Published July 17, 2008 on July 23, 2018

Solid Effort by Asians at The 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie

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Malaysia’s Gavin Green wrapped up his Major debut with a three-over 74 at The 147^thOpen Championship at the Carnoustie Golf Links on Sunday.

The reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion who is the third Malaysian after Danny Chia and Iain Steel to participated in the world’s oldest Major, marked his card with one birdie against a double-bogey and two bogey tying for 61^stspot on six-over par 290 total.

Despite the high round, Green was satisfied with his first Major outing.

Green said after his final round, “It was a very successful week, making the cut in my first Major is huge. I wished I had played better but it is what it is. It’s a huge learning curve and it’s a great experience. Playing links golf is great. I love it very much. There’s a lot to learn so hopefully I can come back stronger next time.”

He added, “It was pretty tough out there today. I hit some good shots but the putter was a little bit cold. I just didn’t make many putts. Had a couple of saves and one bad shot on the sixth to make double-bogey there. Other than that, it was pretty solid. I just wished I had made more putts.

“It was a steady start but that double-bogey kind of ruined it a little bit. But I came back with a lot of pars and then birdied 14^th. That was my only birdie. It was tough out there with the wind and it affects the greens which I learned a lot this week.”

“It’s The Open. I enjoyed it a lot. I really couldn’t have asked more, making the cut and finishing what I finished. It’s a huge part of me and it has expanded my confidence maybe. I was a bit nervous at the start but felt a little more calm later. In this kind of conditions, you really got to keep calm if not you will lose it.

“My next goal is to keep my European Tour card. If I can do that, then we’ll see. It’s nice playing alongside the big guys here this week. I felt pretty comfortable. It’s fun and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the people here too,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Shubhankar Sharma of India rounded off a memorable week after closing with a two-over-par 73 to finish in tied-51st place.

Sharma nailed two birdies in his opening five holes but dropped shots on the eighth, 11th, 13th and 15th holes to end his campaign 12 shots back of winner Francesco Molinari. Despite falling off the pace, Sharma is looking on the bright side of things, having made his first Major cut in his debut appearance at The Open, a tournament which he had dreamt about playing since he was a kid.

“It was a tough finish for me but I started off well. I was hitting it good and then I lost my concentration in the middle and made some bogeys. I was trying hard to get the momentum back towards the end of the round.

“I was happy to give myself a birdie putt on the last even though I didn’t make it. I kept trying till the end. It’s a great tournament and definitely a good learning curve for me. I’m satisfied with the way I played,” said Sharma, who leads the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.

Apart from learning to love links golf, Sharma also reckoned that he has grown as a player after gaining invaluable experiences from his Open debut.

“I haven’t played too much links course before. This is only my third time so I am happy with the result. It’s very different from what we usually play back home in Asia. A lot of learning this week. I felt like I’ve just grown as a player this week.

Fellow Open debutant Masahiro Kawamura of Japan emerged as the best-placed Asian Tour player at the year’s third Major after he closed with a second straight 71 to finish in tied-39th place.

Yuta Ikeda of Japan ended his campaign with a 74 to match the week’s efforts of Sharma. Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat fought hard for a closing 74 to finish in tied-75th place at The Open, where he made the weekend rounds for the first time in his fifth attempt this week.