WITH Sandy Lyle having given up the ghost so early there was added pressure on the remaining Scots in yesterday's Open field to perform.
Together with Colin Montgomerie, who took up the cudgel with a strong three under-par-score of 73, Paul Lawrie and Barry Hume battled bravely against the elements, posting rounds of 77 and 76 respectively.
South African-born Douglas McGuigan, who
now represents Scotland, got off to a flier when he birdied the first, but things steadily deteriorated after that and he finished nine over, although can console himself with the fact that this left him tied for 123rd with no less than world No 2 Phil Mickelson.
Lawrie and Hume experienced contrasting fortunes over the last three. The former's round unravelled during its finale, while the latter's improved considerably. Lawrie was a very respectable four over with just two to play but picked up a double-bogey at 17 after hitting his second shot into a bunker. He failed with his first attempt to recover, and then missed a three-feet putt. He then bogeyed the 18th. Lawrie admitted he didn't even have the excuse of particularly poor weather at this point, with the conditions having improved. He cited playing partner Rocco Mediate's score of a one-under-par 69 as evidence that the course was "do-able" with the right application.
"It wasn't as tough for us as it was in the morning," he said – the Aberdonian teed-off just after midday. "It was tough but it was very playable and the course is in great condition. I played awful. I chipped awful and my attitude was terrible. It was just a poor day."
He took some comfort from the big scores of others, and anticipated not having to do "an awful lot" to make the cut. This might be premature, however, with the slightly more benign conditions having helped those fortunate enough to tee off in mid- afternoon yesterday.
Hume's day made a dramatic turn for the better at the par-4 16th. The Renfrew golfer, who only qualified last week, turned to his caddie and said "I fancy a birdie here" after hitting a well-controlled drive from the tee. He claimed it with a 25-feet putt and then collected another at the 18th.
