Des Smyth may have taken a long time to come of age but he did so with some style in his 21st British Open appearance at Royal Lytham yesterday. In the game's blue riband, the Drogheda professional had a career best round of 65 at the ripe old golfing age of 48.
It was generally a rewarding exercise for the Irish yesterday despite a relatively modest representation of five players, challenging for a record top prize of £3,600,000. While Smyth ended the day level with championship favourite Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington also rallied with a career-best 66.
By capturing the Madeira Island Open earlier this year, Smyth became the oldest winner in the history of the European Tour. And he is thoroughly enjoying the rewards of his enduring skills, being warmly cheered by sections of the 41,500 crowd.
Only last Monday at St Anne's Old Links, he shot a course record 64 to qualify for the Open. And he is now level with compatriot Darren Clarke on three under par, only four strokes adrift of half-way leader Colin Montgomerie.
The big Scot, who carded an opening 65 on Thursday, took a rather blinkered view of yesterday's proceedings. Finishing more than two hours after Smyth, Montgomerie said: "The pin positions were so difficult today that they obviously didn't want anybody to shoot another 65. And they didn't." No doubt enlightenment came to him before departing the scene.
Meanwhile, Smyth revelled in his performance. "I love golf - that's the bottom line," said the player who was a member of Ireland's triumphant Dunhill Cup team of 1988. "Chances like this come once in a lifetime and anything can happen now. But to be realistic, I'm just really happy with the way things worked out today."
Clarke, Smurfit European Open winner at the K Club earlier this month, remained convinced last night that he hadn't lost touch with the leader despite two late bogeys. "High winds tomorrow would help my cause but I'm still in a challenging position whatever happens."
Of the other Irish challengers, Harrington and Paul McGinley are among those on one under par. However, in terms of the likely winner tomorrow evening, the Tiger watch is about to begin.
See Sports Saturday