Redan leaves the big boys humbled as only Lumpy hands out a licking

TAKE a bow, Tim Herron. You are the man. You took on the feared seventh hole at Shinnecock Hills and lived. Timbo, you rock.

Well this is the US Open and, swanky Long Island private golf club or not, the 5ft 10ins, 15 stone pro whom even his friends call 'Lumpy' got his respect in full from the packed grandstand at the seventh green yesterday as the only golfer to birdie the hole in morning play.

The sizeable crowd had gathered to watch the comings and goings from tee to green at the 189-yard par-three known as 'Redan' in honour of its role model, the famous, much imitated 192-yard 15th Redan Hole at the North Berwick West Links in Scotland.