Open’s meritocracy stops mediocrity

IF you asked a room of 100 golfers what their nightmare scenario would be the day before a big event, you would probably get the same answer. Losing your clubs. Sympathy, then, goes to Graeme McDowell whose irons went AWOL following a flight from Paris to Manchester ahead of an Open qualifying event at St Annes Links today. Last night they were still missing and the Northern Irishman tweeted that he would cut his losses and try to qualify for Carnoustie via the Irish Open.

THere must be plenty the royal and Ancient could learn from Wimbledon but thank God that at The open they’ve never replicated the risible practice of doling out wildcards to mostly undeserving Brits (eight of the 12 home players competing at SW19, would you believe, are beneficiaries of this grotesque scheme that goes against every sporting instinct). What a contrast to The open final qualifying that will take place today. There will be 72 players competing over 36 holes, with just three spots on offer for Carnoustie in a little over a fortnight. Yes, it’s hard, brutal even, but at the end of the day the Brits who come through that process to make it to the Angus links can look themselves in the mirror and say: ‘Truly, I earned it.’ Among those to keep an eye out for are Paul Lawrie’s son, Craig, and his nephew Sean. Since Paul himself will not be able to play over the course where he won the Claret Jug in 1999 owing to injury, it would be fitting if one of these young Scots made it through to keep the family name flying.