The 130th Open Championship is turning out to be a fairytale story for Irish veteranDes Smyth who made it through pre-qualifying at the start of the week and today moved into contention with a 65, the lowest round of the day so far.
The 48-year-old started the day well off the pace at three-over but propelled himself up the leaderboard with today’s six-under par round.
The story began at St Annes Old links during pre-qualifying at the start of the week. Smyth opened with a 71 before adding a course record 64 on the Monday to secure his qualification in real style.
Speaking about today's round Smyth said: "This is probably one of the best rounds of my life."It certainly beats his previous best of 67 in any Open Championship.
"What today tells me is that maybe I can win again, who knows," said Smyth who you can tell by the response, simply has a true passion for all aspects of the game. "I love golf and that’s the bottom line."
Now at three-under, just three off the pace, has Smyth contemplated winning?"To be honest with you I just wanted to make the cut."
"I have no real ambition to play with Tiger," was the response he gave on the possibility of playing with Woods - who was also three-under at the time, andthe inevitable Woods entourage."If it happens, I won’t be watching him, I will be watching Des Smyth," he added.
In this his 21st consecutive year of competing in the Open, Smyth has missed the cut on 14 occasions and his best finish was tied for fourth at Royal Troon in 1982.
Today’s round didn’t get off to the ideal start having three putted for bogey from just off the back off the green at the first.There was a birdie combination at three and four. "But the eagle at the seventh gave me the momentum I needed for everything from there on," said Smyth.
Indeed it did.The front nine was completed with a two at nine for a three-under 32 outward half.Progress was maintained immediately with birdies at the 10thand11th and by now Smyth was two-under for the Championship.
"I’m a firm believer that if you get the opportunity for momentum on the course then I think you should take it, that’s what happened when I won in Madeira earlier in the year," professed Smyth.
When the gentleman of golf picked up another birdieat the 14th and"made a crucial 25 foot downhill left to right putt for par on 15," then thoughts of simply qualifying had been replaced by low score of the day or even the Championship.
"Standing on the last, I knew I had a chance of 64 and I went for it but it just didn’t come off," explained an overjoyed Smyth.