Peter Cowen Diary: Cameron Young has an exceptional day at The Open

What a long day, that is still far from finished for either myself or the players as I post this Gulf News Daily Diary from St Andrews on Thursday evening.

It has been an intriguing day for players, caddies, spectators, TV viewers and coaches and all in Round One at The 150th Open.

The last time we were here for The Open in 2015 the best opening round was 65 by Dustin Johnson. Today, it looks like the best round, with play still going on, will be a 64 by American Cameron Young.

To tell you all a little about the 25-year-old, it is his first Open and he is a two-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour. You may remember him for his tied third finish in this year’s US PGA Championship. Outside of this he has never made a cut in a major in four other attempts.

He stands in 32nd in the current OWGR and this statistic does not lie. To hit all 18 greens in regulation in any round is exceptional, especially around the Old Course when it is running as fast as this week.

Of my players: Lee Westwood played a very good round of four under 68, including a double on the second where he found a bunker. But six birdies later he handed in his scorecard with no bogeys. Ian Poulter and Danny Willett both shot 69’s, which will do neither any harm and Victor Perez also finished under par at one under. Brooks Koepka finished one over, which will disappoint him, but with a strong second round, he is not out of it.

Padraig Harrington is under par on the golf course, and, as you know, he is my tip to be there or thereabouts come Sunday night. Matt Fitzpatrick is also around par with holes still to play.

Thomas Pieters, Henrik Stenson and Matthew Jordan, all have a long way to go out on the golf course and all are currently over par.

Rory McIlroy looks very confident as he went round in 66 and is just where he wants to be. Rory is a great front-runner (or near front-runner) and with his recent good form, I see that famous ‘Rory Strut’ is back as he walks to and from as well as on the range.

We all felt almost sorry for Tiger today. A late tee time saw him struggle from the first, where he found a divot with his opening tee shot. He may have realised then that it was not to be his day? He then hit his second into the Swilken Burn and double bogeyed. It got no better as the wind dropped, but it got cold for the first time in two weeks in this Scottish heatwave. Are we just expecting too much from one of the GOATs of our game.

But one thing about Tiger, I am sure he will give his best for all 18 holes, with no excuses to follow.

I have counted three of my players in the top 10. Not bad, but we could do better, and let’s see what tomorrow brings us.

See you all tomorrow with more thoughts from the range.

— Peter Cowen is a world-renowned golf coach with academies in the UAE and England.