Enjoying the moment key to Smyth's success

HE'S 49-years-old, is heading rapidly towards life on the senior's tour, suffers from a sore back, still insists he's here simply to make the cut, yet Des Smyth is just one stroke off the lead after the first round of the 131st Open Championship.

The three other Irish golfers in the field may have been a little miffed that a man several years their senior and supposedly past his best had upstaged them but Padraig Harrington on 69, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke, both on 72, were united in their delight at what Smyth had achieved in what is likely to be his last Open.

“Fantastic” was just one of the adjectives they used to describe their admiration for an outstanding golfer and one of the game’s great gentlemen. Smyth made light of a bogey at the first to go on and shoot 68 and finish just one stroke off the lead held by Swede Carl Petterson and two Americans, reigning US PGA champion David Toms and Duffy Waldorf.

Among the 11 sitting alongside Smyth on 68 are second favourite Phil Mickelson, who birdied the last two holes, and the recently crowned Murphys Irish Open champion Soren Hansen.

Although the wind rarely grew above zephyr level nobody really took advantage. That must be a relief to the more favoured players such as Tiger Woods, 70, and Sergio Garcia, who had to come home in 32 for an even par 71.

For several other distinguished names, however, there is a very real danger of missing the cut which could come as low as one or two over par. Colin Montgomerie has been a constant underachiever in major tournaments and already has a mountain to climb after yesterday’s 74. Five times champion Tom Watson is no longer a serious challenger but would have expected better than 77, a remark that also applies to recently crowned Smurfit European Open champion Michael Campbell, 74, and Nick Faldo, 73, who captured two of his three Open titles over the Muirfield links.

It is one of the most bunched Open fields for many years with five shots separating the first 84 players.

Two days before the Open began, Des Smyth surveyed his starting time of 7am and mused: “I like that, you can be lucky and get away with little or no wind and bring in a 69 which then looks a great score later in the day when it begins to blow.”

They weren’t exactly prophetic words but close enough. For one thing, Smyth went one better and shot a splendid three under par 68.

Smyth, from Baltray, was also out in the first match last year at Lytham but could do no better than 74. On the second day, however, he blazed round in 65 and played consistently enough through the weekend to tie for 13th and so ensure his presence here this year.

He didn’t do himself any favours by falling asleep in his car in an awkward position on Monday and has been taking anti-inflammatory tablets over the past couple of days to combat the resultant discomfort in his back and right leg.

Smyth’s theory as to why he has performed so consistently well in the championship over the years is typical of the man.

“I just love playing the Open and maybe I’m not as afraid as I might have been in years gone by,” he explains. “It is enjoyment for me now whereas for those who come here looking to win, there’s a lot of tension. I went through that period and it affects your game, you don’t perform the way you feel you should. I am performing better than I am expecting to because I am just looking around and thinking how marvellous it all is. I suppose you need to get to over 40 to feel like this.”

An unassuming individual, Smyth admitted he had kept his back problem as quiet as possible because he didn’t want to be seen to be making excuses while also insisting that being here for the weekend remained his principle ambition.

“I am not taking anything for granted,” he declared. “I partnered two guys today who played good golf but who hit it in the rough three or four times and are back in the mid 70s. I could do that tomorrow. No matter what you hit from the tee, you must be on the short grass. Straight hitters are going to prosper this week.”

Swedes Carl Petterson and Soren Hansen played together and arrived on the 18th tee late last night at five and four under par respectively. But both dropped shots and it remains anybody’s guess how the championship is going to pan out over the next three days.