Claret bid to honour late champ Thomson

JACK Newton has challenged Australia’s golf aces to honour the late and great Peter Thomson with a drought-breaking British Open triumph.

The season’s third major starts at Carnoustie tomorrow night, almost one month after Thomson died, aged 89.

As a show of respect, R & A officials have marked a tribute to the five-time champion on the grandstands surrounding the 18th green.

Greg Norman (1986 and 1993) and Ian Baker-Finch (1991) are the only Australians to have raised the Claret Jug since Thomson’s 1965 victory.

No Aussie has ever come closer to saluting at Carnoustie than Newton, who lost a playoff to six-time winner Tom Watson in 1975.

Newton believes big guns Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Adam Scott can all contend for golf’s oldest trophy.

“I’m sure there will be a lot of people who will reminisce over Peter Thomson at Carnoustie and it would be lovely to see one of our blokes get up. There’s a few guys who I think will play well there,” he said.

Newton wants world No.9 Jason Day to tone down the hype after missing the cut at last month’s US Open despite talking up his chances.

“He’s got the game to win anywhere,’’ Newton said. ‘‘When he’s on, he’s brilliant.’’

“But he’s putting too much pressure on himself before he even hits a ball.