Faldo Hears Cheers

For one day, it was just like old times for Nick Faldo, 46, the three-time British Open champion, who shot a four-under-par 67 Saturday.

Faldo, who set the course record at Royal St. George’s with a 63 in the 1993 Open, is at four-over 217 through three rounds, but he’s not upset with that at all.

“I’m at a great stage in my career when I’m still semi-competitive,” he said. “I’m out there just giving it the best shot I can. Sure, I’m not the same golfer as 10 years ago, but occasionally I throw something in that reminds me I can still play, which is nice.”

Faldo has nine victories on the PGA Tour, but six of them are majors. He also won the Masters in 1989, 1990 and 1996. He has 27 European Tour victories, but none since 1994, and he hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since the 1997 Nissan Open, but he is still a favorite of the British Open fans.

“Everybody was cheering so hard for me,” said Faldo, who has homes in Orlando and in Weybridge, England. “The crowd has been fantastic for me this week. It’s been a real boost. It gives me a really nice feeling inside, obviously.”

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It has been pointed out often enough, but here’s another example why the British Open is different. Unlike the PGA Tour, cellular phones are permitted on the course, as long as they are turned to silent.

Of course, that doesn’t always happen. A cell phone rang when Brian Davis was getting ready to putt on the 16th and he wound up three-putting for a bogey that detracted from a round of 68.

“I should have backed off,” Davis said.

“At the U.S. Open, we didn’t hear one phone and that was great and I wouldn’t mind that. I am sure it won’t kill people not to have their phone for a couple of hours. A mobile phone ringing could cause someone to lose the Open. It could happen on 17 [Sunday] night.”

By the way, the R&A; doesn’t allow the players to use their cell phones in the clubhouse.

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The British Open champion in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1983 isn’t going to win it in 2003, but Tom Watson is still around at 53. His two-over 73 put him at eight-over 221 -- the same total as Masters champion Mike Weir.

“I feel as if I still can compete,” said Watson, who missed the cut at the Masters and tied for 28th at the U.S. Open after opening with a 65. “Today I didn’t compete as well as I feel I could have. It always bugs me. I don’t give up. I always feel I’ve got enough in me to play consistent golf to win and compete against the kids out here.”

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Davis Love III played a practice round with Darren Clarke on Wednesday and won 100 pounds, but by Friday morning, Clarke still hadn’t paid up.

As Clarke stood on the practice range before his second round, a ball rolled over and landed at his feet. On the ball was written this message: “You owe me 100 pounds.” Clarke looked up and saw Love, who had hit it toward him, smiling and laughing.

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That was quite a rut that Tom Byrum fell into. Eagle at the seventh hole. Eagle at the ninth hole. He hit a six-iron to three feet for the first eagle and holed a pitching wedge from 137 yards for the second.

Unfortunately, Byrum also had six bogeys to go with two birdies and wound up with a par round of 71 and a 220 total.

Byrum couldn’t remember if he had two eagles in a three-hole stretch before.

“I’m not very good on statistics,” he said.

He is good on luck, though, which is why he got a Gary Player autograph.

Said Byrum: “I just needed a little British Open luck and he was on the range the other day, so I got him to sign my cap.”