Little takes surprise first-round lead
Stuart Little pushed some of the sport’s biggest names into the shade today.
The 37-year-old English left-hander, ranked 369th in the world and with nothing better than a sixth-place finish on the European tour, took a share of the first-round lead in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.
A seven under 64 – in relation to par his best-ever score on the circuit – put Little alongside Argentina’s Angel Cabrera in a tournament boasting four of the world’s top 10.
Number three Ernie Els and number seven Adam Scott managed only 70 and fifth-ranked Retief Goosen merely a 71, but number four Phil Mickelson is handily placed just three behind.
As for Europe’s leading lights, Lee Westwood and 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie did best with 65s to be tied for third with South African Richard Sterne, while Darren Clarke shot 67 and both Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald 68.
Little, trying to get the place in next week’s Open on offer, has made no fewer than 10 trips to the qualifying school since turning professional way back in 1985 and has yet to finish in the top 100 on the Order of Merit.
The Essex-born, Gloucestershire-based player feels he is better than that, however, and in March this year finally decided to consult a sports psychologist.
“He’s been able to put into place quite a few issues that I had in the past - and so far, so good,” he said.
Asked what the “issues” were he replied: “All of the issues that you’re going to experience playing tournament golf.
“Everyone here has a tremendous amount of ability, otherwise they wouldn’t be here. Just to get through six rounds of tour school is a major, major achievement – it’s a horrible week.
“It’s just been a matter of believing that you can do it. That doesn’t come overnight.”
Westwood does not have to worry about qualifying for the Open, of course.
He was Europe’s top player when he finished fourth in last year’s Open and with a win at St Andrews in the 2003 dunhill links championship he cannot wait to get back there next week.
He famously said on an earlier trip to the Home of Golf that he would not rate it “in the top 200 courses in Fife”, but his conversion has come “over a period of time.”
The Worksop golfer commented: “I’m 32 now and know a bit better. I know not to open my mouth because you guys will write it down and I’ll get reminded about it for the rest of time.
“I’d only been playing golf for 10 years. That was five years as a kid not really knowing what I’m doing – and five years as a professional knowing even less.
“When you play it for the first time you look at it and it doesn’t give you the impression that you have to think about it a lot. But you have to know where the flags are and be on certain sides.
“It’s a pretty decent golf course!”
In 1995 Westwood finished 93rd and five years ago 64th. He will be looking for a much bigger improvement in a week’s time.
Having boosted his confidence with victory in the BMW Championship at Wentworth in May big-hitting Cabrera will be licking his lips at the prospect too and could well be a John Daly-type dark horse for the Open.
Last yearhe did not even play in the event after making the mistake he was already exempt and not showing up for the qualifying event at Sunningdale.
This week he is trying to emulate compatriot – and former financial backer - Eduardo Romero, who won at Loch Lomond three years ago and with three birdies in his last four holes he easily took the honours in his threeball with Donald and Scott.
Darren Clarke is best-placed of the Irish, on four under par. Damien McGrane and Gary Murphy are both one over, amateur Rory McIlroy is on three over, Peter Lawrie is four over and the other Irish amateur in the field, Brian McElhinney, is eight over.
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