The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Law makes up Scottish trio for the 105th championship
Aberdeen’s David Law has lifted the Scottish representation in the 105th Open to three and will join mentor Paul Lawrie at St Andrews next week.
The 31-year-old twice held a share of the lead during the final round of the Irish Open at Mount Juliet before having to settle for fourth place. It’s his highest finish of the 2022 season on the DP World Tour and his second top ten.
But the big consolation prize is he took one of the three qualification spots for the Open Championship available to the highest non-exempt finishers.
It means he joins his friend Lawrie, who qualifies as a former champion, at St Andrews. Robert MacIntyre, who is exempt for his top ten finish in the 2021 Open at Sandwich, is the third Scot in the field.
It will be the former double Scottish Amateur and Boys Championship winner’s first major. His decision not to play in Final Qualifying at Fairmont St Andrews last week proved the correct one.
He said: “It really is a dream come true – I chose not to go to FQs last week so I could focus on this event. Now that getting a place has happened, I’m over the moon.”
Law had his chances for a second career tour win in County Kilkenny, coming from well off the lead with a final round five-under 67. However, a bogey at the 17th meant he couldn’t keep pace with New Zealander Ryan Fox and both were overtaken by Adrian Meronk.
The first Polish winner on the DP World Tour stormed home playing the final four holes in fourunder to take the title on 20-under.
Law meanwhile holed a testing 10-footer at the last which he knew was going to take him to St Andrews.
“Until the last hole, I was a little more focused on winning the tournament. I was trying to get the final spot in the Scottish Open next week,” he admitted.
“It wasn’t even until I was on the final green that the Open crossed my mind.
“I knew what was on the line for the putt on 18. I had a good look at the leaderboard and knew I was in with a chance. The other players ahead of me were already exempt.
“Playing in front of those crowds is going to be amazing. I’ve never played a major before, so do it at St Andrews for the first time will be unbelievable.”
Fellow Scot MacIntyre also finished strongly with weekend rounds of 67 and 69 to finish in a tie for 13th.
Meanwhile, winner Meronk admitted it was “such a relief” to claim victory after recording three top-three finishes in his last six starts.
He said: “I’ve been coming quite close a couple of times this year and to finally open the door is just a dream come true. That’s why we practise every day and I’m super happy.”
Asked about being a role model to a generation of Polish players, Meronk added on Sky Sports: “I love it, I love it.
“I’m not stopping, I’m gonna keep going forward and it’s just another step for me. I’m super excited (to win) here in Ireland, such a great history. I can’t describe it.
“I was imagining this picture yesterday, what it might look like and it looked exactly how I imagined it and it was an unbelievable feeling. To hit such a good shot on the last hole, I’m super proud of myself and my caddie.”
Fox had earlier set the clubhouse target after a closing 64, the in-form Kiwi following four birdies on the back nine with an eagle on the 17th to briefly enjoy a two-shot lead, only to bogey the last after firing his approach over the green.
“The shot on 18 was pretty much the only bad shot I hit today,” Fox said.
“Happened to be in between clubs, went for a draw and pulled it a little bit.
“It’s been a weird week really – shot 64 in the first round, didn’t miss a shot, and then the same today with a little bit of scrappiness in the middle.
“I got off to a little bit of a slow start today, made a couple of nice birdies on four and five and then got hot with the putter on the back nine.”
Former Open champion Shane Lowry, who birdied the last four holes on Friday to make the cut with a shot to spare, carded weekend rounds of 68 and 67 to finish in a tie for ninth.
Three-time major winner and newly-crowned US Senior Open champion Padraig Harrington began his final round with five straight birdies and went to the turn in 30, but took seven on the 10th and eventually signed for a 69 to finish joint 30th.