Matthew Baldwin hopes to have a good outing
It has been a good year so far for the Englishman, Matthew Baldwin. The 26-year-old managed to sneak in the US Open and now he took the field at the Open Championships.
Just like at the US Open, at Royal Lytham too, he was seen practising with Lee Westwood. This would have raised Baldwin’s morale.
Baldwin, who is a Liverpool fan, said that the moment he heard the cheers, it was like a goal has been scored at Anfield.
The Englishman started the first round a little nervously. Especially on the first two holes, he looked very nervous but then he managed to catch his breath and finished strongly.
Baldwin finished first round at one-under 69, this is a great result for such an inexperienced player. His score was better than the likes of Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.
"I had three birdies in the last five holes, at 14, 16 and 18. And every putt I holed, the cheers were so loud it felt like scoring a goal at Anfield".
To be successful at a links course, patience is required. Baldwin held in there until the last five holes, where he birdied three times to finish the round strongly.
"I kept it out of the rough and did not find too many bad lies," he said. "And I would just been having a moan to my caddie saying that I had not holed anything. But then I got a 25-footer at 14, put it close at 16 and holed from 20 feet at 18, so that was
a strong finish".
Baldwin is five shots adrift of the leader, Adam Scott, who shot six-under 64 to lead the Open Championship after first round.
Tiger Woods was also on the course. He is searching for his 15th major title and looking to beat the record of Jack Nicklaus for the highest number of major wins. Woods shot three-under at the end of first round to finish at T5.
Rory Mcllroy seems to have his things back on track after a good opening round. He too shot a three-under par to finish at T5. It seems that Rory has finally gotten over the hangover of his girl friend Caroline Wozniacki.
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