Sports

Aussie Scott just misses out on major mark at British Open

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LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Adam Scott was waiting to get into a portable bathroom near the 17th tee yesterday when he found his mind wandering.

No player in major championship history has ever shot a score better than 63 and, as Scott waited to relieve himself, he took a look at the scoreboard and saw his name at the top at 7-under par with two holes to play in yesterday’s first round of the British Open at Royal Lytham.

A finish of 1-under on his final two holes would have broken the record.

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“I know there’s never been a 62,’’ Scott said. “I was waiting to use the bathroom going to the 17th tee and I did get a look at the leaderboard. It’s one of those things that you don’t want to go through your mind, thinking about your final score, so I got rid of that quickly and got on to playing the 17th. Unfortunately, I dropped one up the last.’’

Indeed, Scott parred 17 and bogeyed 18 to finish with a 6-under-par 64, but it was good enough to take the first-round lead by a shot over 1999 British Open winner Paul Lawrie, last week’s John Deere Classic winner Zach Johnson and Nicolas Colsaerts.

Though Scott didn’t break the major championship record, his 64 did equal the lowest British Open score at Lytham.

“It was surprising, but very pleasing to go out and play some solid golf,’’ Scott said. “It’s what I haven’t done the first rounds of the majors this year, and that was my goal here, really, starting the week, was to play today like it was Sunday and there was no tomorrow.’’

That impetus came from Scott’s caddie, Steve Williams, who was Tiger Woods’ caddie before Woods fired him last year.

“We talked about that mindset, because I was playing well at all the majors this year, but the first round I’m shooting myself in the foot a little bit and making it too much work to get back in it,’’ Scott said. “He wanted me to go to that first tee like it was the 72nd hole and you need a three to win, and really switch yourself on from the first hole.

“That was a good little trigger he kind of helped out with.’’

Scott said he felt he’d been “too conservative and almost too patient’’ at the start of the majors this year. Scott shot a 75 in the opening round of the Masters and finished tied for eighth and he shot a 76 in the opening round of the U.S. Open before battling back to finish tied for 15th.

“I was playing so well going into the U.S. Open I felt, and all of a sudden I was 7-over through 15 holes of the tournament and you can’t pick up that many shots in a major,’’ he said.

Scott said yesterday’s round “gives me a little bit of confidence going into the next three rounds.’’

The potentially treacherous conditions — wind and rain — at Lytham never materialized. That benefitted Scott and the rest of the field, with a long list of scores below par.

Scott said he was “really not expecting it to play like this at all,’’ adding, “It was just like a nice walk in the park. It was not what we’ve experienced in the practice rounds. I’m sure there’s going to be some weather elements thrown at us the next three days, so just going to have to knuckle down to handle that.’’

Graeme McDowell, who shot 67, called the course a “sleeping giant.’’

Weather reports predict relatively calm conditions for today and tomorrow, but the winds are expected to be a significant factor on Sunday, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph predicted.

Scott, who since he arrived on the scene was expected to do big things with his natural talent, hopes to not only outlast the field but the weather conditions to realize his dream of becoming a major champion by week’s end.

“I would say I haven’t achieved what I wanted until I win a major or more,’’ Scott said. “I haven’t achieved my goal of winning major championships. That’s what I’ve dreamt of as a kid.’’