ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Mark O’Meara didn’t come to the British Open expecting to hit the ball this well. Nor did he expect to feel such a strong sense of peace.
It was hard to tell which was more surprising.
O’Meara wasn’t even sure whether to play at St. Andrews this year because his 81-year-old father, Robert, took a turn for the worse from an infection that is attacking a heart valve.
“It was touch and go,” O’Meara said after opening with a 69. “I love my father dearly, and if I get the call, I’ll go home. But I believe my dad would have wanted me to play.”
While he is trying to provide inspiration for his father, O’Meara, who plays on the Champions Tour, is finding inspiration from the past two Opens — Greg Norman leading after 54 holes at Royal Birkdale, and Tom Watson nearly winning last year at Turnberry.
