Champ can go Low
COMMENTATING inside the ropes at Royal St George’s this week will set my mind racing back to my second Open outing as a player there in 2003.
I came T34 at the Sandwich venue 18 years ago and while time flies, vivid memories linger of a very special week mixing it with the world’s best on a global stage.
American Ben Curtis won his first and only major title that year, while Tiger Woods, Thomas Bjorn, Nick Faldo and Sergio Garcia all carded top-10 finishes.
The first thing that struck me about playing Royal St George’s in 2003 were the practice rounds. I was blown away by the atmosphere.
The sense of excitement and occasion I experienced walking the course and fine tuning my game earlier in the week was on a far greater scale than some Tour events.
I also realised very quickly that an aggressive strategy can pay off there. If you’re too conservative or cautious at Sandwich, the rest of your game can suffer.
As well as the courage of your convictions, driving is key. All three previous Open winners there – Darren Clarke in 2011, Curtis in 2003 and Greg Norman 10 years before that – were superb off the tee.
Shane Lowry heads to Kent as defending Open champion and I genuinely think he has a chance.
The course will suit him, he is instinctively aggressive and having grown up on Irish courses, he knows how to scramble and minimise the risks a links course can present in the heat of battle.
Lowry benefited from flying low into Royal Portrush two years ago when the spotlight shone brightest on home favourite Rory Mcilroy. It allowed him to ease into the tournament.
That won’t be the case this week. Shane will be confronted by heightened expectation levels, so it’s crucial he manages his time and prepares as he would for any other week.
Easier said than done, of course, but focus and staying in the moment will be key.
Lowry has been playing some nice golf since March and if he embraces the challenge of defending golf ’s greatest prize, there’s no reason why he can’t lay down another major marker.
A good week would also go a long way to realising his dream of playing at the Ryder Cup. It’s an added incentive and one he should relish.
Open defences in the modern era are rare and since 1960, only five players have retained the Claret Jug, the last our own Padraig Harrington in 2008.
The others are Tiger Woods in 2006, Tom Watson in 1983, Lee Trevino in 1972 and Arnold Palmer a decade before that.
Decent company awaits if Lowry produces the quality of links golf he graced us with at Portrush two glorious summers ago.