The Open 2018: Sandy Lyle feeling emotional ahead of his last ever Open Championships
SANDY LYLE has set his sights on making the cut at the age of 60 in his last Open.
The 1985 champion was set to strike the first shot of the championship at 6.30am this morning in his 43rd and final appearance at the event hoping to make an emotional walk down the 72nd hole on Sunday.
“When I was asked to hit the first shot I very quickly said: ‘That would be a lovely idea, thank you very much.’ I then said, ‘That isn’t that 6.30am tee-off time, is it?’ and Martin Slumbers of the R and A just sort of smiled and said, ‘yes’.
“It doesn’t have to be goodbye. But if I feel like the game isn’t up to it I’ll be quite happy to hang the shoes up and watch it on television with my favourite brew beside me.
If I do well and make the cut this time it’s going to be quite an emotional last hole
“It would be great to perform well. Tom Watson obviously is in the back of my mind and what he achieved at Turnberry in 2009. That was absolutely amazing.
“If I do well and make the cut this time it’s going to be quite an emotional last hole.
“I was quite emotional when I was watching Jack Nicklaus play the last hole at St Andrews. It just gets to you.”
Ernie Els has likened nephew Jovan Rebula to a son after mentoring the British Amateur champion for his Open debut today.
Rebula, 20, became the first South African to win the championship for 52 years last month and is staying with his famous uncle this week.
“We’ve been talking about his strategy and if he follows that I think he is going to do well. His will be the first score I look for,” said Els.
“He’s a great young kid with a hell of a future ahead of him. He is a very methodical in control type of player. He’s not one of those big slashers.
“I’ve known him since he was born and looked after him since he started playing the game. I’ve had lots of input. If he wasn’t the son of my sister and brother in law he would be my son. He’s really close to me.”
Open history maker Tom Lewis returns to the championship after a seven-year absence today hoping the sight of the Claret Jug will trigger a change in fortunes.
The 27-year-old, who shot the lowest Open round by an amateur – 65 – to lead after the first round at Lytham in 2011, lost his European Tour card two years ago and is languishing on the Challenge Tour.
“The Open has always been special to me because it started my career so it would be nice to perform again. Lytham is a long time ago now,” said Lewis, who won his third event as a pro at the Portuguese Masters.
“It’s just great to be part of it. As long as I keep showing up to these big events that’s all that matters to me.
“Links golf suits me so that is going to give me a little bit of confidence. It’s about time I started performing.”