Rory uses ‘free time’ to check out Open course
RORY MCILROY has begun his Open preparations early in an attempt to turn his latest frustrations to his advantage. The world number four has been dogged by form and fitness issues this year and he heads to Royal Birkdale this week after missing three cuts in his last four events. His latest setback came as he was eliminated prematurely at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on Friday. In an attempt to make the most of a difficult situation, however, he has used his unplanned free weekend to travel to the Southport links early for extra practice. ‘Look, I’d still like to be up in Scotland playing, of course, but if it gives me a couple of extra days to learn this golf course then I don’t really mind,’ McIlroy explained. He has been hampered by rib and back problems this year. He is now playing painfree, but says his issues are not fully resolved. ‘I am feeling okay, but it is something I am going to have to manage until the end of the year.’ Padraig Harrington heads to Birkdale on a high after a closing 66 took him into a tie for fourth place in Scotland.
IMAGINE earning by far the biggest cheque of your career, guaranteeing your tour card for next year and achieving one of the last three spots in The Open.
After achieving all that at the AAM Scottish Open yesterday, you’d have thought Callum Shinkwin would have made the four-hour drive from Dundonald to Royal Birkdale last night with a song in his heart.
Instead, the 24-year-old from Moor Park, Hertfordshire, must have been struggling to contain thoughts of what might have been after throwing away the chance of his first European Tour title in heartbreaking circumstances.
All day, Shinkwin had demonstrated just why the pros have been predicting great things for him. Beginning the day in a three-way tie for the lead, he had blown off the challenge of the likes of Ian Poulter to stand on the 18th tee needing only a par five to claim the victory. So impressive had he been, the 300-1 shot at the beginning of the tournament was 1-66 to win.
Needlessly going for the green in two, however, he left himself in a horrible spot with a bunker between him and the flag — and he duly needed four more shots to complete the hole for his only bogey.
It meant a play-off against Ryder Cup Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who took advantage of his unbelievable good fortune to notch a winning birdie at the first play-off hole and claim his third tour victory. Fair play to the 33-year-old from Las Palmas, who shot 64 in the final round to pressurise the Englishman — but he will never get a luckier victory. Not only because of Shinkwin’s collapse, but a piece of good fortune he got at the last in regulation play that was verging on the grotesque.
A terrible second shot was heading inexorably for the burn but bounced to the right of the hazard and then shot sideways over it to finish on an upslope and offer a straightforward chip. A probable bogey became a fluky birdie, and would prove the difference. Hopefully, Shinkwin will get over his 15 minutes of madness and draw on all the brilliant golf he played here. He is an impressive ball-striker, while the compensation was considerable as well. His previous biggest cheque was £79,000 and here he won £500,000. He’s now in the top 20 in the Race to Dubai and there’s always Royal Birkdale. Meanwhile, at that sublime Southport links, the world’s top four took advantage of a sunny, breezy day to work on their game. Rory McIlroy practised early and admitted his efforts to get back on track following two missed halfway cuts in a row are being hampered by the fact he has still not completely recovered from the rib injury that disrupted the first half of the season.
McIlroy can compete in tournaments all right, but an hour’s practice is the most he can currently manage. He will need a long break at the end of the year to fully recover.