Mixed bag for Irish hopefuls in blustery Johannesburg start
Niall Kearney
Niall Kearney made two monster putts and fired a one-under 70 to lead the Irish challenge in the weather-delayed Joburg Open with Jonathan Caldwell hot on his heels after a rollercoaster 17 holes.
As Kearney knocked in a 30-footer at the 16th (his seventh) and a 25-footer at the 18th to share 31st on one-under, Caldwell started with three bogeys at before reeling off six birdies in his next eight holes with the highlight a seven-iron to two feet at the 10th.
Seeking his second win this year, Caldwell was just three shots off the pace at Randpark’s Firethorn Course after following birdies at the fourth and sixth with four in a row from the eighth. But while he also birdied the par-five 14th, he was left to rue double-bogeys at the 12th and 16th before play was suspended due to the threat of lightning.
“After three holes today, I probably would’ve taken being on level-par standing on the 18th tee, but obviously, the two double-bogeys are disappointing,” said Caldwell, who will resume on the tough finishing hole at 6.30 am local time. “But other than that, my game is in good shape to be making that many birdies. I’ve just got a cut down on the bad holes.
“It would have been nice to finish today with the wind helping on the 18th, which is a tough hole, but we’ll get to bed early tonight and hopefully come out of the blocks pretty hot tomorrow.”
There are three spots in The Open at St Andrews up for grabs for the leading three non-exempt players finishing in the top 10 and ties with Kearney is also chasing a top-five finish and a start in next week’s South African Open.
Spain’s Angel Hidalgo carded a six-under 65 to set the clubhouse target before being joined at the top by South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who was six-under with one hole to play when the siren sounded for dangerous weather.
They were one stroke clear of England’s Ashley Chesters with Caldwell was just inside the projected level-par cut line, Paul Dunne 105th on three-over with three to play and Cormac Sharvin 146th on seven-over after a 78.
Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau will renew their rivalry for the fifth instalment of The Match at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas today. The former US Open winners will be playing just for bragging rights with the proceeds of their 12-hole showdown destined for charity.
“Playing 12 holes is nice; I mean, it’s better than playing 18 holes with Bryson,” Koepka quipped in a pre-match chat with Phil Mickelson, who will be commentating. “Anything to spend less time with him I’m happy to do.”
He added: “I wouldn’t say it’s that big of a rivalry. I mean when you’ve got 4-1, and the 1 was during Covid, and I didn’t play? So, I don’t know how big of a rivalry that could be. When you win a Major, and I’m there, then it might be more credible.”
DeChambeau warmed up by hitting a 521-yard drive from the roof of the Wynn Hotel to a target, featuring Koepka’s face, some 650 feet below him at Wynn Golf Club.
Elsewhere, golf’s burgeoning power struggle is set to detonate as the European Tour prepares to refuse requests from top players to accept seven-figure appearance fees to play in Saudi Arabia next year, writes James Corrigan in the Daily Telegraph:
The hardline stance will stun many big names who believed they would be released for the Saudi International after playing in the $5m event since its inception in 2019, when it was part of the European Tour schedule.
Players even have multi-year contracts that were signed before the acrimonious split between the sheikhs and Wentworth HQ.
But it’s understood that the Tour and chief executive Keith Pelley are not willing to compromise and will apply sanctions on any member who decides to play regardless. Except, in a calculated move by the Tour, the type and scale of the punishment will not be disclosed to the rebels until after.
The same stringent tactics are thought to have been adopted by the PGA Tour. It has been reported that the list of pros who have applied to the United States circuit for permission to play in the Saudi International include Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood and Graeme McDowell, and since these names were revealed others, such as Bryson DeChambeau and Ian Poulter, are also believed to have sought permits.
If the answer comes back as ‘no’, there is sure to be outrage in the locker room.
