Bain revels in damp conditions on return to land of his birth

Published on Monday 23 July 2007 00:05

THE odds on Ross Bain finishing this year's Open Championship as top Scottish player were long on Thursday morning, but the Dubai-based 31-year-old managed to see off his seven other challengers with something to spare yesterday. His three-over-par 74 yesterday left him on six over par for the tournament, and it might have been better had he not scored a double bogey at the seventh. Other than that, his performances have been a masterpiece of consistency.

Alastair Forsyth dropped out of contention in horrible fashion, and yesterday saw him add an 80 to Saturday's round of 78. They ruined the good work on the first two days, when he appeared on the leaderboard.

In the final analysis, the Glaswegian never even made it into the top two Scots after scoring 15 over par. Sandy Lyle had a 79 yesterday, and finished 14 over par for the tournament.

But Bain was the success story in his maiden major, and he hopes to be back at the Open next year. Although currently performing on the Asian Tour, Bain has grown to suspect he might find more success in Europe.

His achievements over the past four days would seem to suggest his optimum conditions are damp, something which perhaps reflects his upbringing in the west of Scotland. Although born in Dunfermline, Bain lived in Helensburgh until the age of seven. After that his family decamped to Dubai, where he has lived ever since.

"It was good fun," he said of his Carnoustie sojourn. "It was a new experience playing in a major and the course was tough. I need to try and work out a way to get back into the Open next year. I am going to go to a few tour schools to try and jump start my career.

"I have played a lot of golf in the east and done okay, but my game seems better suited to this style. I also prefer to play in comfortable weather.

"Obviously, if I play on the European Tour I can keep Dubai as a base for the winter season. That's also better for tax purposes, particularly if I keep earning cheques like this week."

His next appointment is at the Brunei Open in five weeks' time, and he deserves the rest. Forsyth, however, has no plans to take it easy, and will this morning begin work on rescuing his putting game from the bleak place it is at now. This weakness sabotaged his chances of making his mark at Carnoustie, and for the third time in an Open he saw his challenge fall away at the weekend. In 2003 at Royal St George and at Troon a year later the same collapse occurred to the 31-year-old.

"I played alright, and not as bad as nine over would suggest," he said after his round yesterday. "I had a tough run of holes on the front nine, and it was good this time - I didn't start three-putting until the second hole."

Forsyth admitted he found it hard to get himself up for yesterday's round after his troubles on Saturday. That he played in the worst of the conditions could not have helped gee him up.

"I know it's the last round of the Open, but I found it hard to get motivated," he said. "When I three-putted early on and had a double bogey at the sixth, that was it. I was going through the motions after that."

Lyle did better than he could have hoped, and was simply pleased to have survived the cut by a shot on Friday. Three rounds of 73 were followed by one of 79 yesterday. His day included two double bogeys as well as a triple, but he repaired some of the damage with successive birdies at the 13th and 14th holes.

"I was happy to play four rounds," the former champion said. "To make the cut at a long course like Carnoustie was great play."