Experience on the bag
ADAM Scott is bringing Nick Faldo’s former caddie Fanny Sunesson out of retirement as he attempts to finally lift the Claret Jug at this week’s British Open.
Having recently parted with English caddie David Clark, Scott has turned to the Swede who helped Faldo to four of his six major championship titles in the 1990s to assist him at the difficult Carnoustie layout.
Sunesson, the first female caddie to win a major, retired in 2012 due to injury when looping for fellow Swede Henrik Stenson.
As a mental coach, Sunesson guided two-time major champion Martin Kaymer to the world No.1 ranking in 2011. She is now a golf coach.
Sunesson carried Scott’s clubs during a practice round at Carnoustie on Sunday and Faldo’s manager, LeslieAnne Wade, confirmed the pair are teaming up for the 147th edition of golf’s oldest major starting on Thursday.
The Open experience of Sunesson, who was on the bag for former world No.1 Faldo’s 1990 and 1992 Open victories at St Andrews and Muirfield as well as his 1990 and 1996 Masters titles, could prove valuable for Scott, who has let the Claret Jug slip from his fingers in the past.
Scott held at least a share of the final-round lead during the 2012, 2013 and 2015 editions but the former provided his most heartbreaking experience on golf’s biggest stage. At Royal Lytham, Scott was four shots ahead with four holes to play but bogeyed each hole coming home to hand South Africa’s Ernie Els a one-shot victory.
Flying well under the radar at world No.82 this year, Scott remains determined to bag a second career major to go with his 2013 Masters title. The 38-yearold has spent the past three weeks practising and playing at Carnoustie in order to refamiliarise himself with the testing conditions of Scottish links golf.
“Sure, I feel like I’ve got some unfinished business at the Open,” Scott said in June.
“I’ve had three really good chances to win the Open and I’ve not won it.
“This year might be different; I might never win it but I’d like to have another shot at it because I reckon I can close it out.”
Eight Australians will test their nerve at Carnoustie after Scott Hend’s late bid for entry fell short. World No.9 Jason Day and No.18 Marc Leishman lead the contingent, along with Scott, Matt Jones, Cameron Smith, Brett Rumford and debutants Lucas Herbert and Cameron Davis.
The most northerly course on the British Open rota, Carnoustie hosts the Open for the eighth time and first time since 2007, when Ireland’s Padraig Harrington won.
It has a well-earned reputation for being the toughest venue, with the closing four holes providing many dramatic Open moments.
They include the unforgettable scenes in 1999 when Frenchman Jean van de Velde blew a three-shot lead at the last hole before Paul Lawrie won in a three-man playoff.