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The Senior Set Does Troon

Of the 156 competitors at Royal Troon nine are over 50 and eligible for play on The Champions Tour.  Vijay Singh and Miguel Angel Jimenez are the only two players from the geriatric set who regularly compete on the primary tours that cater to young flat bellies. But the lure of a major and the many, many ways that the R&A makes entry into the OPEN accessible typically brings in a bunch of gents who, to put it politely, are past their prime.

Five of these gents are eligible for play due to past champion status which is one of the many nice perks for being named Champion Golfer of the Year. monty open

The leading luminary of this over the hill gang is Colin Montgomery, a home town boy who grew up on the links at Troon. His deep ties to the club include the fact that his father once served as club secretary. The Royal Troon membership showered honors on Monty this week. First they unveiled an oil portrait of the great chinned one which now hangs in the clubhouse across from a portrait of Arnold Palmer. What a contrast in personalities between those two in their playing days! Monty’s visage in that painting looks like he had just gulped a jug of prune juice but he seems a much jollier fellow now when commentating on TV.

He was also awarded the honor of striking the first ball of the Championship. Although he found that first fairway he stumbled to a double bogey 6 start. He righted the ship with an opening 33 but gave those three strokes gained back on the inward half and signed for a 71.

Vijay Singh carded the lowest round of this group with a -2 for 69. Five birdies and three bogeys for the old inscrutable one has him in still in touch at six back of Phil.

The oldest old timer to tee it up today, Mark O’Meara, matched Monty with a 71 and, unlike Monty, he held that Claret Jug for his win back in ’98.

The Most Interesting Man in golf, Miguel Angel Jimenez, joined Monty and O’Meara at even par 71 but he’ll get on the highlight film due to his wedge hole out for an eagle 3 on hole 16.maj open

Marco Dawson bested many players, including World #1 Jason Day, in posting a 72.One of the strongmen of the game, Dawson earned his spot in the filed by winning the 2015 Senior British Open. In a tie for 75th Marco has a shot at making the cut and the satisfaction of beating more than half the field, at least for a day.

1989 Champ Mark Calcavecchia  managed only two bird’s in his round of 73.

Golf’s Bad Boy, John Daly, the 1995 Champion for St. Andrews looks to be headed fro a missed cut with a +4 score of 75.

The last time The Open was held at Royal Troon in 2004 Todd Hamilton was the surprise winner when he took down fan favorite Ernie Els. Also in at 75, his prospects for weekend play are slim.

And bringing up the rear for this group, as well as the entire field, is Sandy Lyle at 85, the Champ back in 1985.

Overall, this group of overachieving seniors did pretty well and I hope that several make to make the cut. The mix of different generations in a world class sporting event is unique to golf and it adds a sense of history and perspective that enhances the game.

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