OPEN DIARY – FRIDAY

Features
  • July 20, 2007

It has been a bad few weeks for the BBC and things did not go much better early on in their first round coverage of the Open.

It has been a bad few weeks for the BBC and things did not go much better early on in their first round coverage of the Open.
A caption appeared on screen about Colin Montgomerie as the Scot played a hole on the front nine.
It read: ‘Best finish this season – 1st in European Open’. So far so good.
Underneath however: ‘Best finish in this event – 1st in 1999’.
News to Monty no doubt as the 44-year-old is all too aware he carries the tag of “best player not to have won a major,” and news also to compatriot Paul Lawrie, who actually did win in 1999.
Campbell and Deveronval
PA Sport can reveal more details of New Zealander Michael Campbell’s bizarre support for Scottish Highland League club Deveronvale.
Campbell bumped into Vale fan and European Tour press officer Scott Crockett in a hotel bar during this year’s Dubai Desert Classic as Crockett was eagerly awaiting text updates from his side’s Scottish Cup fourth round tie with Partick Thistle.
Intrigued, Campbell pulled up a chair and became hugely engrossed in the biggest tie in the club’s history, even getting Crockett to text his friends at the game to promise the squad £2,000 for a night out if they won.
Sadly, Partick won 1-0 but Campbell was hooked, quickly stumping up his £5 membership fee to join Vale’s supporters club and plans are afoot for the 2005 US Open champion to attend a home game this season.
Speaking after his opening 68 at Carnoustie, Campbell said: “I keep in touch with results on the website and Scotty gave me a Deveronvale shirt with my name on the back, number 23, at the Masters this year.”
That is the shirt number of David Beckham of course, but Campbell was quick to add: “Michael Jordan. I’m more of a Michael Jordan fan.”
It doesn’t happen at the Masters
Former champion Paul Lawrie was unhappy with the number of people allowed inside the ropes after his opening 73, the same score he opened with in 1999.
Lawrie, who also birdied the 18th as he did to seal victory in the play-off against Jean Van de Velde and Justin Leonard, said: “It is difficult. I’m surprised how many people are allowed inside the ropes at a tournament like this.
“I personally don’t agree with it. You’ve got people (fans) who are paying a lot of money and half the time they are asking you guys (media and officials) to sit down and get out the way.
“It doesn’t happen at the Masters does it?”
Whose Kyoung-Ju
KJ Choi may be the most in-form player in the world right now, with wins in two of his last three events, but the Korean remains relatively anonymous.
One journalist even felt the need to ask the 36-year-old what his initials stood for.
“Kyoung-Ju,” Choi, the son of a rice farmer, explained. “It’s very difficult. The first time at the Open in 1998 the announcer said “Kung Choi.”
“Everybody understands KJ, a very simple name, and so we started with that the next day.”
Icing on the gravy
American Lucas Glover demonstrated an unusual taste in food after his opening 71.
The 27-year-old from South Carolina, who was first reserve but came into the field when Shingo Katayama withdrew, said: “I didn’t have a great feeling.
“As first alternate, you’re always thinking ‘It’s going to be me who doesn’t get in.’ Every first alternate has always felt that.
“I came over to get ready in the hope I’d get in, but not expecting to, to be honest. I was going to prepare like I was in and if I got in, great. If I didn’t I was going to enjoy it anyway.
“But this is the icing on the gravy.
“You get to experience playing and if I play well, even better.”
Edited by Phil Casey, PA Sport

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