Paul Dunne, a 22-year-old Irish amateur, has insisted his status should be no hindrance to winning the Open after sensationally claiming a share of the lead with 18 holes to play at St Andrews.
Dunne will head into the delayed finish on Monday in a 12-under-par tie with Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen. No amateur has led the Open after three rounds since 1927. Three years later came the last amateur winner, Bobby Jones. “I don’t see why not,” said Dunne when asked if he could lift the Claret Jug. “I’m well capable of shooting the scores that I need to win, if everyone else doesn’t play their best.
“Whether it happens or not I can’t really control. I can just go out and try to play my game and see where it leaves me at the end of the day. Hopefully I play great again and post a good number.”
Dunne’s third round of 66 followed back-to-back 69s. “Yes, it’s surreal I’m leading the Open but I can easily believe that I shot the three scores that I shot. If we were playing an amateur event here I wouldn’t be too surprised by the scores I shot. It’s just lucky that it happens to be in the biggest event in the world. Hopefully I can do it again tomorrow but whether I do or not I’ll survive either way.
“It feels great. I felt like I had so much support from the crowd today. I kind of felt like I was at home. Every shot I hit was getting cheered from start to finish, so a big thanks to the crowd out there. They kept me lifted the whole way through.”
Dunne revealed the esteem in which he holds his compatriot Padraig Harrington, a two-times Open winner. It seems apposite that Harrington is only two off the lead after a third-round 65.
“He has been probably the most influential person in Irish golf, definitely in modern history anyway,” Dunne said. “I remember watching him win the Open at Carnoustie in 2007 and 2008 at Birkdale. I’ve watched those videos over and over again. So has everyone in my family, I think. I’ve always looked up to Padraig. He’s been such a great ambassador for Irish golf. He carries himself so well and practises hard.”
Dunne has already earned Harrington’s respect. “It is phenomenal,” said Harrington of the University of Alabama student’s achievements. “His first-round score was a tremendous achievement, then to back it up and shoot another 69 in the second round was really gutsy, and now to go out there and be leading the tournament, you can’t take that away from him, ever. He’s led the Open Championship a long way into the event as an amateur. That is as rare as it comes.
“If I don’t win, I hope he does. I don’t know him well or anything like that, but the little golf I follow, I know he’s meant to be a very gutsy player and it’s nice to see.”
Jordan Spieth, seeking to create history of his own by winning his third major of 2015, sits between Harrington and the lead. Nine players share nine under.
“Once I get inside the ropes, we’re just going to have our game plan and be ready to go,” said Spieth. “I do recognise what’s at stake, and for me to accomplish that feat is going to be to simplify things and to just go about our business.”
