David Carey

Two days after Padraig Harrington’s victory at the U.S Senior Open, fellow Dubliner Carey had something to celebrate himself when he won the 36-hole Final Qualifying competition by four strokes at Fairmont St Andrews.

In fact, it was cause for double celebration coming as it did three days after his 26th birthday. The Castleknock golfer produced scores of 68 and 69 to finish seven under par – not that those rounds came even close to his best ever, indeed what is believed to be the lowest ever recorded in tournament golf.

That was an 11 under 57 on the Alps Tour three years ago over an admittedly short Cervino course in Italy.

“I know this is a shocking admission by someone from Ireland, but I haven’t actually played a links course in about two years,” he said on qualifying, “so when I saw it was quite soft I was happy.

"I’m very big on my golf history and I have been saying to everybody for the last three months that I wanted to play in the 150th Open. I went to the Old Course for the first time yesterday - that was maybe the extra inspiration for me.”