ABERDEEB LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS

SENIOR ABERDEEN LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

ON Friday (May 24), Players, from host club Bon Accord unless stated, will tee off at 10min intervals in the Aberdeen Links Senior Championship at the Kings Links.

Abbreviations: C, Caley; N, Northern,

8.0 G.McLaggan, J.Murphy (N), G.Fiddes (N), D.L.Ross, S.Robertson ©, R.Riley (N), E.Leigh, R.Green ©, G.Beattie ©,

8.30- J.L.Duncan, J.McBeath ©, G.Allan ©, A.Reid, E.Yeats ©, P.Stuart, B.MacDonald , E.Morrison.

9.00 D.Cumming, J.L.Gall ©, A.Proctor, R.Watson, J.Forrest (N),A.Hearns, M.Rothnie, R.Jones (N),

9.30 N.West (N), D.Harman (N), G.A.Ingram, F.C.Jefferies ©

W.McKay, S.Kemp ©,

10.00 J.A.Christe, J.Skinner (N), G.Reid, D.Fowler, S.Duthie (N), R.Ludlam, I.McLaughlan ©, A.Berry ©,

11.00 D.McKay ©, D.Coull (N), G.V.Somers, R.A.Cheyne, J.Duff (N),G.Henderson ©,J.S.Gray ©, G.Forbes ©,

11.30 G.W.Mackie ©, R.O.Rowe ©.

LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

Players, from host club Bon Accord unless stated, will tee off at 10min intervals in the first Qualifying Round of the Aberdeen Links Championship at the Kings Links.

Abbreviations: C, Caley; N, Northern,

6.30 A,Doig (C), S.Davidson (N), S.Finnie (C), S.Allison (C), A.Philip (C), I.MacGregor (C), C.Irving (N),

7.00 C.McBain (N), G.Bond (N), D.Mair (N), A.Shand, G.Meade (C), G.Anderson (N)

7.30 M.Rimmer (C), M.Edmond, A.J.Shirreffs (N), D,Grieve, Mark.Greig, R.Evett (N), G.McLaggan, G.Allan (C),

8.00 R.Allerton, N.West (N)

8.20 M.Dunn, M.Greig, G.Paterson (N), W.Shand, S.A.Smith (C), T.Still (N), S.Murray, S.Muir (N), W.West (N), R.Watson, S.Milton (N),

9.00 G.V.Somers, L.Minty (N), R.Rimmer (C), J.Forrest (N),

9.30 R.irie (C), D.Leslie (N), 9.50 R.Davidson (C), P.Cheyne (N)

10.00 S.Murphy, B.Reid (C)

11.00 D.Forbes (C), D.McKay (C)

11.30 L.Hadden, J.Inglis (N)

12.00 N.Carnege (C), L.Ross (C), J.Duff (N)

12.20 E.Leslie, W.Ross (C)

12.40 N.Gray, G.Nicholson (N), B.Edmond, C.G.Somers,

13.00 A.Sheldrick (C), D.Galloway (N), C.Ross

MURRAY CUP – SUNDAY, MAY 26

Players, from host club Bon Accord unless stated, tee off at 10 min intervals.

Abbreviations, C, Caley, N, Northern,

7.10  M.Flanagan, S.Meade (C), G.Fiddes (N), S.Guyan, G.McBeath (C),

7.30  J.Smith, G.Meade (C), D.Cumming (BA),

7.50 D.McPherson(C),I.Petrie (N), 

8.10 C.Robertson (C), K.G.Robertson (C), D.Gill (N), E.Leigh, D.Daniel (C), R.Kane (C), R.Dunn, J.McKechie, A.Pirie (N),

9.00 C.Murphy, M.Ogston (N), S.Kennedy (N), 

9.20 P.Gray, D.Coull (N),  

9.30 N.Christe, C.Dunn, G.Kidd (N), S.Kelly, T.Russo (N), N.McLennan, G.McDonald (N),

10.00 R.Buchan, C.Carson (C), G.Martin, G.W.Mackie (C), R.Leslie, J.Hay, R.Jones (N), A.Paterson (N), R.A.Smith  (C), S.Leslie (C), I.Rowe (N), A.Rea, B.A.Smith (C), B.Lumsden jnr (N), B.Lumsden (N), G.Homer (N),

11.10 J.Urquhart, R.Urquhart, J.Ritchie (N),J.Leslie, D.Still,  G.F.Webster (N), D.Barclay, E.Anderson (N),

11.40 W.Ross (N), G,Duncan (N),

ANCHORED PUTTERS: THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING IS FEELING IN USA

FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL WEBSITE
By REX HOGGARD
FORT WORTH, Texas – This is not over. Not by a long shot. That wasn’t the fat lady’s dulcet tones echoing through golf early Tuesday, it was the kick-off – everything up to this point has been pre-game.
The USGA and R and A’s decision to move ahead with the ban on anchoring was almost inevitable. They didn’t dissect the issue for years only to do a U-turn at the first sign of uneven terrain. The question now is, what’s next?
“We will now begin our process to ascertain whether the various provisions of Rule 14-1b will be implemented in our competitions and, if so, examine the process for implementation,” read the official company line from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
When translated from PR speak, the US PGA Tour’s response to Tuesday’s news was a solid, “Oh, yeah?”
The next few weeks and months will not just decide the fate of the long putter, and a handful of Tour types who ply their trade with it, but could cut right to the relevance of golf’s rule makers.

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The Tour’s statement said player input will be collected before a decision is made whether the circuit will follow the new rule. The next Policy Board meeting will be in early July at the Greenbrier and the Player Advisory Council doesn’t currently have a meeting scheduled, although one Tour official admitted, “that might change.”
If the No 1 American pro circuit decides to split with the rule makers and not adopt the change, many of the current legal and logistical concerns go away, although the esoteric impact to the game would be substantial.
“I’m not worried about putting with the short putter or the long putter. I’m just bothered that I didn’t get a vote and that we didn’t get any representation on this,” said Brian Harman, who has used a belly putter throughout much of his professional career.
 “I don’t think this is the end of it at all. The next thing is the golf ball and then it’s the drivers. We’ll be playing with gutta-percha (golf ball) pretty soon.”
Harman was hardly alone in his assessment that it may be time for the professionals to take control of the rule-making process, but Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has been reluctant, if not vague, in the past when asked about the possibility of the bifurcation of the Rules of Golf.
“I can see some situations where you might bifurcate the rules, but that wouldn’t be the first choice,” Finchem said in February.
Unlike PGA of America president Ted Bishop, who built his consensus from within, Finchem will have difficulty crafting a similarly populace response and would likely avoid such a move anyway. 
There will be no exit polling of the rank-and-file on whether to ban or not to ban because, honestly, everyone has a belly in this fight.
“That’s too individual for the players,” said Steve Flesch, who won three of his four Tour titles using a long putter but supports the ban. “The players shouldn’t make the rules out here.”
Which brings the decision back to Finchem and the Policy Board, which includes four player-directors. After further review, it seems likely the circuit will abide by the new rule and maintain the status quo with the USGA and R and A.
For weeks the word on Tour was that a group of seven to eight players had already formed a coalition to challenge the rule legally if it was passed; and early Tuesday Brendan Steele seemed to allude to the impending legal wrangling, 
“I expect you to see something soon. Someone today will probably give you something on that.”
It remains unclear whether the players would sue the US Tour or the rule makers or on what ground they would base there challenge, but as Vijay Singh’s episode from two weeks ago proved, we live in a litigious society (as an aside, it appears lawyers will be this year’s leading money winners on Tour). It was a reality that also didn’t sit well with some players at Colonial.
“If we can sue for that then why can’t we just argue every rule then?” Greg Owen (an Englishman) said. 
“We are governed by the USGA and R and A for years and all of a sudden we are going to go against them. I feel for them (players who use long putters), but at the end of the day it shouldn’t have been allowed in the first place.”
If the US PGA Tour adheres to the rule it will also have to decide when to start enforcing it. January 2016, the date when the USGA and R and A plan to enact the ban, is awkward at best for the Tour.
The circuit will already be some two months into the 2015-16 season, which means the Tour would have to put the rule on the books early (Fall of 2015) or late (Fall of 2016).
The impending changes also promise to be a bona fide distraction over the next 2 ½ years, and Finchem is on record as loathing distractions. Thirty months of continuous debate just won’t do.
“If (the Tour) is going to ban it why do we have to wait 2 ½ years,” Steve Flesch asked. “This issue isn’t going to go away. You don’t want guys getting heckled. This is inevitable, but 2016 is so far away. Why wait?”
Anchoring is now the US Tour’s, and to a lesser extent the PGA of America’s problem, and those expecting a swift and seamless resolution should get used to disappointment.
No, Tuesday’s news wasn’t the end for anchoring, but it was the beginning of a lot of angst in Ponte Vedra Beach.

UNCHANGED DEFENDING CHAMPIONS BRORA ALREADY IN QUARTER-FINALS

By ROBIN WILSON

Brora Golf Club have the  unchanged team of Iain Grant. Jim Miller, Ronnie Sim and Robin Wilson  when they arrive to defend the B D Fraser Senior Northern Counties Cup over the  Nairn Dunbar Golf Course from Wednesday to Friday this week. 

As winners of the cup for a  third time over their home course last year Brora received a first round bye and are now already into the quarter-finals on Thursday morning when their their second round opponents, Tain withdrew.  

 Brora now await the winners of the second round tie involving Torvean or Duff House Royal

Included in the original entry of 24 club teams is a first time entry from members of Eriskay Golf Club. These golfers have no course of their own, their course on the island closing down some years ago, but their enthusiasm to continue playing has seen their now mainland  members continue the club's existence through an affiliation to Tain Golf Club where they fulfil club fixtures. 

It is no surprise their club badge incorporates the S.S Politician which sank off the island in 1944 and was was immortalised in the film “Whisky Galore”. 

Eriskay's first fixture is against Cruden Bay, a club still looking for a first winning result after losing in two previous finals. Deeside, last year's losing finalists at Brora, are at the foot of the draw and open with a game against former winners Inverness.

McDonald Ellon who have drawn Strathpeffer in round one, have the added incentive to add the senior cup to the other Counties Cup which their younger members won last September at Royal Aberdeen. 

The host club has two entries. Team one plays Royal Dornoch and Team two meets Royal Aberdeen.

Full Draw

FIRST ROUND

The Nairn v Duff House Royal 2

Eriskay v Cruden Bay

McDonald Ellon v Strathpeffer Spa

Fortrose 1 v Moray 2

Elgin v Royal Dornoch 2

Turriff v Fortrose 2

Moray 1 v Forres

Royal Aberdeen v Nairn Dunbar 2

SECOND ROUND

Brora w.o. Tain scr

Torvean v Duff House Royal 1

Nairn or Duff House Royal 2  v Eriskay or Cruden Bay

McDonald or Strathpeffer v Fortrose 1 or Moray 2

Elgin or Royal Dornoch v Turriff or Fortrose 2

Moray or Forres v Royal Aberdeen or Nairn Dunbar 2

Royal Dornoch 1 v Nairn Dunbar 1

Inverness v Deeside.   

 

SERGIO GARCIA HAPPY TO BE BACK WITH THE EUROPEAN TOUR FAMILY

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Sergio Garcia acknowledges being reunited with his European Ryder Cup team-mates is exciting, yet will not let sentiment get in the way of his attempts to claim a first victory of the season at this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.

Garcia, pictured,  will be joined on the revered West Course by 10 of the men who completed the “Miracle of Medinah” last September in Chicago, as some of the world’s best battle it out for The European Tour’s flagship prize.
The Spaniard, who talked of his pleasure at being back within the unique ‘family’ atmosphere of The European Tour this week,  is one of those who will expect to be in contention having shown outstanding consistency during 2013.
Despite not yet winning this campaign, the 33 year old Castellon man has not finished outside of the top 20 in six appearances on The European Tour this season, amassing three top ten finishes – the best of which a tied second at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in January.
“I'm very excited about it,” said the World Number 14. “Obviously here on The European Tour, this is the second biggest tournament after The Open Championship.
“There is an amazing group of players playing this week, on a tough golf course, so I'm excited about the week. I'm excited to take a nice look at the course tomorrow, as I did today, playing the front nine; it should be an exciting week.
“I think this year was obviously a bit extra special having all the players from The Ryder Cup here, being such a big event and so forth.
“So you know I just wanted to make a little bit of an extra effort to be sure we could make it here.”
Speaking about his season thus far, he added: “It has been a pretty solid start of the year. We have not had any wins but we've been close several times.”
For Garcia, Wentworth will likely prove more testing given he has not competed in the event since 2000.
The course has changed significantly since he last played a competitive round on it, with Ernie Els – another in the field this week – having made alterations in the winter of 2005 to 2006.
“I think that the Tour has been trying to have me back here for a while,” said Garcia. “Unfortunately it hasn't been able to happen.
“I've only played the front nine, and so I could see some differences from 2000.  I think probably the back nine is where you see most of the big changes.
“But you can totally see that the course has become a much tougher course. You know, it used to be a lot of solid scoring situations that you could have out there.  Now, you still have some but not as many as you used to; so you just have to be a little bit more careful with it I guess.”
Garcia, who like many of his Ryder Cup contemporaries also plies his trade on the US PGA Tour, also reflected on the special atmosphere prevalent on The European Tour, in evidence in spades this week at the idyllic Wentworth.
“I've played both tours for 14, 15 years now but I've always loved The European Tour,” said Garcia. “I love what The European Tour stands for; the feeling that you get on The European Tour, not only with the tournament, but the players, within the players and everything; it feels like it's a little bit closer together.  It's a little bit more like a family.
“So that's some of the reasons why I play on The European Tour.  I love coming back here and kind of disconnect from the U.S. a little bit and see my Spanish friends and Italian friends and Argentinians and so forth.”

McGINLEY TO HAVE THREE WILD CARD PICKS FOR RYDER CUP AT GLENEAGLES

FROM THE BBC SPORT.COM WEBSITE

Europe team captain Paul McGinley will have three wild card picks for next year's Ryder Cup against the United States at Gleneagles.

It means there will be nine automatic qualifying places for the 12-man team, which will aim to defend the title sensationally won at Medinah in 2012.
Jose Maria Olazabal, who led Europe to victory last year, had two wild cards - Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts.
McGinley said he made the change in order to allow "a bit of flexibility".
The nine automatic selections will be made up of the top four eligible golfers from the European Tour points list and the leading five in the world rankings.
"Hopefully this will ensure I have the right players to face the examination paper that Gleneagles will set out next September," added 46-year-old Irish golfer McGinley.
"You only need to look at the record books to see we haven't done too badly of late so I didn't see the need to make sweeping changes."
Europe have won seven of the last nine editions, including a remarkable final-day fightback to win last year's Ryder Cup on American soil by 14 1/2 points to 13 1/2.
American captain Tom Watson has reduced the number of his wild  card picks from four to three.
McGinley's proposal received unanimous backing from the European Tour's Tournament Committee during a meeting at Wentworth on Monday.

R AND A, USGA CONFIRM JANUARY 1, 2O16 BAN ON ANCHORING CLUB

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR.COM WEBSITE
The R and A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), golf’s governing bodies, today announced the adoption of Rule 14-1b of the Rules of Golf that prohibits anchoring the club in making a stroke. 
The new Rule will take effect on January 1, 2016 in accordance with the regular four-year cycle for changes to the Rules of Golf.
Rule 14-1b, which was proposed on November 28, 2012, has now been given final approval by The R and A and the USGA following an extensive review by both organisations. 
The decision to adopt the new Rule came after a comprehensive process in which comments and suggestions from across the golf community were collected and thoroughly considered.
The R and A and the USGA have prepared a detailed report to explain the reasons for the decision to adopt Rule 14-1b. The report explains the principles on which the Rules of Golf are founded, why freely swinging the entire club is the essence of the traditional method of stroke, and why anchoring is a substantially different form of stroke that may alter and diminish the fundamental challenges of the game. 
It points out that the Rule will still allow the use of belly-length and long putters and that a wide variety of types of strokes remain for players to use. 
The report concludes that the new Rule should not adversely affect participation in the game, that it is not too late or unfair to require players to comply with it and that it will remove concerns about any potential advantage that anchoring provides. 
It also makes clear that one set of Rules is essential to the future health of the game. The report, entitled Explanation of Decision to Adopt Rule 14-1b of the Rules of Golf, can be found at www.RandA.org/anchoring or at www.usga.org/anchoring.
Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R and A, said: “We took a great deal of time to consider this issue and received a variety of contributions from individuals and organisations at all levels of the game. 
"The report published today gives a comprehensive account of the reasons for taking the decision to adopt the new Rule and addresses the concerns that have been raised. We recognise this has been a divisive issue but after thorough consideration we remain convinced that this is the right decision for golf.”
“Having considered all of the input that we received, both before and after the proposed Rule was announced, our best judgment is that Rule 14-1b is necessary to preserve one of the important traditions and challenges of the game – that the player freely swing the entire club,” said USGA President Glen D. Nager.
 “The new Rule upholds the essential nature of the traditional method of stroke and eliminates the possible advantage that anchoring provides, ensuring that players of all skill levels face the same challenge inherent in the game of golf.”
The current Rule 14-1 of the Rules of Golf will be re-numbered as Rule 14-1a, and new Rule 14-1b will be established as follows:
14-1b Anchoring the Club
In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either “directly” or by use of an “anchor point.”
Note 1:  The club is anchored “directly” when the player intentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm.
Note 2:  An “anchor point” exists when the player intentionally holds a forearm in contact with any part of his body to establish a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club.
Rule 14-1b will not alter current equipment rules and allows for the continued use of all conforming golf clubs, including belly-length and long putters, provided such clubs are not anchored during a stroke. The new Rule narrowly targets only a few types of strokes, while preserving a golfer’s ability to play a wide variety of strokes in his or her individual style.
The January 1, 2016 timetable for implementation also provides an extended period in which golfers may, if necessary, adapt their method of stroke to the requirements of the new Rule.
David Rickman, Executive Director of Rules and Equipment Standards at The R and A, said: “This Rule change addresses the future and not the past. Everyone who has used an anchored stroke in the past, or who does so between now and 1 January 2016, will have played entirely within the Rules and their achievements will in no way be diminished.”
“The discussion around the Rule has been very helpful, and we appreciate that so many different perspectives were offered,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. 
“We know that not everyone will agree with the new Rule, but it is our hope that all golfers will accept that this decision is reasoned and motivated by our best judgment in defining the sport and serving the best interests of the game.”
For more information about the adopted Rule, including a demonstration video, photos, infographics, and a Guidance Document for Players and Officials, visit www.RandA.org/anchoring and www.usga.org/anchoring.
 

ENGLISHMAN BRIAN DAVIS BOOKS OPEN PLACE AT MUIRFIELD

FROM THE CBS SPORTS.COM WEBSITE
PLANO, Texas (AP) - England's Brian Davies, Americans Josh Teater, Scott Brown, Johnson Wagner, Bud Cauley and Luke Guthrie, as well as Sweden's Robert Karlsson and Colombie's Camilo Villegas qualified for the British Open on Monday at the international final qualifying at Gleneagles Country Club Queens Course, Texas.
The 34-year-old Teater shot rounds of 64 and 69 to take medalist honours. He has never played in a major championship before taking one of eight spots available under very windy conditions at the par 70 course.
The British Open will be held July 18-21 at Muirfield Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland.
Wagner shot 134, along with Columbia's Camilo Villegas, who did not play in a single major last year.
Brown who won earlier this year in a PGA Tour event in Puerto Rico. He shot a 135. England's Brian Davis also shot 135.
There was a four-man playoff for the final three spots between Americans Bud Cauley, Luke Guthrie, Columbia's Andres Echavarria and Sweden's Robert Karlsson, who all finished at 136.
Echavarria, seeking his first major championship, was eliminated with a bogey four on the first playoff hole while the others made par 3.

Scots Martin Laird and Russell Knox both failed on the 140 mark (joint 17th). Both men scored 72 and 68.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES 
CLICK HERE 

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
By JIM McCABE
PLANO, Texas – Results to the contrary, it is not the way Robert Karlsson would suggest you play the par-3 17th hole at Gleneagles Country Club, Texas, a 190-yarder that felt like 290 given that it was into a robust warm wind and was all carry over water.
But, hey, whatever works, eh?
The tall and personable Swede laughed, perhaps still confounded by how an Open Championship final qualifier unfolded. Seemingly playing beautifully enough to coast in as one of the top eight scorers, Karlsson three-putted his 35th hole, the par-4 seventh, then hit his tee ball into a hazard on his final hole, the par-4 eighth.
Finishing double-bogey, bogey left Karlsson at 4-under 136, tied with three others – Luke Guthrie, Bud Cauley and Andres Echavarria.
The only thing was, there was only room for three of them.
You certainly could tell, too, who was in and who was out as everyone bunched around the scoring board. Those who had posted 7 under (Josh Teater), 6 under (Johnson Wagner and Camilo Villegas), and 5 under (Scott Brown and Brian Davis), wore flip-flops, t-shirts, and even bounced their children on their laps (that would be Brown).
Their long and hot day had been completed in satisfying fashion, five guaranteed tickets punched to the Open Championship at Muirfield in Scotland (July 18-21).
Those who had the 4-for-3 play-off? With skies darkening and warm winds swirling and the frightful word “tornadoes” being bandied about, they went to the putting green and practice range. No one figured there was a lot of time left, but given that officials had deemed the 17th as the first playoff hole, chances were pretty good it would end quickly.
And it did, too, as Echavarria, an unheralded 25-year-old from Colombia whose idol – Villegas – walked out to watch the overtime, missed a slippery 6-footer and was eliminated with a bogey.
Sounds simple, eh?
With golf, it never is, because only Cauley avoided an adventure in the playoff. Hitting last, Cauley hit a 6-iron wide right and 45 feet long, but he lagged it within inches and had an easy par.
The others couldn’t breathe so easy.
Then again, it’s a hole that caused havoc all day, and for testimony ask Jordan Spieth. The 19-year sensation, playing in front of a lot of friends and family from the Dallas area, was 3 under as he walked to the tee box at 17 in the afternoon. Though he didn’t know it at the time, he had to play the next two holes in 1 under to at least get in a playoff, but he never came close.
He rinsed two in the water at 17, made a quadruple-bogey, and his bid to get into the Open Championship was through – at least for this day.
Though the lads in the playoff foursome handled 17 a little better than Spieth, it still created heartache. Guthrie, the only one of the four to hit 7-iron, held his breath as his ball sort of ballooned into the wind and barely made it over the water, and Echavarria was left shaking his head when his 6-iron tracked the hole, but drifted a bit left and landed in a greenside bunker.
“I knew 6-iron was too much,” Echavarria said, “but 7-iron wasn’t enough.”
With Cauley in with par, Karlsson was next to play. “I knew it was a pretty quick putt, but I didn’t want to leave it above the hole,” he said.
Guess what? He succeeded – and then some. Karlsson’s putt raced past the hole, perhaps as much as 15 feet. Onlookers probably figured he was in trouble, but they didn’t know how he had played the hole twice earlier.
In the first round, “I left a putt 10 feet above the hole, and in the second round I hit it 10 feet past the hole.” He made both of them, so ho-hum, when he made the 15-footer in the playoff to save par, Karlsson could only laugh.
Echavarria, who had blasted out only to see his ball stay above the hole, was next to play and he lipped out his bid, which gave Guthrie the chance to shut the door on this playoff. Having stood on a railway tie to play his second shot to 4 feet, Guthrie calmly dropped it to pull the curtain down on a long, hot, and windy day.
Good drama for media types and fun for fans, these 36-hole qualifiers are anything but for the players. Even for those who make it through, like Wagner.
“They’re not fun at all. They’re terrible,” said Wagner, who shot 68-66. It was a shot higher than the medalist, Teater (64-69), but this was one time when the idea was to survive, not win.
Thus did Villegas (68-66), Brown (71-64), and Davis (66-69) also wear big smiles.
Which isn’t to say it was easy for any of them. Davis, for instance, was 3 under out of the gates in his morning round when he bogeyed 17, bogeyed 18, and hit a shot out-of-bounds at the first and made double. From happy with himself, to miserable in a matter of minutes, Davis then ripped off six straight birdies.
That put him in a better mood and he was fine from there on.
Others never really got the chance to get anything going. Davis Love, for instance. Having played in 26 consecutive Open Championships, he desperately wanted to make it 27. But he bogeyed three of his first six holes in the morning, made just one birdie in the afternoon, and at 70-72 he was well off the pace.
“My ball-striking is really good, but I’m a little rusty,” said Love, who had neck surgery earlier this year and had been sidelined until the Players Championship last week.
Stuart Appleby, who was in a four-way playoff the last time the Open Championship was held at Muirfield (2002), also failed to make it through. He shot 70-72. Another who came up short was Ryo Ishikawa. He shot 69-72 to finish at 1 over, playing holes 16-18 in 5 over.
In all, 78 players showed up, but five withdrew midway through Round 1. Another 20 withdrew either after Round 1 or somewhere during Round 2, so at the end of the day, only 53 completed 36 holes. When Guthrie’s putt ended the proceedings and Echavarria removed his hat to with his competitors well, we were left with three who had qualified for their first major – Teater, Brown, Guthrie – and when you toss in Cauley, who will be playing in his first Open Championship, it was a day of new faces but an old story: These 36-hole qualifiers are tough on the players, but sure provide fun for everyone else.