Pain in the neck is easd by best finish

DAVID DRYSDALE almost had to pull out of The Open before racking up his best Major finish.

The Scot’s scare happened on the range shortly before his round when he felt a twinge in his neck and had to seek the help of a physio.

But he soldiered on and a closing 70 earned him a tie for 27th on one over.

Dysdale said: “I actually thought for three or four minutes I wouldn’t be going out. I couldn’t turn through it but I managed to hobble round.

“I got a little bit of physio on the putting green about 10 minutes before I teed off. It was just at the back of my neck. Probably just a result of playing five weeks in a row – I’m just getting too old for this!

“It was a great experience and if I’m in the top 30 I’m delighted with that. I’d have taken that at the start of the week.

“I got away with one or two pulled tee shots as I couldn’t really turn through the longer clubs. I hit a few left and right. But I’d have taken level par on the first tee given how I was feeling.”