how that experience over the layout will help over the weekend.

“I think it plays a factor around here. It really depends if it gets windy. If it gets windy, then I think it plays a big factor. But I think at these events, just experience in general can play a big factor at the Open Championship, when it comes down to it. Being able to know how to hit a shot or control a shot when you have to. Hopefully I get put in that situation.”

Min Woo Lee and Lucas Herbert are just another shot back and tied for 12th and seven from the lead.

The highlight for Lee was his 35-footer for eagle at the par 4 12th after driving the green while for Herbert four birdies in his opening ten holes had him on the edge of contention but it was a case of him holding on over the closing stages.

Brad Kennedy followed his opening 68 with an even par 72 and is tied for 25th, while Jason Scrivener and Anthony Quayle also made the cut at 1 under.

SCORES

 

 

 

 

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Cameron Smith 3rd after opening round 67 at St Andrews


Cameron Smith – hits his tee shot at the 2nd today – photo R&A via Getty

The 13 strong Australasian contingent have generally fared well on the opening day of the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, Cameron Smith leading the way after an opening round of 67 has him in a share of 3rd place and three shots off the lead of American, Cameron Young.

Smith was out in the morning wave of players on day one and put together a near flawless 5 under par round, his only real blemish coming when his tee shot at the par 3 11th missed the green left and a little long and he was unable to get up and down.

He had, though birdied, the 10th and then did so at the 12th on either side of the bogey to maintain the momentum he had built through his opening nine of 3 under 33. His only other birdie would come at the last when he drove the green and two putted from long range to walk from the green two from the lead of Young who would later birdie the last to move three clear.

Over and hour later, Rory McIlroy would also birdie the last to move into outright second place and one ahead of Smith but the Australian, who has shown a capacity to play the big events well in his still relatively young career, has started well.

This was Smith’s first exposure to St Andrews under Open Championship conditions although he did play well there as an amateur at the St Andrews Links event before turning professional.

“I think it was nice to get out there this morning,” said Smith referring to his early tee time. “It’s a little bit fresh this morning, but there wasn’t much wind around for the first three or four holes and just nice to get off to a good start. Couple of birdies in the first five there and really set the tone for the day.

“Hit lots of good lag putts today. It was probably some of the best lag putting I think I’ve ever done. My putt on the 2nd managed to go in from a fair distance. That was pretty decent. But had so many — seemed like I had so many 80, 90, 100-footers out there today and did a good job of getting them down in two.”

“Obviously an afternoon tee time tomorrow, I think the crowd might get a little bit louder,” added Smith when asked about the atmosphere of the opening day. “But plenty of Aussies in the crowd, which is nice to hear.

“And places like this just have a certain feel to them, and almost gives you goosebumps. Standing on the 1st tee at St Andrews in an Open is something that I’ve only dreamt of doing as a kid, and for it to all come real and to have the support I did out there today was pretty cool.”

Brad Kennedy is the next best of the Australasians at 4 under par 68 and tied for 5th. His was also an early morning round and he raced to 4under through six holes before bogeys at the 8th and 9th saw him turn in 34. The 48-year-old Queenslander would, though, birdie the 10th and 11th and although he dropped shots at the next two holes he got up and down from just short of the green at the last for one final birdie for an outstanding start.

Having missed the cut in his only other three appearances at the Open Championship, it was an encouraging start for Kennedy who has been in good form in 2022 in events he has played in Japan and Australia.

Min Woo Lee was out in the very first group of the day and when he double bogeyed his third hole after tangling with a gorse bush, things did not look good for the 23 year old.

Lee did, however, respond in style by playing the next 11 holes in 6 under including an eagle from long range at the 14th to get to 4 under for the tournament and at one stage during that stretch he actually led the event. He would, however, three putt from long range at the 17th but his 3 under par 69 has him in 13th place and five off the lead of Young’s lead.

“Yeah, my shot out of the gorse, my caddie was a bit hesitant on the shot, said Lee. “And I thought it was okay. And he was, like, the gorse is pretty thick. And I was like, I should be okay. And after I hit, I said, welcome to The British Open.

“No, it was a great recovery, great recovery. And the one thing I wasn’t, haven’t been good at is bouncing back from bad shots. So amazing 9-iron into the next hole and made a birdie there and kind of kicked off the round. It wasn’t nerves or anything, just a bad drive to make a double.”

Lee was philosophical about his chances this week and is doing his best to keep things in perspective despite his encouraging start.

“It’s a long way to go. But actually making a cut, I’ll be happy with actually making a cut. I haven’t made many cuts this year. And that’s not the mentality. But I am just trying to find something right now. It’s been a bit of a struggle this year. So I’m trying.”

Lucas Herbert was another to being well with an outward nine of 34 but could not build on that start and played the back nine in even par for a round of 70 and at 2 under he is tied for 27th.

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox recorded three birdies and two bogeys for his round of 1 under 71 to be tied for 34th.

Of the other Australasians in the field, Adam Scott and Jason Scrivener are at even par 72, Ben Campbell, Anthony Quayle and Matt Griffin 74, an out of form, Marc Leishman, had 76, Dimi Papadatos 77 and Jed Morgan 79.

Similar conditions tomorrow should see a cut score around even par but they are all chasing the two shot leader Cameron Young who is playing in his first Open Championship.

Young is in his first season on the PGA Tour and is already making a statement having finished runner-up twice and third on three occasions and risen to 32 in the world.

“I think we worked our way around the golf course really well,” said Young. “I don’t think that I played a perfect round of golf. I think it just kind of — I scored really well. And I think we thought our way around kind of the way you have to out there.”

Surprisingly, especially given his great rookie season to date, Young is working with a new caddie and was asked the reason behind the decision to change.

“Quite a few things. I kind of, as much as I’ve had a solid year, there’s been a couple things missing, I think. I haven’t won anything, and that was just something that could change to kind of exhaust all my options to see what I could do better. That was just something that we as a team decided was probably best for my golf.

“He (Chad) brings a lot of experience to the table. I know he’s been working on the PGA TOUR for about 20-ish years. He’s worked for Vijay Singh, Nick Watney when he was No. 2 in the world.

“So I think being around people like that, he has — I mean, there’s no replacement for being around good golf and major championship golf for 20 years. There’s just a level of knowledge that is hard to find elsewhere. There’s a bunch of veteran guys out here like that. And I think that knowledge is kind of irreplaceable.”

Cameron Young – photo R&A via Getty Images

SCORES

 

 

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