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King of the oldies Des Smyth
crashed to a two over par 73 but insisted - I've had a ball.
The 49 year old from Drogheda
was just three behind Ernie Els starting the day but eventually
missed out on an automatic place in next year's Open at Sandwich
for top 15 finishers.
Smyth had to settle for a share of
28th place with the likes of Tiger Woods and
Jesper Parnevik on level par.
He said: "I enjoyed the
week. I had my moments in the sun - and the rain! I was happy
up to now but I played my worst round of the week today, which
is a pity, because it was the perfect day. I actually scrambled
well and I'm happy with my 73 considering the way I played."
"I hit too many bad iron
shots. I'm just not happy with my irons and today I was under
a bit of pressure.
"I hit so many bad iron
shots today, I can't tell you. I don't want to go through them
but they were all crap."
Smyth battled to a great 74
in the worst of the weather on Saturday and led the Open for
two holes before be bogeyed the 17th and 18th.
But he was not regrets about
some bad play on the final day in his 22nd Open appearance.
"The buzz was great. You've
got to take the crumbs out of it. I was under pressure to keep
it up all week. I was doing fine but today it just didn't happen.
Hit a few good shots early on but didn't make the putts and then
started to struggle from the eighth on and hit a lot of bad shots."
Smyth parred the first eight
holes but finally made a birdie at the ninth to be three behind
Shigeki Maruyama - the leader at that stage.
But his poor iron play eventually
caught up with him and although he parred the 10th and 11th a
bogey at eh 12th was the beginning of the end.
He said: "I just didn't
get into the flow. I was in perfect position at the first, second,
third. I hit a great two iron into the fourth, great position
at five and hit a poor chip. Great position at six, hit a terrible
second shot and had a great save. Missed the green at seven,
missed the green at eight.
"It was like that all
day. It became a battle. I hit 10 and 11 and then I hit a poor
shot at 12 and made a bogey."
After escaping the consequences
of another bad iron shot at the 14th, the Drogheda legend bogeyed
the 15th and 18th to dash his chances of making the top 15. "What
the hell, I enjoyed it," he said.
But he denied that it was fatigue
that caused him to drop three shots on the back nine.
"No, I never feel tired
when I'm competing. When I get on the first tee, I'm ready, I'm
buzzed up and I'll go all day. I won't get tired until about
10.30 tonight.
"Now I'm having two weeks
off. I'm playing Wales in my next tournament but I have to figure
out my irons in the meantime. The rest of my game is fine. Driving
and putting and short game is great. Just at the same as at the
Irish Open. It hasn't got any better but look, I had a buzz."
Of the future he joked: "Yeah,
I was leading the Open in the third round with a weak game. There's
great prospects here. If I get on my game I'll be great.
"I'm disappointed but
I enjoyed it. It's great walking up that 18th, I get the sympathy
clap these days."
Smyth probably won't bother
trying to qualify for next year's Open at Royal St George's.
"Maybe I'll set my target
on trying to win the British Seniors Open and then get an invite
here in 2004. There's always a way of doing it. No point in going
the hard route. There's easier ways than that. "
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© Brian Keogh 2002
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