However that’s okay. A 74 may not be all the things he wished however the 1999 champion has already a lot to have fun this week.
Paul Lawrie’s begin and end of his first spherical within the one hundred and fiftieth Open will reside lengthy within the reminiscence. The bit within the center, not a lot.
Hitting the primary shot of the championship for a second time with a yellow ball – “my eyesight’s not nearly as good at 53 because it was at 23” – was a spotlight. Ever modest, Paul didn’t anticipate to see a virtually full stand of followers at 6.35 am to greet him.
However they gave a him a rousing send-off, and extra had been there to see him 4 hours later virtually gap out his tee-shot on 18, hitting a driver to 5 toes and holing it for eagle.
“I fancy my possibilities hitting that fairway even with a 3-iron,” he joked. I didn’t really feel dangerous this morning, nerves-wise.
“I used to be shocked how many individuals had been there, to be sincere. I wasn’t anticipating that. I assumed there could be a number of, however the stand on the correct was fairly full.
“Good to see all of the individuals. You all the time get nice help right here, don’t you. It’s all the time cool.
“It’s only a good factor to be requested to do. Clearly, Mr. Slumbers phoned me a pair weeks in the past and requested if I’d do it. And the very first thing you consider is how cool is that, being requested to do this? So it’s beautiful.”
In a single respect Paul’s drive at 18 was indicative of what many had feared on the Outdated Course. Taking part in companions Webb Simpson and Min Woo Lee had been “in between 3-woods and 3-irons” and in addition hit the inexperienced comfortably.
“That’s nonetheless full driver for me, nevertheless it reveals you these days,” he stated. “The sport, it’s loopy the way it’s going.
“Even with a flat out driver, it wants a bounce to rise up there, which it did. I hit a stunning shot. It was about 5 toes and knocked it in.”
Paul anticipated to see some difficult pins – he singled out the 4th, eighth and eleventh as spots he hadn’t seen earlier than.
“I assumed two-over was harsh at present,” he stated. “I assumed I performed a little bit higher than that, I didn’t do a lot unsuitable.
