TURNBERRY, Scotland — Tiger Woods can expect even more attention than usual the first two rounds of the British Open. He is playing with Lee Westwood of England and Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa.
Woods has never played with the 17-year-old Ishikawa, who made history at 15 when he won on the Japan Golf Tour, the youngest winner ever on a sanctioned circuit. They met briefly in Arizona at the Accenture Match Play Championship, captured by dozens of photographers.
Defending champion Padraig Harrington will play with former U.S. Open champions Jim Furyk and Geoff Ogilvy.
Thursday’s first group includes former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, who is among the fastest players in golf.
Quigley staying home.
Brett Quigley had the best 36-hole score Sunday at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., with 62-67 in the marathon finish to tie for second. It came with a perk Quigley wasn’t expecting — a spot in the British Open.
Quigley had a pro-am obligation Monday, and his family was coming to Milwaukee to attend the memorial service for Chris Smith’s wife, who was killed in a car accident in Indiana last month.
Quigley never thought he would have a chance at Turnberry, so he didn’t bring his passport with him to Illinois. To go home to Florida to retrieve it would mean arriving at the British Open today, getting his legs under him Wednesday, then teeing off Thursday. He had five minutes to figure out what to do, and decided to stay put.
“My heart is not into playing the British,” he said. “I know I’ll catch some heat for it. But I know it’s the right decision for me.”
The Associated Press
