DOG AND GROAN
Bob dubs finish at Home of Golf torture as Mansell is top dog
Bob MacIntyre was once again left cursing the Old Course after back-to-back bogeys down the stretch left him eight shots off the Alfred Dunhill Links lead.
The Oban ace had to settle for a one-under 71 in St Andrews and a share of 11th spot on seven under ahead of returning to the Home of Golf for today’s finale.
While the 26-year-old can’t wait to see the back of the famous links, Englishman Richard Mansell is threatening to fall in love with the place as he tees up in the final round with a four-shot cushion.
MacIntyre, who walked off 16 and 17 with bogey fives, said: “I can’t play this golf course if my life depended on it.
“I’m absolutely useless on the back nine, it’s as simple as that.
“It’s just a golf course I can’t play. The Open was torture and I knew coming in that 15, 16 and 17 are just killer holes for me.
“I’m not going to compete here. It just doesn’t suit me. I’ll give it my best shot on Sunday but when it comes to the crunch, it’s the finishing holes.” While he is a twotime DP World Tour winner, 27year- old Mansell has only ever won on the EuroPro Tour and doesn’t even have full playing rights on the main circuit.
But that will all change today if he can cling on to the advantage he carved out yesterday, a fiveunder 67 at Carnoustie following rounds of 66 at Kingsbarns and 68 at St Andrews to move to 15 under. A maiden DP World Tour triumph will earn him a lifechanging £763,000 and an instant passport to the big time.
Mansell, who ended up missing the cut at the Italian Open that MacIntyre won plus the French, is being hunted by Swede Alex Noren, England’s Daniel Gavins and Kiwi Ryan Fox on 11 under.
He said: “It’s about not worrying about anyone else. My game is in a good place and I’ve proved that here. Hopefully I can have one more good round. I’ve missed consecutive cuts the last couple of weeks, but I’ve been playing a lot of good stuff recently, so it’s been a case of not worrying about these two tournaments.
“I’ve been in contention a lot this year and had chances on Sundays. They say in golf that you don’t lose, you learn. That’s what I feel like I’ve done really well.”
Mansell had four birdies on his way back in and said: “I played brilliantly on the back nine.”
Rory McIlroy has a huge task on his hands, joining MacIntyre and Connor Syme – who shot a 65 at Kingsbarns – on seven under after his 66 at the Home of Golf.
McI lroy said: “The way St Andrews is right now, I find it hard to see how someone doesn’t go out there and shoot a couple under.
“It’s playing pretty, it’s as easy as it can be right now, and even today with a 20-25mph wind.
“I’m not sure what the forecast is like but if I can go out a shoot a low one... If I could maybe get to the number Richard’s on right now, at least you’d have to make him shoot under par.”