Portstewart, Northern Ireland …
You could understand David Drysdale was at first reluctant to be photographed with a commemorative 146th Open Championship flag after the Borders golfer birdied his closing seven holes, including a 35-footer at the last, in a new Portstewart course record of a nine-under 63.
Dyrsdale ended his round near 1pm local time and for all intention purposes looked assured he was going to secure a place at Royal Birkdale.
This is why the R & A official present asked Drysdale of an image with the flag just in case he did qualify.
“I would rather wait”, he said before being encouraged for the photo shoot.
Fuur players had recorded 64s over the first three days to share a new equal course record rounds of 64 and then minutes before Drysdale ended his round Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan became the fifth.
Drysdale broke the deadlock with a round just one shot more than his Tour record low of 62 he recorded at the 2006 Russian Open.
The effort, that included a third hole eagle, nine birdies and two bogesy, sent the 42-year old into the clubhouse lead at 17-under par and moments before Rahm, he joint third day leader teed off also at 17-under.
“It was a fantastic way to finish my round but then when I stood on the first tee this morning, I thought I might shoot three or four under but not nine”, he said.
“After a great eagle at four, I just got on a great run from the 12th hole.
“I have shot a 62 before in Russia but I would say this is my best round ever. I was two under through 11 holes and to have that finish is incredible.
“I’m staying the night here and getting the ferry over tomorrow. The plan was to go back and have a couple of Guinness, but I’ll go back and watch the golf on the telly and see what happens”.
In contrast to his wife of some 12 years and more recently full time caddy ala manager, Vicky was clearly delighted but also pleased to see the round end.
“I was nice to be watching on so close as his caddy as he played pretty solid”, she said.
“He got a bit frustrated with the putter yesterday but worked hard on his putting following his round, so he started banging them into the hole which was nice.
“And while it was one of those rounds that everyone wishes would continue, I was just glad to finish and with that birdie at the last the nicest.
“It is great now to be heading to Dundonald Links with such a great final round in his bag”.
And then imagine Richie Ramsay’s surprise as he walked off the course with no knowledge his eventual share of second had also qualified him for next fortnight’s Open Championship
It was not till it was mentioned to him immediate following a final round 65 he had earned one of three qualifying places into Royal Birkdale that it clicked with the Edinburgh based golfer.
Ramsay, who capped his round with a birdie at 13 and then an eagle at 14 for a second day running, secured his best Tour result in three years.
And it has guaranteed the 34 year old his seventh appearance on The Open since 2oo7 but a first at Royal Birkdale.
“I knew there was spots but it had totally gone from my mind,” he said.
“I was just so focussed on what I was doing out on the course, which is great to have, but it is a massive bonus.
“I had qualified last year at the Scottish Open for Royal Troon so to have qualified again is great.
“Birkdale is a golf course I know and while I have not played The Open at Birkdale, I was in the British Amateur when it was held there, and it is one of my favourites to play.
“So I am just happy I got to finish really high in a big tournament and all the hard work with Iain Rae, Grant Walker and Phil Kenyon is paying off.”
Ramsay’s Birkdale tee time comes just a few weeks after he qualified to contest a first U.S. Open.
