Stenson stuck in bandit territory
THE weekend crowds will have Andrew Johnston to enjoy after his post-round rain dance paid dividends.
Johnston looked in danger of missing the cut after making a Beef Cobbler of the 17th, when it took him three hacks to escape the hay to the right of the fairway, leading to an untimely double bogey.
But his plea to the golfing gods for conditions to worsen for the afternoon starters was answered and an early exit avoided for the cult hero of the fairways.
“I’m going to go back and I’m going to rain dance all day now – about five hours straight,” said Johnston after signing for a 74, which left him three over.
“If I don’t make the cut, I didn’t play well enough. If it turns a bit harder and I get a bit lucky, then great.”
Fortune smiled on the character whose own transparent joy at the dream workplace he finds himself in has proved contagious. The ‘Beeeeeeeef’ phenomenon shows no sign of fading away with raucous greetings for him all around Birkdale yesterday.
He was even introduced on the first tee yesterday by the R&A starter by his nickname. Since his eighth place at last year’s Open, it is a refrain which has followed him constantly.
“It took off on the weekend at Troon last year and it has just kind of continued from there,” Johnston said. “I went to play in Switzerland afterwards where I thought the people are quite reserved. I got on the first tee there and they were all screaming ‘Beef!’ That was mad. And then at the USPGA it was crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Fame has brought nights out with John Daly, dinner with actor Kunal Nayyar – Raj from Big Bang Theory – and the promise of a round with his new friend, Arsenal footballer Aaron Ramsey.
His favourite perk though was a wristband at the darts. “It said: ‘free drink’,” he laughed. No wonder the goodtime golf fans who will follow Johnston this weekend can identify with him so readily.
World No 1 Dustin Johnson will also be around on three over despite the issues off the tee which left him flirting with the cut line.
“I’m not playing that good but I’m getting it up around the green and my short game has been really good,” said Johnson.
Local lad Tommy Fleetwood holed from two feet at the last to make the cut but 2008 champion Padraig Harrington just missed out after his chip at the 18th refused to drop.
There will be no repeat of the Henrik Stenson-Phil Mickelson shoot-out from 12 months ago though with the American left-hander crashing out after a 77.
“It’s the first cut I’ve missed this year and I missed it with flair,” said Mickelson. “I was surprised because I really thought I was prepared. I felt like I was ready. I thought I had a good game plan. I thought my game was sharp. But obviously it wasn’t.”
Paul Lawrie crashed out after a 79 as a parade of former champions headed home, among them Mark O’Meara.
O’Meara loses his automatic entry next year having turned 60 but the 1998 Birkdale winner departed with head held high after a 70.
“I felt good about hanging in there and shooting a quality score today so there’s a little bit of life in the old dog, but I’ll miss this championship. It’s the greatest of them all,” said O’Meara.
Playing partner ChHrieslWveotoidca was also in danger of mGisositnhgic the weekend but huise bacon by eagling thoen18ptihcwtuitrhes his approach shot. POLICE are investigating after defending champion Henrik Stenson’s rented house in Formby was burgled of cash, cards, watches, electrical items and the clothes he had planned to wear for the Open.
There are fears the property was identified as being used by the Swede after a promotional video by sponsors showed Stenson leaving the distinctive double front door to return the Claret Jug to Royal Birkdale.
That the burglary took place during the middle of the day on Thursday, while Stenson was carding an opening-round of 69, is further indication the perpetrators knew the identity of their victim.
It turns out dozens of Premier League footballers based in the northwest, many of whom live on this part of the coast, have been targeted by robbers while away on sporting commitments. Stenson said: “It’s very special for me to be playing here in front of the fantastic Birkdale crowds as defending champion, so I’m going to try not to let this spoil the week in any way.”
I’m going to go back and dance all day now