The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
With strut
Carnoustie will have a home ‘hero’ in Southgate
Carnoustie Golf Club will have a member trying to win The Open championship next year.
And, on the evidence of the final day’s play at Royal Birkdale, he’ll have a good chance of doing it.
Matthew Southgate soared up the leaderboard into the top 10 with a final day charge.
The Southend professional’s comfort on the links of Southport can be traced back to the 28-year-old’s links to this part of the country.
Southgate, who back in 1999 was sitting on one of the bridges that cross the Barry Burn as The Open was coming to one of its dramatic conclusions ever, said: “My dad (Ian) played in a local match play tournament years and years ago.
“He ended up becoming a member and we’ve made some really great long term friends.
“For my 16th birthday my present for getting cut to scratch was membership at Carnoustie.
“The support I get from there and the opportunity to play is unbelievable,” he added.
“I’ve played with some great players there and it has given me the opportunity to learn links golf.
“I’m very lucky. I try and get up yearly.
“When I was younger we used to go there more.
“I think it will be an incredible turnout next year, which will be something new for me.
“All of Carnoustie will be rooting for me. It’s got a very special place in my heart and my family’s hearts.
“I spent a lot of time there as a kid and I think it’s the best golf course in the world.
“I can’t wait to peg it up and hopefully make them all proud.”
Southgate’s story is an inspirational one – and not just in golfing terms.
It was only two years ago that he was given the shattering news that he had testicular cancer.
His recovery was quick and it was against the wishes of his family that he was back on the driving range within a few weeks of his operation.
Southgate, who had to qualify for the Open after narrowly missing out on an exemption from Troon the year before, said: “That was special.
“I was amazingly lucky with the illness. I recovered as quick as just about anybody. Getting told I had cancer didn’t make me more hungry – I was hungry enough even as a kid.
“Now cancer doesn’t cross my mind. I was passionate enough about golf before– it was always there.”