Thirteen: unlucky for some. Particularly if your name is David Duval.
That’s how many shots it took the former world No.1 to play the par-5 eighth at Royal Portrush in today’s opening round of this year’s Open.
The 47-year-old, the ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’ in 2001, had started his round with back-to-back birdies, followed by a brace of pars.
Then it started to unravel.
• Clarke reflects on emotional morning at Portrush
• Rory endures NIGHTMARE start to Open
An eight at the par-4 fifth dropped him back to two-over. A further bogey followed at the par-3 six.
Then came the shocker at seven.
According to Sir Nick Faldo, commentating on television, the calamitous 13 included playing the wrong ball – something that Faldo himself did during the 1994 Open.
• Jordan Spieth makes big change on eve of Open
In the end, he was out in FORTY-EIGHT. Reminder: he birdied the first two.
As if the ignominy of carding double-digits on a single hole wasn’t bad enough, Duval also set a new record for the highest score at The Open in the 21st century. It is, in fact, the highest score in the championship since hole-by-hole records began in 1983.
The previous high was 11, clocked up by four players. Henrik Stenson was the most of those, in the 2011 championship at Royal St George’s.
Share this Article
