DRAMA AS BERND WINS SCOTTISH OPEN –
P44,45
TIGER WOODS has prepared for The Open by riding elephants around Thailand.
The American superstar hasn’t played competitively for a month since the US Open having taken another break.
Woods had a family holiday in Asia but defended the trip in the middle of the season to the land of his mother Kultida’s birth where he rode elephants with his children Sam, 12, and Charlie, 10.
The 15-times Major winner didn’t hit a ball as he said: “The clubs stayed in the travel case, I wouldn’t touch them.
“I didn’t do a damn thing but the break is always great for my golf.
“We had the greatest time. We rode elephants, went on a safari, visited the islands.
“Since my mom’s health is diminishing we’re not sure how many times she can do this.”
Woods has stepped up his preparations after returning and was mobbed upon his arrival at BY JAMES NURSEY Portrush yesterday. The 43-year-old was the star attraction at The Open’s return to the Irish coast for the first time in 68 years.
A crowd of 10,000 turned up for the practice day and there was a massive scrum after Woods’ round for the American’s signature.
His security detail even had to hold back the fence separating them from fans in the throng.
It was a dramatic welcome for Woods who boarded a seven-and-ahalf-hour flight from Florida on Saturday and only landed in Northern Ireland yesterday morning.
He was on the first tee less than two hours later as he tried to get rid of his rustiness and jetlag and played 18 holes with former US Ryder Cup partner Patrick Reed.
Reed said: “With how well he has been playing this year you never know what to expect.
“He has had a month off but that can work in your favour. He is re-energised.” (Gbr & Irl unless stated) B Wiesberger (Aut) 67 61 65 69 (Wiesberger won play-off at 3rd hole), B Hebert (Fra) 67 67 66 62. R Langasque (Fra) 65 67 65 67. H Stenson (Swe) 65 65 69 66, A Putnam (USA) 69 67 65 64, A Pavan (Ita) 68 69 62 66, A Johnston 69 65 69 62, N Bertasio (Ita) 63 67 67 68.
J Thomas (USA) 67 64 70 65, R Cabrera-Bello (Spa) 66 67 67 66, G Coetzee (Rsa) 68 68 64 66, L Slattery 64 64 70 68, J Donaldson 64 69 65 68.
–M Wallace 68 66 64 69, I Poulter 65 67 69 66, M Fitzpatrick 67 65 67 68, T Hatton 70 66 64 67, E van Rooyen (Rsa) 64 64 67 72, L Gagli (Ita) 68 63 67 69.
M Kuchar (USA) 63 70 67 68, M Kaymer (Ger) 68 69 66 65, R Wattel (Fra) 63 71 68 66, A Otaegui (Spa) 67 64 67 70, T Pieters (Bel) 64 68 68 68, K Samooja (Fin) 64 67 69 68.
C HILL 68 64 71 66, S JAMIESON 70 64 69 66
R Paratore (Ita) 67 65 68 70, G Migliozzi (Ita) 66 65 71 68, A Sullivan 64 69 68 69, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 68 67 66 69, V Perez (Fra) 68 68 68 66, J Winther (Den) 66 69 68 67.
R McIlroy 67 67 68 69, B Stone (Rsa) 68 64 70 69, C Bezuidenhout (Rsa) 70 67 65 69, S Sharma (Ind) 71 66 67 67, E Molinari (Ita) 63 69 69 70, C Paisley 65 70 66 70, H Porteous (Rsa) 68 68 68 67, R RAMSAY 65 70 69 67, D Horsey 67 66 68 70.
E Pepperell 67 67 69 69, K Kitayama (USA) 68 68 65 71, T Lewis 67 69 70 66, T Detry (Bel) 69 65 70 68, G FORREST 67 68 70 67.
M Kinhult (Swe) 71 66 67 69, M Korhonen (Fin) 66 70 70 67, P Waring 69 67 69 68, D Fichardt (Rsa) 66 67 68 72, I Elvira (Spa) 68 68 68 69, O Fisher 67 70 66 70, M Schmitt (Ger) 68 65 70 70.
L Westwood 70 67 67 70, J Suri (USA) 68 66 69 71, F Zanotti (Pry) 69 66 71 68, T Aiken (Rsa) 64 71 69 70, S Manley 67 69 69 69, S Crocker (USA) 66 66 70 72, M Kawamura (Jpn) 67 70 66 71.
A Bjoerk (Swe) 66 69 68 72, L Herbert (Aus) 67 66 72 70, H Tanihara (Jpn) 67 67 71 70, B Dredge 73 63 69 70. CALUM HILL is aiming to hit the big time after a superb Scottish Open.
The 23-year-old qualifier finished joint top of the home contingent with a 15-under finish.
Hill now wants to mix it with the elite on a regular basis and said: “I’d love to be out here week in, week out without having to qualify. That’s the goal.
“I’ve not made as many errors and that showed in the scoring. Hopefully I can take this to the Challenge Tour.”
Scott Jamieson matched Hill’s score – a total he reckons might have won it in another year – but is happy the result should clinch his Tour card.
He said: “If you’d said I’d finish 15 under at the start of the week I would have thought I was in with a chance of winning. The course was there for the taking.” JON RAHM insists Northern Ireland is the perfect place to halt his poor Open run.
The Spaniard reckons he’s toiled with 59-44-MC in his three Open appearances in Scotland and England because he lived in the States while at college before turning pro.
But Rahm, 24, believes he can reverse his Major fortunes at Royal Portrush after his stunning Irish Open victory with a closing 62 at Lahinch.
He said: “I got used to American golf and every time I come back it’s transitioning back to European golf.
“I’ve played good in Ireland, not in Scotland or England. I’m going into The Open with a lot of confidence. It’s the only Major I haven’t had a good performance at and I want to.”