ST ANDREWS, Scotland (Reuters) – American Cameron Young was making an attempt to maintain his toes firmly on the floor after capturing a flawless first-round 64 to set the tempo in the British Open at St Andrews on Thursday.
The 25-year-old world quantity 32 mastered the Old Course, choosing up eight birdies to complete three photographs away from the subject halfway by the opening day.
Young, nonetheless, was retaining his feelings firmly in test.
“I feel it’s a fairly correct illustration of how I really feel,” he instructed a information convention when it was steered that he didn’t look overly excited.
“I’m completely satisfied I shot 64. I’m completely satisfied that, so far as I do know, I’m nonetheless main The Open Championship, however it’s not going to alter how I really feel an hour from now.”
Young was ranked outdoors the world’s prime 500 in April, 2021 however has loved a constant season with 5 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour.
Three early birdies gave Young momentum and he moved to seven below par after 12 holes.
He additionally missed two birdie putts from inside eight toes on the again 9 which may have seen him threatening the lowest ever spherical at a serious championship, South African Branden Grace’s 62 in the 2017 British Open at Royal Birkdale.
“We labored our method round the golf course very well,” he stated. “I do not suppose that I performed an ideal spherical of golf. I simply type of scored very well.”
Young performed the Old Course at St Andrews as a 13-year-old boy when his dad and mom introduced him to Scotland on vacation.
“Any time you set foot on the first tee or 18th inexperienced or wherever, particularly on that a part of the course, there’s simply no hiding how particular a spot it is,” he stated.
“And it’s actually been a purpose to get to an Open Championship. And for my first one to be here’s a little bit further particular for me.”
His expertise didn’t assist finally week’s Scottish Open as he did not make the minimize after rounds of 76 and 77.
“Last week was exhausting,” he stated. “You’re jet-lagged. We performed in some fairly troublesome circumstances. I did not really feel like I performed horrible. I simply scored actually poorly.”
Young led final month’s Memorial Tournament after the first spherical earlier than ending in a tie for sixtieth place.
“Any time you are round the lead in a serious championship or any PGA Tour occasion, frankly, you get an increasing number of snug each time,” he stated.
“Whether I’m main by three or one or 4 again after as we speak, I’ll sleep simply effective. We’ll simply take tomorrow as it comes.”
(Reporting by Ed Osmond; Editing by Toby Davis)
