Top-table place brings out best from Jamieson
SCOTT JAMIESON recovered from a wretched start yesterday to fire himself to the top of the leaderboard at the BMW PGA Championship alongside Thomas Pieters and Francesco Molinari.
The 33-year-old from Glasgow, who had been a shot behind early leader Johan Carlsson following an opening 67, shot a 70 after dropping three shots in his first three holes to fall five behind.
It didn’t look at that stage like he would be the man to challenge Pieters and Molinari, who carded 69 and 70 respectively, but a run of six birdies in seven holes saw the Scot turn things around in spectacular fashion.
Jamieson, making waves again after a tough couple of years when he struggled to retain his European Tour card, described the Wentworth event as the ‘pinnacle’ of his season.
‘This would be up there with the Scottish Open,’ he said. ‘I’m not in any of the majors this year, so this is as big as it gets.
‘It’s huge, it’s our flagship event. It would start opening up doors that have been closed. You want to challenge yourself against the world’s best and we don’t get to do that every week. Hopefully, I can take a few of them down.’
As for his round, he added: ‘I’m delighted, especially with the way it started. My ball was plugged in a bunker on the third and I thought it would take a good shot to get it on the green. Then I didn’t get up and down and at that point I would have bitten your hand off for level par.
‘The last thing you need to do is panic. There are birdies out there if you hit some good shots and I’ve been playing well. Making birdies is something I’ve always thrived on. That’s where you get the buzz.’
A classy leaderboard is taking shape featuring one of the world’s young talents in Pieters, Open Champion Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood.
There were also impressive rounds from two of the great crowd-pleasers, Ian Poulter and Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, but a stunning surprise as Olympic gold medallist Justin Rose ran up an eight at the sixth. He shanked a fairway bunker shot out of bounds to fall from contention before an eagle at the last saw him make the cut.
Given the fact they have all focused their energies on this flagship event for one reason or another, it was no surprise to see Pieters, Stenson and Westwood deliver.
Pieters is desperate to see his name on a trophy featuring names like Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, and the 23-year-old will take some beating here.
Stenson, so proud to be proclaimed the Champion Golfer, is intent on living up to the title and has done so to date to be just two behind.
And then there’s Westwood, never a winner of this event despite 23 attempts but who’s back in the mix once more on the same 36-hole total as Stenson.
‘What a joy to play here on a course that makes you think on every shot,’ said the 44-year-old. ‘We play so many where the caddie could hand you the driver and walk up the fairway for all the thought you need to show.
‘This is how it should be, and particularly now they’ve got the greens right.’
Even players who didn’t putt well, like Poulter, didn’t seek to deflect the blame.
‘I just don’t feel comfortable standing over 15ft putts,’ said the 41-year-old, who felt he turned a 65 into a 69 because of his putting.
‘I’ve hit 17 out of 18 greens in regulation on a tricky course, so I know the game is in shape. My putting was pathetic.’
At least he’s around for the weekend — in considerable doubt after his opening 76 — and an early tee-time today means the Arsenal fan will be finished in time to watch the FA Cup final.
As for Johnston, he crept into the top 15 after a fine 68 and told a lovely story of his time in America, concerning a night out in New Orleans where he got the whole bar involved in a putting competition.
‘I put a pint glass down and said if anyone can hole a putt into it I’d buy everyone a round of drinks,’ he revealed. ‘Well, one or two kind of rolled in but came back out again — and I said: “That’s good enough for me”.’
Not hard to see why so many golfers see him as their ideal drinking companion, is it?
zRORY McILROY has pulled out of the Memorial tournament in Ohio next week with his rib injury taking longer to heal than expected. It means he will not play again until the US Open next month.