A couple of notable TV golf commentators wondered whether British Open contestants who played in the John Deere Classic and took the tournament’s non-stop charter jet to Scotland from the Quad City International Airport would be able to compete at Turnberry.
Turns out many of them did.
Ten of the 23 players who took the John Deere Classic’s first-class non-stop charter jet to Prestwick made the cut last week at Turnberry. That comes to 43 percent.
John Deere Classic participants who made the cut were Richard S. Johnson, who finished in a tie for eighth place; Davis Love III, T-27; Mark Calcavecchia, T-27; Steve Marino, T-38; Bryce Molder, T-43; Zach Johnson, T-47; Kenny Perry, T-52; Steve Stricker, T-52; Tom Lehman, T-60, and Kevin Sutherland, T-60.
Stricker, winner of this year’s John Deere Classic, opened round 66 was one of the best rounds of the day but understandably was overshadowed by Tom Watson’s remarkable 65.
Marino played with Watson in Saturday’s final pairing. Molder got into the mix on Saturday by shooting a 3-under 67.
Meanwhile, congratulations to British Open victor Stewart Cink, who defeated 59-year-old Tom Watson, who would have become the oldest major champion in the history of golf. In 1972, Watson was runner up to Deane Beman in the Quad Cities’ PGA Tour event.
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