Their paths will meet again. As Zach Johnson claimed a Claret Jug in this 144th British Open championship, the sight of world number two Jordan Spieth – already a two-times Major champion this year – seeking out Irish amateur Paul Dunne in the recorder's area behind the 18th green here at St Andrews spoke volumes for the respect the 22-year-old Irish amateur had garnered from the elite professionals.
The two disappointed young men, both dressed in grey, had come up short in their respective quests: Spieth in his bid to add the Open to his US Masters and US Open successes; Dunne, a recent graduate of the University of Alabama Birmingham, in his to contend for the oldest title. In the end, even the Silver Medal as leading amateur eluded Dunne, with American Jordan Niebrugge claiming that distinction.
It seemed as if most of Greystones, Dunne’s home town, had managed to find flights and ferry crossings to the Kingdom of Fife in support of their man. In the end, though, Dunne slipped from his starting position where he shared the lead to eventually finish in tied-30th. “When I look back I’m sure I’ll learn something from it, but for now, just disappointed really sums it up,” he said.
Six weeks ago, he was packing his bags for home after graduating with a degree in business finance. He hadn't even qualified for St Andrews at that point. If someone had told him he would go into the final round of the Open in the last pairing alongside Louis Oosthuizen, what would he have thought? "I probably wouldn't have believed you. The first three days were brilliant. I'm just disappointed from today, but what an experience. Hopefully I can be back sometime soon."
Dunne is undecided on whether to make the move quickly to the professional ranks, or wait until after September’s Walker Cup match. “I’ll just think about it for the next few days and make a decision, but right now nothing concrete,” he said.
Johnson claimed the Open title – his second career Major, having previously won the Masters in 2007 – following a four-hole play-off with South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and Australian Marc Leishman.
