Slocum’s alternate plan works

SOUTHPORT, England -- Sitting in the players’ dining area at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, first alternate Heath Slocum figured he wouldn’t make the British Open field, so it came as quite a rush when he wound up teeing off at 9:42, gracing the leaderboard briefly and shooting a commendable three-over-par 73.

The Louisiana-born, Florida-raised Slocum, 34, hoping against hope for his first chance at a British Open, had traveled over the Atlantic on a sponsor’s charter Sunday. He’d progressed from fourth alternate to first after Kenny Perry’s decision to play in Milwaukee plus withdrawals by Luke Donald and David Toms.

By policy, the Royal & Ancient, which operates the Open, gives alternates a locker and practice rights. “It was awesome,” he said. “They really treat you just like you’re in the tournament.”

Still, he waited, and Thursday morning on the practice range, he took careful note of Padraig Harrington, the defending champion whose wrist injury has dominated the golf news here. “I mean, even if it’s probably broken, he deserves the right to tee off,” Slocum said.

Only much later did news come that Toru Taniguchi of Japan had withdrawn because of a back injury, whereupon Slocum “went out and hit, did an express warmup again and hit a few putts, then went to the first.”

There, a group of Japanese reporters waited for Taniguchi’s introduction, which never came. “I knew when they probably introduced me, they were like, right, we’ll just go somewhere else,” Slocum said.

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Add alternates: New Zealand’s Mark Brown was next in line after Slocum, but he didn’t get a chance to play.

Then Sandy Lyle and Rich Beem walked off the course, Lyle 11 over over 10 holes and Beem 12 over at the turn.

Royal & Ancient secretary Peter Dawson said he was disappointed Lyle, the 1985 champion, had withdrawn.

“I think professional golfers should complete the round,” Dawson said.

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It can be a ticklish subject, Tiger Woods’ absence from a major for the first time since the 1996 PGA, and Phil Mickelson shirked the subject Tuesday despite four game attempts from reporters during a news conference.

Asked whether the locker room felt different, Ernie Els replied that he had not been in the locker room.

As the issue hovers over the 137th Open, though, some players address it full-on. Mark O’Meara absolutely agreed it’s a major story line, and Rocco Mediate said Thursday, “I’d rather him be here than not, but the difference in this major, the first one without him in who knows how long, is whoever is there on the weekend does not have to look him in the eye. That’s different. I can assure you of that. I’ve seen it. It’s totally different.”

Said first-round co-leader Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland: “The Tiger effect goes without saying. Not having him in the field is a major boost to everyone, apart from the fans, and the crowds, and the good of the tournament, you know?”

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Of his high-profile new marriage to 18-time Grand Slam tennis champion Chris Evert, two-time British Open champion Greg Norman said, “I wouldn’t say revitalize my golf game, I think it just revitalized my life. When you’re more relaxed and you’re happier, then everything else kind of makes it a little bit easier too.”

Evert watched Norman’s heady round of even-par 70 and briefly held court in the back of the press room, saying, “He just had no expectations today. Just relaxed.”

Enjoying his business ventures and uninterested in full-time golf, Norman, 53, also became one of the first Thursday contenders ever to say, “I don’t play much. I don’t practice much. I probably practice more tennis than golf.”

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One of the more inspired pairings in golf history has Colin Montgomerie, the urbane Scot, playing alongside Boo Weekley, the, well, the guy from the Florida Panhandle who knows how to get alligators out of the yard if they’re bothering your cows and dogs.

(Mike Weir joins them, but even Montgomerie referred to Weir as too normal in the group.)

Weekley charmed British golf fans last year on his first trip outside North America by asking 1999 champion Paul Lawrie how he qualified, not knowing the name “Jean Van de Velde” and saying of the cuisine, “Ain’t got no sweet tea and ain’t got no fried chicken.”

Following the group, some Montgomerie fans wore “Monty” T-shirts and blondish wigs, while Weekley supporters, “They’re having a beer and having a good time, a better time than we were having, I can tell you,” Montgomerie said.

“He’s a good guy,” Weekley, who shot a first-round 80, said of Montgomerie, who shot a 73. “Y’all might have some differences with him, but I don’t.”

Asked if he’s having trouble sleeping after the birth of his son June 23 and the time change, Weekley said no, as, “You can have a couple drinks and can do that.”

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.