 | |
| Jean Van de Velde is making a name for himself, even in France. |
"If he wins Sunday, I'll get a full page and 2,500 words," said Pierre Michel Bonnot, the L'Equipe golf writer. He said a golfer's photo on page one "is surely a first."
Golf is not a big sport in France, where there are few youth programs and shallow roots. A building boom in the mid-1980s slumped in the early 1990s with many courses closing. The country of 60 million has about 250,000 golfers and 500 courses.
Scotland has almost that many courses with one-tenth the population.
The last Frenchman to lead the Open was Jean Garaialde in 1964 when he was tied for the lead after the first round with a 71. He eventually tied for 13th behind winner Tony Lema. The only French winner was Arnaud Massy in 1907.
Stewart not happy
U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart slammed organizers of the British Open for being amateurish and said he hoped they would learn from their mistakes and set up St. Andrews correctly for next year's tournament.
Stewart shot a 3-over 74 that virtually ruled him out of becoming the first player since Tom Watson in 1982 to win the U.S. and British Opens in the same year. Then he rapped the Royal and Ancient Club for their setup of the 7,361-yard Carnoustie course.
|
Quote of the day: ""It will be a boost for myself, a boost for golf and for the interests and the people all over the world who will realize, 'Jesus, where is France? I'm going too have a little look at the map. Paris, is that in America or is that in France?' ... At the end of the day what you try to achieve is to promote the game, to entertain people. That's what we're here for basically." --France's Jean Van del Velde on his unlikely position leading the British Open.
Shot of the day: Van de Velde's putt at the 14th. Surprising everyone with the way he held onto the lead, Van de Velde finally appeared headed for a fall when he hit his approach shot well past the pin, leaving himself a 70-footer for birdie that seemed a certain three-putt. But instead of a deflating bogey, Van de Velde widened his lead with an impropable birdie. Shock of the day: Van de Velde is not supposed to be leading the British Open, certainly not by five shots, but the little-known player from France is in the top position for the second day in a row.
Don't forget about: David Frost. After opening the tournament with an 80, he has quietly moved up the leaderboard with rounds of 69 and 71. He is seven shots behind and will play in the next-to-last group with Justin Leonard. |
"Will they learn a lesson this week, the R and A? I don't know. We'll have to wait and see how they set St. Andrews up," Stewart said of the 2000 home to the Open. "If they do this to St Andrews it's not going to be any fun at all."
Monty's logic
This is Colin Montgomerie's 33rd major, and it seems likely he's going to be 0-for-33.
The moody Scot had a 1-over 72 Saturday, leaving him nine strokes behind Van de Velde. When he slipped to seven behind after the second round, he said all was lost. Now he's saying he still has a shot.
"If I score 67, I'll be 5-over and I reckon I can win," he said.
Asked how a 67 would compare with the course-record 64 he holds at Carnoustie, Montgomerie replied. "If I score 67, it will be the best round of my life."
Home sweet home
Spanish golf prodigy Sergio Garcia, humiliated with rounds of 89-83 to miss the cut and finish last in a field of 156, has called a news conference on Monday in his Mediterranean home in Castellon to explain what happened.
The 19-year old, who won the Irish Open last month in only his sixth professional event, was overwhelmed by the wind and weeds at Carnoustie and lashed out at the difficult course.
"This was impossible to enjoy," he said.
Asked if it was his worst experience in golf, he replied: "Probably so. It wasn't a good experience. ... I can't remember when I last shot an 89."
A headline in Madrid's daily El Mundo on Saturday questioned Garcia's future: "Is El Niņo in danger?" The sports daily Marca was more positive: "Sergio takes the blow with style."
Divots