Riding on the crest of a wave
English shine at Renaissance
Given the strong correlation between football and golf, perhaps it wasn’t surprising to see Lee Westwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, ian Poulter and Tommy Fleetwood all get off to flying starts in the first round of the Scottish Open yesterday.
All four are keen fans of the beautiful game, who’ve all played plenty of pro-ams with members of the england team, so no wonder they emerged from their sweet dreams to take advantage of the stunning early conditions.
Mind you, Westwood was rather startled to get to the end of his 65 feeling understandably chipper about his morning’s work, only to be met by a rather different greeting from his caddie, Sam Westwood.
‘He’s disappointed because i had a first-round 62 here last year,’ said a rueful Westy. ‘He thinks i am getting worse. He wants to know where the eagles were, as i had two of them last time.’
World no3 Justin Thomas emerged with the kudos from his star draw alongside new US Open Champion Jon Rahm and Rory Mcilroy — though only just.
Thomas must have been mightily encouraged after his recent poor run of form to finish alongside Westwood, while Rahm breezed round in 66, making it all look so effortless as if that was the regulation par score. Mind you, for him right now, it might be. Watching these two, poor Mcilroy must have felt further away from his own brilliant best than ever, for he was very much the back marker with a 70.
American Thomas is playing in his second Scottish Open, having posted a top ten on his debut, and again showed his liking with a bogey-free effort.
‘it was just a solid round of golf, nothing crazy good but no silly mistakes either,’ said the 27-year- old. The highlight of the round came at the par-five seventh, where he held an eagle putt that was almost the entire width of the green.
‘it must have been about 100ft,’ he beamed.
Rahm was equally pleased with his score despite two mistakes on his card.
‘When you think this is the first time i have played since the US Open more than a fortnight ago, i have to be delighted,’ he said.
‘it can be very difficult playing again after achieving a big accomplishment, so i was pleased with the way i kept my focus.’
Mcilroy will need to come out sharper this morning to make it through to the weekend. That’s five rounds since he arrived on this side of the Atlantic and he still looks way short of being able to mount an Open challenge down at Royal St George’s next week.
Another decorated American who enjoyed himself was newlywed Xander Schauffele, who shot 67. After playing without a sweater in warm sunshine, the personable 27-year-old from San Diego was also happy to eat his words.
‘i said earlier in the week that i wouldn’t come here on honeymoon but if we keep on having weather like this, i might have to change my mind,’ he said, smiling.
David Law, Connor Syme, Richie Ramsay and Grant Forrest lead the home charge on four under, with top-ranked Scot Robert Macintyre one shot further back.
Since his blistering back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Arnold Palmer invitational and Players Championship in Florida in March, Westwood has cooled off, something he puts down to falling into the trap of playing too much golf during a lengthy spell in America.
‘it’s something i need to look at as i get older,’ said the 48-year-old, who won this event back in 1998.
‘i’ve hardly hit a ball since the US Open, concentrating on doing
some work in the gym and I feel charged and refreshed again.
‘I’m really pleased with that round. I didn’t have a putt for par over 2ft, which underlines how stress-free it was.’
Westwood acknowledged the bounce effect from the football.
‘I think it’s given everyone in England a lift, hasn’t it?’ he said. ‘I said at the start they had the best squad and we’re seeing that as the tournament goes on, as injuries bite and they bring on better players.’
Fleetwood and avid golfer harry Kane are firm friends and the former has texted the latter a few times during the Euros.
‘I got to know him a few years ago at a Paddy Power golf event where we had a three hole match,’ said the Everton fan. ‘he’s a good player, very competitive. But he didn’t beat me.’
Fleetwood looks on the cusp of playing well again, this being the latest positive sign ahead of his favourite event next week, The open. Fitzpatrick compiled a characteristically tidy card featuring no bogeys.
‘No complaints either,’ he said cheerfully. Arsenal fan Poulter also shot a 68.
All four ended the day looking up at another Englishman, as late-developing Jack Senior posted a wonderful 64 to continue his encouraging progress this season. he looked quite a prospect when he beat Jordan Spieth and Thomas in successive rounds in the 2011 US Amateur Championship. Now 32, he’s finally progressed from the Challenge Tour to play in the same tournament as Thomas — and, for one round at least, beat him again.