McGuigan keeps open dream alive

South Africa-based Scot Doug McGuigan made a great start today in his bid to make the Open championship at Carnoustie in July.

The 36-year-old Durban-born golfer returned a six-under-par 66 to be part of a three-way tie for the lead at the halfway stage of the 36-hole international qualifier in Johannesburg.

“There is nothing that compares to playing in the Open Championship,” said McGuigan, whose one appearance in the event was at St Andrews two years ago.

“The ultimate dream of every golfer is to hold the claret jug. That’s why we are all here – to have the chance to live the dream.”

Just four of the 49 players go through to Carnoustie and McGuigan, Brazilian Adilson Da Silva and South African Tyrone Van Aswegen are only a single stroke ahead of Australian Terry Pilkadaris and South Africa’s Grant Muller.

Da Silva and McGuigan were sixth and eighth respectively in the Joburg Open on Sunday.