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Bjorn and Lewis Share Open Lead
Lewis Outshines Watson to Grab Open Lead
Open Championship Second-Round tee Times
McIlroy Back Down to Earth at Open Championship
Open Championship First Round Scores
Bjorn and Lewis Share Open Lead
SANDWICH, July 14, 2011 (AFP) - A tearful Thomas Bjorn returned to the scene of his former heartbreak here on Thursday to grab the first round lead in the British Open which he shares with 20-year-old English amateur Tom Lewis.
On a day when patchy rain and stiff sea breezes early on allowed Royal St George's to bear its teeth at the 156-strong field, the 41-year-old Dane seized the lead with a five-under 65 that included seven birdies.
That stood firm for most of a marathon day before the unheralded Lewis made his move in the early evening when conditions were considerably better.
One stroke back from that pair was 47-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, along with two Americans, 2009 US Open champion Lucas Glover and Open debutant Webb Simpson.
Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, the newly-crowned US Open champion, ended a three-week break by bogeying two of his first three holes, only to steady the ship and fire a one-over 71.
That was also where the top two ranking players in the world, English pair Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, ended the day, while top American hope Phil Mickelson, at 41, was just ahead of them at level par.
But it was Bjorn who provided the day's most heart-warming story.
He was last seen at this rugged old course on the east Kent coastal stretch eight years ago when he headed for home heartbroken after blowing a golden chance to win the most glittering prize in golf.
Leading by three with four holes to play, Bjorn took three to get out of a greenside bunker at the 16th and then bogeyed the next as unknown American Ben Curtis swooped in to steal the Auld Claret Jug from under the Dane's nose.
Just a week ago, it looked like he would not even be playing this time around as, struggling for form, he had failed to qualify and was just sixth reserve for the event.
But in an unusual turn of events, the door creaked open for him as first Tiger Woods and then Thomas Levet, Tim Clark, David Toms and finally on Monday Vijay Singh pulled out.
The former Ryder Cup player would still have been left on the sidelines but for the fact that first alternate, Brendan Jones, turned down the chance to play because his wife was expecting.
Bjorn's round was fired by four birdies in five holes from the 12th, including ironically one at the fateful 16th.
"I came down here on Sunday night (as first reserve) and Monday wasn't the greatest of days," he said of his brief preparations for the tournament. "You don't really know what you are doing.
"But when I got in (Singh withdrawal) Monday night it gave me a couple of days to prepare and I just kind of promised myself to try and enjoy it."
Bjorn later choked back tears when talking about his late father, who died in May. "He would have been very proud of what I did today," he said. "That's all I've really got to say."
Lewis qualified for Sandwich with rounds of 63 and 65 at nearby Rye and he has a liking for the course having won the British Boys Amateur Championship here in 2009.
After going out in 33, he dropped two shots at 11 and 13, but then slammed in four birdies in four holes from the 14th to leap into contention.
His 65, played in the company of 61-year-old legend Tom Watson after whom he acquired his first name, was the lowest round by an amateur in Open history and equalled the lowest round in Majors history.
"Obviously I play links courses all year, so I've had more advantage than anyone else in the field probably," he said.
"I've only played one this year that's not been on links. So obviously I knew that if I did play well, I could have shot a good score
"But I didn't really have a target in my head. I was just more nervous about making sure I hit the first tee shot and not messing up early."
The popular, cigar-chomping Jimenez, whose best Open was a tie for third at Royal Lytham 10 years ago, said after his 66 that age was no barrier to him.
"It doesn't matter what is your age to be a good sportsman," he said.
"And this links, like you can see all the years, any age can be around the leaderboard, you know, just experience, just timing, just patience is something that age gives to you, no?"
The 22-year-old Ulsterman McIlroy won the US Open by a stunning eight strokes last month to make the move from golfing prodigy to superstar status, and in the absence of the injured Tiger Woods, he is the biggest draw at the 140th Open.
But he looked distinctly rusty to start with as he bogeyed the first and second holes, both due to over-hitting his approaches.
Still, he pulled on the experience he gained when failing to cope with adversity at last year's Open and this year's Masters to birdie the ninth and then come home in 35 for his round of 71.
"On a day like this, I know better than most people, you can shoot a high number and put yourself out of the golf tournament," he said. "So it was nice to go out and shoot a decent score."
"I said yesterday, if the conditions stayed the same I'd take two 70s over the first two days, and if I shoot 69 tomorrow with similar conditions, I'll be really happy going into the weekend."
Lewis Outshines Watson to Grab Open Lead
SANDWICH, July 14, 2011 (AFP) - Tom Lewis outshone the man he was named after -- five-time champion Tom Watson -- to grab a share of the lead and a place in the British Open record books on Thursday.
The 20-year-old amateur, who learnt his craft at the same golf club that produced Nick Faldo, revelled in the opportunity to play alongside Watson to shoot a five-under-par 65 at a becalmed Royal St George's.
Lewis's tally also set a new record for the lowest individual score by an amateur at the British Open, beating the previous best of 66 shared by Frank Stranahan, Tiger Woods and Justin Rose.
It is also the first time an amateur has led the Open since Michael Bonallack took a share of the lead at Carnoustie in 1968.
"I heard a lot of cheering for 'Tom' out there. I think at first they were cheering for Tom Watson, and then towards the end I think they were cheering for me," Lewis said. "I had a great time out there.
Lewis admitted he had almost been overcome with nervousness as he teed off alongside Watson, who he was named after by his golf professional father Brian.
"I was not wanting to embarrass myself in front of him. To shoot 65 in front of Tom was excellent, and he was just a great man to play with today," he said.
Watson meanwhile lavished praise on the youngster.
"Tom Lewis, how about that? He could be my grandson," the 61-year-old said.
"We had a few conversations today. I said, 'Do you still go to school?' He said, no, but one of his teachers was jogging along the 14th hole today and said hello to him. I guess he left school when he was 16 years old, and he's been working on his golf game ever since.
"He's quite a refined player at age 20. I just had to smile inside to watch him play. I didn't play particularly well myself, but I certainly was impressed by the way he played."
Lewis took full advantage of a lull in the offshore gusts that had buffeted the course earlier in the day to produce a barnstorming finish which featured four consecutive birdies over the final five holes.
The youngster's finale left him level with clubhouse leader Thomas Bjorn heading into Friday's second round.
Lewis, has played virtually all of his golf on links courses, and has happy memories of Royal St George's having won the Boys Amateur Championship at the course in 2009.
And the English youngster was quickly back in the saddle on Thursday, reaching the turn in three under after a nerveless front nine before recovering strongly after bogeys on the 11th and 13th.
The last of his four finishing birdies came on the 17th where he coolly drained a 20-foot putt to the delight of the home gallery.
Lewis took up golf at the age of four and was coached by his father Brian, a professional who regularly played alongside Faldo at the Welwyn Garden City club just outside London.
"My dad played on the European Tour for a couple of years," Lewis said. "Tom Watson was his hero, so I was the first son, so I was Tom. And my brother was Jack, so you can imagine who that was after."
Lewis father was one of the few members of friends and family not to be in attendance on Thursday however.
"My dad was probably too nervous to come today, so he's probably watching me on TV," added Lewis, who remains realistic about his chances of sustaining his form over four rounds.
"It's just one day," he said. "I'm going to have to play just as well as I did today tomorrow. I'm sure I'm not going to shoot four 65s. I'm going to have tough moments but as long as I limit my mistakes I'll be happy.
Open Championship Second-Round tee Times
SANDWICH, July 14, 2011 (AFP) - Tee-times and pairings for the second round of the British Open here on Friday (All times local, GMT + 1):
0630 - Peter Whiteford (SCO), Spencer Levin (USA), Thomas Aiken (RSA)
0641 - Prom Meesawat (THA), Martin Maritz (RSA), Harrison Frazar (USA)
0652 - Chad Campbell (USA), Kenneth Ferrie (ENG), Scott Jamieson (SCO)
0703 - Raphael Jacquelin (FRA), Mark Wilson (USA), Kyle Stanley (USA)
0714 - Steve Marino (USA), Richard Green (AUS), Pablo Larrazabal (ESP)
0725 - Rory Sabbatini (RSA), Sandy Lyle (SCO), Anthony Kim (USA)
0736 - Edoardo Molinari (ITA), Charles Howell III (USA), Joost Luiten (NED)
0747 - Brandt Snedeker (USA), Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN), Trevor Immelman (RSA)
0758 - Darren Clarke (NIR), Jonathan Byrd USA), Yang Yong-Eun (KOR)
0809 - Lucas Glover (USA), Hiroo Kawai (JPN), Robert Karlsson (SWE)
0820 - Bryden MacPherson (AUS), Matt Kuchar (USA), Padraig Harrington (IRL)
0831 - Zach Johnson (USA), Adam Scott (AUS), Justin Rose (ENG)
0842 - Graeme McDowell (NIR), Jason Day (AUS), Bubba Watson (USA)
0858 - Jim Furyk (USA), Bernhard Langer (GER), Tadahiro Takayama (JPN)
0909 - Lee Westwood (ENG), Steve Stricker (USA), Charl Schwartzel (RSA)
0920 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Martin Kaymer (GER), Phil Mickelson (USA)
0931 - Henrik Stenson (SWE) Tom Lewis (ENG), Tom Watson (USA)
0942 - Robert Allenby (AUS), Davis Love III (USA), Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE)
0953 - Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL), JB Holmes (USA), SM Bae (KOR)
1004 - Webb Simpson (USA), Robert Rock (ENG), Alejandro Canizares (ESP)
1015 - Kurt Barnes (AUS), Justin Leonard (USA), Jeff Overton (USA)
1026 - Lee Corfield (ENG), Ben Crane (USA), Floris De Vries (NED)
1037 - Ryan Palmer (USA), Tom Lehman (USA), Adam Wootton (ENG)
1048 - Hwang Jung-Gon (KOR), Gary Boyd (ENG), Robert Garrigus (USA)
1059 - George Coetzee (RSA), Andy Smith (ENG), Brad Kennedy (AUS)
1110 - Jason Knutzon (USA), Andrew Johnston (ENG), Lam Chih-Bing (SIN)
1131 - Jerry Kelly (USA), Nathan Green (AUS), Danny Willett (ENG)
1142 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA), Marc Calcavecchia (USA), Graeme Storm (ENG)
1153 - Gregory Havret (FRA), Charley Hoffman (USA), Markus Brier (AUT)
1204 - Todd Hamilton (USA), Simon Khan (ENG), Prayad Marksaeng (THA)
1215 - Rhys Davies (WAL), Fredrik Jacobsen (SWE), Mark O'Meara (USA)
1226 - Thomas Bjorn (DEN), Simon Dyson ((ENG), Gary Woodland (USA)
1237 - KT Kim (KOR), Ryan Moore (USA), Alvaro Quiros (ESP)
1248 - Bo Van Pelt (USA), KJ Choi (KOR), Martin Laird (SCO)
1259 - Stephen Gallacher (SCO), Bill Haas (USA), Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN)
1310 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS), Peter Uihlein (USA), Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP)
1321 - Francesco Molinari (ITA), Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN), Stewart Cink (USA)
1332 - Nick Watney (USA), Matteo Manassero (ITA), Angel Cabrera (ARG)
1343 - Yota Ikeda (JPN), Ian Poulter (ENG), Dustin Johnson (USA)
1359 - Ben Curtis (USA), Paul Casey (ENG), Aaron Baddeley (AUS)
1410 - Ernie Els (RSA), Rory McIlroy (NIR), Rickie Fowler (USA)
1421 - Luke Donald (ENG), Ryo Ishikawa (JPN), Sergio Garcia (ESP)
1432 - Retief Goosen (RSA), Hunter Mahan (USA), Anders Hansen (DEN)
1443 - Brian Davis (ENG), Camilo Villegas (COL), David Duval (USA)
1454 - John Daly (USA), Ross Fisher (ENG), Peter Hanson (SWE)
1505 - Gregory Bourdy (FRA), Jason Dufner (USA), Craig Hinton (ENG)
1516 - Alexander Noren (SWE), Paul Lawrie (SCO), Kevin Na (USA)
1527 - Sean O'Hair (USA), Noh Seung-Yul (KOR), Olesen Thorbjorn (NOR)
1538 - Simon Edwards (WAL), Bob Estes (USA), Richard McEvoy (ENG)
1549 - Francis McGuirk (ENG), Matthew Millar (AUS), Kevin Streelman (USA)
1600 - Mark Laskey (WAL), Thomas Shadbolt (ENG), Rick Kulacz (AUS)
1611 - Simon Lilly (ENG), Chris Tidland (USA), Neil Schietekat (RSA)
McIlroy Back Down to Earth at Open Championship
SANDWICH, July 14, 2011 (AFP) - Rory McIlroy believes he has added a new-found maturity to his arsenal after recovering from a shaky start to remain in touch at the British Open on Thursday.
The 22-year-old Northern Irishman has been hailed as the future of golf since winning the US Open last month, where he shattered a slew of long-standing records to claim his first Major.
But McIlroy found the going harder at Royal St George's on Thursday in his first round of competitive golf since his win at Congressional, bogeying twice in the first three holes before steadying the ship.
McIlroy eventually carded a one-over-par 71, an unspectacular but respectable score in difficult conditions at the windswept links course.
Afterwards McIlroy was satisfied at the way he had held his game together after a nightmare start, saying he had learned from last year's Open where he posted 63 in the first round only to follow it with an 80 in the second.
"It was a great experience last year at St. Andrews shooting 80 in the second round. I learned a lot from it. And yeah, it's building that experience up and learning from your mistakes," McIlroy said.
"That's been the biggest improvement for me this year."
Although McIlroy finished the day six shots off the lead, he was confident that his 71 would keep him firmly in the hunt heading into the weekend.
"Anywhere around even par was a good start. On a day like this, I know better than most people, you can shoot a high number and put yourself out of the golf tournament. So it was nice to go out and shoot a decent score."
McIlroy, playing alongside South African veteran Ernie Els and rising American star Rickie Fowler, was given a rousing reception on the first tee by an expectant gallery but was rapidly in trouble.
A solid enough tee shot on the 444-yard, par-four first left him on the edge of the fairway but his second went sailing 40 feet past the pin.
Fowler then piled the pressure on the Northern Irishman by draining a monster putt from a near-identical lie at the back of the green.
McIlroy was unable to match the Californian youngster's effort however, misreading the line and nervously over-hitting his putt by 10 feet. He subsequently missed his putt to save par.
McIlroy's radar was askew again on the 417-yard par-four second, his tee shot landing in the rough on the right of the fairway. Again he misjudged his second, sending it skidding 30 feet past the pin.
He calmed his nerves with a putt which left him with a simple par, but the respite was only fleeting as the awkward 240-yard par-three third loomed.
Yet another overhit shot, this time off the tee, landed McIlroy in the thick sloping rough off the back of the green. A poor chip left him well short of the hole, and he duly missed an eight-footer to bogey.
Fears of a Masters-style meltdown were allayed over the next three holes however as he steadied the ship with a trio of pars.
An eight-foot birdie putt on the eighth brought welcome relief however before a par left him one over at the turn.
Yet hopes of a sustained charge through the back nine foundered, and another costly bogey on the 13th saw him drop back to two over before he recovered with a birdie on the 17th.
McIlroy could have finished the day level par had he not missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the last, only for his effort to drift wide.
Open Championship First Round Scores
SANDWICH, July 14, 2011 (AFP) - Collated scores from first round of the 140th British Open at par-70 Royal St George's here Thursday:
65 - Thomas Bjorn (DEN), Tom Lewis (ENG)
66 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP), Lucas Glover (USA), Webb Simpson (USA)
68 - Simon Dyson (ENG), Kyle Stanley (USA), Pablo Larrazabal (ESP), Darren Clarke (NIR), Graeme McDowell (NIR), Martin Kaymer (GER), Fredrik Hed Andersson (SWE), Ricky Barnes (USA), Kurt Barnes (AUS), Jeff Overton (USA), Ryan Palmer (USA), Hwang Jung-Gon (KOR)
69 - Danny Willett (ENG), Mark Calcavecchia (USA), Ryan Moore (USA), Yota Ikeda (JPN), Ian Poulter (ENG), Anders Hansen (DEN), Alexander Noren (SWE), Noh Seung-Yul (KOR), Richard McEvoy (ENG), Chad Campbell (USA), Edoardo Molinari (ITA), Adam Scott (AUS), Bubba Watson (USA), Steve Stricker (USA), Robert Allemby (AUS), JB Holmes (USA), Robert Rock (ENG), George Coetzee (RSA)
70 - Graeme Storm (ENG), Fredrik Jacobsen (SWE), Stephen Gallacher (SCO), Stewart Cink (USA), Dustin Johnson (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA), Sergio Garcia (ESP), Peter Whiteford (SCO), Richard Green (AUS), Trevor Immelman (RSA), Tadahiro Takayama (JPN), Phil Mickelson (USA), Davis Love (USA), Justin Leonard (USA), Floris de Vries (NED)
71 - Simon Khan (ENG), KJ Choi (KOR), Peter Uihlein (USA), Rory McIlroy (NIR), Luke Donald (ENG), Camilo Villegas (COL), Ross Fisher (ENG), Matthew Millar (AUS), Kenneth Ferrie (ENG), Rory Sabbatini (RSA), Charles Howell III (USA), Yang Yong-Eun (KOR), Bryden MacPherson (AUS), Jason Day (AUS), Lee Westwood (ENG), Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Ben Crane (USA), Tom Lehman (USA), Adam Wootton (ENG), Gary Boyd (ENG)
72 - Gregory Havret (FRA), Charley Hoffman (USA), Martin Laird (SCO), Bill Haas (USA), Angel Cabrera (ARG), Ernie Els (RSA), John Daly (USA), Spencer Levin (USA), Prom Meesawat (THA), Harrison Frazar (USA), Anthony Kim (USA), Robert Karlsson (SWE), Zach Johnson (USA), Justin Rose (ENG), Jim Furyk (USA), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Henrik Stenson (SWE), Tom Watson (USA), SM Bae (KOR), Lee Corfield (ENG)
73 - Bo Van Pelt (USA), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Matteo Manassero (ITA), Peter Hanson (SWE), Gregory Bourdy (FRA), Paul Lawrie (SCO), Sean O'Hair (USA), Thorbjorn Olesen (NOR), Mark Laskey (WAL), Neil Schietekat (RSA), Martin Maritz (RSA), Sandy Lyle (SCO), Joost Luiten (NED), Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN), Padraig Harrington (IRL), Alejandro Canizares (ESP)
74 - Nathan Green (AUS), Jerry Kelly (USA), Geoff Ogilvy (AUS), Nick Watney (USA), Paul Casey (ENG), Ryo Ishikawa (JPN), Jason Dufner (USA), Kevin Na (USA), Bob Estes (USA), Thomas Shadbolt (ENG), Rick Kulacz (AUS), Simon Lilly (ENG), , Thomas Aiken (RSA), Raphael Jacquelin (FRA), Mark Wilson (USA), Steve Marino (USA), Matt Kuchar (USA), Robert Garrigus (USA), Andrew Johnston (ENG)
75 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA), Rhys Davies (WAL), Gary Woodland (USA), KT Kim (KOR), Alvaro Quiros (ESP), Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN), Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN), Hunter Mahan (USA), Brian Davis (ENG), Scott Jamieson (SCO), Brandt Snedeker (USA), Jonathan Byrd (USA), Hiroo Kawai (JPN), Bernhard Langer (GER), Jason Knutzon (USA)
76 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA), Mark O'Meara (USA), Retief Goosen (RSA), Kevin Streelman (USA), Lam Chih-Bing (SIN)
77 - Markus Brier (AUT), Todd Hamilton (USA), Ben Curtis (USA), Aaron Baddeley (AUS), Francis McGuirk (ENG), Chris Tidland (USA), Brad Kennedy (AUS)
78 - David Duval (USA)
81 - Andy Smith (ENG)
82 - Craig Hinton (ENG), Simon Edwards (WAL)