Wessberg stays cool as she joins title hunt
FOR we crude amateurs, there are often times on the golf course when the general swiping, thrashing and clattering of a small, dimpled ball can resemble a scene of complete Armageddon. There is the alternative view, of course, from those with a genuine flair for this Royal & Ancient pursuit.
“It’s not the end of the world now,” suggested Linda Wessberg after moving into the title hunt on day two of the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open with a five-under 67 for a sevenunder 137 that left her in a share of second, three behind Welsh leader, Becky Morgan.
Since becoming a mother for the first time last September, Wessberg, who is aiming to follow the Swedish successes of Alex Noren and Henrik Stenson on Scottish soil during a jubilant July, has adopted a more philosophical attitude to the occasionally mind-mangling process of getting a pesky little orb into a ruddy hole. “Golf used to be everything to me and everything revolved around it but now I’m just enjoying it much more,” added Wessberg.
She certainly is. Perhaps it’s just the novelty of actually playing again that’s roused the senses? Wessberg, who represented Europe in the Solheim Cup in 2007, missed a good chunk of the 2014 season after breaking her arm and, having given birth last autumn, the 36-year-old is competing in just her third event since then. The lay-off has not hampered her progress, though, and she finished 15th on her return to frontline duty in Morocco and then was joint fourth in the Czech Republic recently.
Morgan, meanwhile, has been a sturdy campaigner on both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour for 16 years but, despite a number of second-place finishes on either side of the Atlantic, she’s still seeking a first victory. A neatly assembled six-under 66 for a 10-under 134 edged her towards that maiden triumph and her round was aided by a raking putt of some 40-feet on her ninth hole for an eagle-three that bolstered her clamber up the order.
At 41, Morgan is a hardy perennial of a women’s scene that is largely dominated by youngsters but in this game for all the ages, the increasing years are certainly no barrier to success. “There are plenty of youngsters but I certainly don’t feel my age,” said Morgan.
Isabelle Boineau, who won the Duke of York Young Champions event here at Dundonald as a teenage amateur in 2007, finished alongside Wessberg after a 67 while overnight leader Gwladys Nocera dropped back into a share of fourth with a 72 for 139.
On a day when most of the home hopefuls engaged reverse gear, Sally Watson emerged as the leading Scot after a one-under 71 left her in a tie for 11th on a threeunder 141 alongside Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger.
Watson, who finished third in the Scottish Open during her rookie year on the tour in 2013, came within a whisker of illuminating her card with a hole-in-one on the fourth when her tee-shot reared up just short of the cup.
Catriona Matthew is on 144 after a 73.