The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Englishman credits Sunday comeback to hangover
If any course on the Open rota offers up encouragement to golfers in the middle of the last day pack, it’s Carnoustie, writes Eric Nicolson.
And, for a long time it looked like Eddie Pepperell had a chance of becoming the new Paul Lawrie.
The conditions were nothing like as brutal as 1999 but after the Englishman’s 67 posted a clubhouse target of five under par, the leaders started to falter.
And it wasn’t until Justin Rose tapped in his birdie putt a couple of hours or so (and 12 groups) later that someone eventually got past him.
The secret to his Sunday charge? Playing hungover.
The 27-year-old, who carded five birdies yesterday, felt he had squandered some good opportunities the day before as he followed up opening rounds of 71 and 70 with another 71.
“I was a little hungover,” he admitted. “I had too much to drink last night. I was so frustrated with yesterday that today was – I wouldn’t say a write-off, but I didn’t feel as though I was in the tournament.
“I just had some wine with my coach. We drowned our sorrows for about half an hour. It was enjoyable. I didn’t really think I had that much to drink. I’m just a lightweight.”
Pepperell’s approach to this week’s tournament was “very, very casual”.
He said: “I wouldn’t always have a drink the night before, sometimes I have a few.
“It depends how you feel. I’ve done it all different ways. It depends on how you feel. I like to socialise in the evenings if I can. It takes some of the sting out of competitive golf at this level. It’s stressful.”
Of his final round, Pepperell said: “It was tough, hard work. Just getting the ball to the hole felt hard.
“I managed my game exceptionally well today. I knew on certain tees I wasn’t going to hit good tee shots, so I played for the rough and missing bunkers. This course lends itself to that in those conditions.
“Had this course been wet, I wouldn’t have had much joy but I managed my game well enough to post a decent score.”