LIV rebel’s Scottish Open stress
American ties course record and leads by three in North Berwick
LIV rebel Justin Harding admits the fall-out from golf’s civil war has left him feeling ‘awkward’ at this week’s Genesis Scottish Open. Harding was one of the players initially suspended from competing in the DP World Tour event, only for the ban to be lifted pending an appeal. His opening 65 put him in third place behind leader Cameron Tringale, who shot a nine-under 61. But the South African confessed he’s not entirely comfortable with the atmosphere in the locker room, with American Billy Horschel branding the LIV contingent ‘liars’ and ‘hypocrites’ earlier this week. ‘There are times when it’s a little uncomfortable,’ said Harding. ‘But at the same time, each to our own. We have to look after ourselves. ‘The European Tour guys have been fine, the PGA Tour guys are in a different boat. We’re going to have to let that play out as it goes. It’s an awkward situation for me to be in but I need to make the best of it.’
FOR a man whose surname is an anagram of triangle, Cameron Tringale proved himself to be something of a shape-shifter in a stunning opening round at the Genesis Scottish Open.
It is tradition for birdies to be circled on a scorecard. You know, the red numbers. The good ones which light up a player’s card.
Tringale fired nine of those little circles in a blemish-free opening round of 61 yesterday, a sizzling start to the week which was matched by some scorching weather on day one at the Renaissance Club.
In doing so, he equalled the course record. Yet there was also a sense that it might have been so much better from the 34-year-old American.
There was a run which saw him card six straight birdies at the start of his back nine. When he reached the 16th tee, he was already nine-under par for the round.
Tringale knew that two birdies over the final three holes would be enough for a score of 59. It remains the magic number and Holy Grail for so many golfers.
In the end, it wasn’t to be. But Tringale knew that the 59 was definitely on. He flirted with it, and an inward half of 29 was certainly a hell of an effort.
‘It (shooting 59) crossed my mind for a second, then I tried to put it out of my mind just as quickly as it came,’ he said afterwards.
‘But I knew I had a good chance on 16. I knew 17 and 18 were going to be tough holes to birdie, so I knew I had to make something happen on 16.’
Now in his 13th season on tour, Tringale holds a somewhat unwanted record. He has the most career earnings (almost $17million) of any player who has yet to actually win a tournament.
Having propelled himself to the top of the pile in North Berwick, he has given himself a great chance of finally breaking that duck this week.
It is a stunning early pace which already puts him three shots clear ahead of today’s second round — and Tringale admitted that a red-hot putter was key to a ‘special’ day.
Among the early starters yesterday morning, he said: ‘I got lucky this morning with the wind not being up.
‘I got off to a slow start then decided to join the party. My putter then got red-hot, and that’s how you do it.
‘I wouldn’t say my game has necessarily been trending. I’ve had some flashes of brilliance in the last couple of months, but this was a special day for sure.
‘It would mean a lot to win. I haven’t had a professional win on my own. It’s special here in Scotland. Everyone has an appreciation for the game. It’s pretty unique.
‘It was a lot of fun out there. I was really hot with the putter and matched it with my ball-striking. I gave myself a ton of chances and it was just one of those days.
‘I’m not really superstitious, but I will repeat a few things that I did today. For example, I was going to change my ball at the turn because it was kind of scuffed.
‘I’d usually change it after nine holes. But it was on a heater (with a hot putter), so I kept it going and it ended up giving me six more birdies.
‘But the putter was the story. I got off to a slow, uncommitted start and I decided if you’re going to be out here, let’s make some positive swings.
‘I started to hole a couple putts. My putter was en fuego. Middle of the round, my striking matched my putting. It’s the only way it can happen.’
Tringale’s 61 was the pick of the bunch on a day of low scoring and favourable conditions, with many players burning it up in North Berwick.
Three shots adrift in second place is his fellow American Gary Woodland, who also played beautifully in carding a blemish-free 64.
It was a round which came as a surprise to Woodland, having previously struggled any time he had encountered links golf in the past.
‘I’ve struggled coming over here,’ he said. ‘I played the Scottish once before in 2011, so it’s been a long time.
‘But it’s nice to get over here and get familiar with the speed of the greens. That will be a big deal next week (in The Open) as well. ‘The fans are so knowledgeable over here. I’ve been over here and played the golf course next door when it’s been rainy and cold, and nobody in the States would be back out playing. ‘They love their golf and know what they are talking about, and very knowledgeable golf and nice to play in front of.’
One shot further back is Justin Harding, one of the four LIV rebels competing in the event against the will of the DP World Tour.
It would be somewhat awkward for the Tour’s bosses should Harding’s form continue over the next few days and he wound up in contention come Sunday afternoon.
He was initially supposed to be banned from the Scottish Open, before an injunction was granted which allowed fellow LIV rebels Ian Poulter, Branden Grace and Adrian Otaegui to play this week.
Mind you, Poulter might wish he hadn’t bothered. The Englishman had a torrid time of it yesterday, only managing one solitary birdie on his way to a disastrous round of 78.
It was also a poor day for defending champion Min Woo Lee, who posted a round of 77.
But, with such strength in the field, there are still plenty of players who will look to make a quick start today as they chase down Tringale.
The event features 14 of the top 15 players in the world, and three of them — Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith — are all nicely placed on two under.