I drank myself to sleep, says Roe

Mark Roe has called on golf’s governing bodies to change the “blatantly unfair” rules which saw him robbed of the chance for Open glory.

Roe was joint fourth at Sandwich after a brilliant third-round 67 but he was disqualified along with playing partner Jesper Parnevik after the pair accidentally signed each other’s cards.

The Sheffield-based player admitted news of his penalty left him “dumbfounded and absolutely shellshocked” and called for rule changes, claiming a “clerical error” should not have denied him the chance to compete in today’s final round.

Roe told Talksport: “I must admit I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night to be honest. I got a bottle of champagne and drank myself to sleep.

“I feel numb this morning. It could have been one of the great days of my life and I’ve lost that opportunity.

“I went through the events in my mind when I was driving home and the only thing I remember was checking my total four times and then handing it to the gentleman.

“I remember him saying clearly ‘congratulations Mr Roe, great score’. I do remember very clearly, ‘nice score, two signatures, well played’.

“I think maybe it’s time for a change of certain rules. There are rules that rightly penalise and rules that we all know are just blatantly unfair.

“I don’t feel I made a mistake yesterday – it was a clerical error, it was nothing to do with the game of golf, it was a piece of paper. My score was 67.

“I was dumbfounded and absolutely shellshocked when I was called back in. I thought maybe I’d made a mistake on Jesper’s card. I can’t tell you the shock.”

But Roe refused to blame the officials who accepted his card, even though he would have had the opportunity to correct the error had the problem been spotted in time.

He added: “I can’t apportion blame in all honesty to the people in the hut.

“I’m over-diligent with my scorecard. Jesper and I stayed in there 10, 12, 15 minutes then obviously I’m called to TV and do interviews. Somebody came and asked me to leave.

“I wouldn’t have stayed in any longer because in my own mind my scorecard was 100% correct.

“I can’t explain that contrast in emotions. When I came of the last green I blew three kisses to my wife Julia and the girls, I felt fantastic, probably the greatest feeling I’ve ever had.

“The contrast from being so high and then walking into the hut looking down and seeing my score on Jesper’s card – it didn’t feel real.”

Officials have the power to overturn such a penalty in extreme circumstances but Roe revealed he had not asked for leniency.

He said: “I felt responsible for my scorecard. I’ve played the game of golf for long enough as a professional and this mistake has never happened before. I’ve abided by the rules for my whole career. I accept the blame.

“I would have liked the opportunity to have tested myself in the greatest arena.”