From Dallas to Dundonald Links? Professional golfers are used to the kind of hectic treks that would leave Phileas Fogg in a panting lather.
“It’s a strange route and not the ideal preparation,” gasped Lee Westwood of the fraught transatlantic trip he had to make from a LIV event in Texas to Open final qualifying in Ayrshire.
It was all worth it, of course, as the 52-year-old former world No 1 sealed a tee-time for Royal Portrush after rounds of 70 and 67 gave him a seven-under aggerate and left him perched at the top of the standings.
It was a good day too for the Scots, as Perth’s Danny Young eased through in second place on six-under while Blairgowrie teenager Connor Graham thwarted the ambitions of Tartan Tour mainstay, Paul O’Hara, in a late night sudden-death play-off for the fifth and final qualifying place.
As for Westwood? Well, the short hop over to Portrush in a couple of weeks will be the decorated Englishman’s 28th Open appearance, a first since 2022 and his 93rd major championship outing overall.
It’s been a long haul. Just like his 4,700-mile journey across the pond to get here.
“I didn’t get in until seven o’clock the night before,” he yawned. “I hadn’t played the golf course before, so walked it when I got here. I only slept for an hour-and-a-half as well. If I collapse, then you’ll know why.”
Sometimes, the golf writers have that effect on people.
He may have been unfamiliar with the various nooks, crannies, perils and pitfalls of the Dundonald links but Westwood drew on all his experience and put on a masterclass in course management.
“It’s been a while since I’ve played 36-holes in a day,” he added with a wry smile. LIV Golf, of course, is a genteel 54-hole stroll in comparison.
Westwood has never managed a major win, despite having more close shaves than Sweeney Todd.
As he clambers the brae on the age front, the former Ryder Cup linchpin is not going to Portrush with any grand expectations, although he did finish tied fourth the last time The Open visited Northern Ireland in 2019.
If the golden oldies are going to prosper anywhere, though, it’s on a links course.
“Tom Watson proved that around Turnberry in 2009 and then Greg Norman a couple of years later at Birkdale,” noted Westwood, who made his Open debut at St Andrews in 1995 after coming through the 36-hole qualifying scramble at Leven.
“I think if any form of golf gives seniors a chance, it’s links golf because you get a bit of run and you have to use a bit of cunning and guile with the wind.”
While Westwood went for a lie down, Young was off to toast the prospect of a major debut with a beer. It was well deserved.
The 33-year-old, fresh from a second and a third on the HotelPlanner Tour in recent weeks, continued that fine form at Dundonald with a 71 and a 67 for six-under.
A tidy birdie putt from eight feet on the last ensured he finished with a flourish.
“That felt great as I hadn’t made a thing on the greens all afternoon,” he said with a sigh of relief. “But you just have to be patient. I came close in this last year so it’s a course I feel comfortable on.”
Promotion to the main DP World Tour remains Young’s big goal this season but a trip to The Open will be a nice detour on his golfing journey.
“Everybody's grinding on the tour,” he added of the fierce cut-and-thrust of the second-tier circuit. “You can see the relief and the disappointment on the faces of players at every event, every week.
"This is a big, big step in my career. I've got a big second half of the year coming up and hopefully I'll start with a good week at Portrush.”
Young’s fellow Perthshire man, Graham, had to book his Portrush ticket the hard way in a play-off with O’Hara after they had finished tied on the four-under mark.
The former Walker Cup player, who won the Junior Open in 2022, trundled in a decisive birdie putt on the first extra-hole to set up a major debut.
“It was pretty nervy in the play-off but, thankfully, I got the job done,” said Graham, who was grouped with Westwood and Ryder Cup winner Jamie Donaldson for the 36-holes.
“There were big crowds following our group and I managed to deal with the pressure and that definitely helped me in the play-off.”
There will be bigger crowds to come at Portrush. Roll on The Open.
