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Come on Ricky…
If you follow golf, then it is likely you will have your favourite players to cheer playing in the Open this week. Perhaps you have money on certain players and could use some good fortune.
There are marquee players who will hog the TV coverage: McIlroy, Scheffler, De Chambeau…
But as well as these greats, I always look out for the underdogs. The unheralded players who are putting a run together. Last year it was Dan Brown who finished 10th and has since become a tearful winner on the main tour and a popular mainstay.
A unique and remarkable feature is that the Open is open to all scratch golfers. The world’s top players by ranking but also those players who come through the special qualifying tournaments in the UK and beyond.
All 156 players in the field are elite golfers, some of whom are world sports stars, but many are complete unknowns. Last year, Justin Rose qualified and finished 3rd in the Championship earning himself a cool 1.32 million euros. Nice work. This year, Lee Westwood has qualified, former world number 1, winner of 44 tournaments with earnings north of £50m. As I write, Lee happens to be leading the tournament at 3 under par.
And qualifying also for this year’s Open is Richard Teder.
Anyone?
No, me neither.
Richard is a 29-year-old Estonian. He is not even a professional golfer. He’s an amateur, playing for a first prize of millions of euros which being an amateur he would forfeit, if he were to win.
This is unlikely, given he is ranked the 94th best amateur in the world. He qualified by winning a sudden death play-off against 3 pro golfers, holing a 70-yard chip shot for eagle for his chance to play with Schaufele, Rose and Kepka.
Richard will not be thinking of prize money he can’t keep. He will be aiming to win the silver medal for leading amateur in the field and making the cut to play all four rounds.
Richard is a real-life Ricky Randal and like my fictional hero, he will be wracked with nerves and all sports fans should look out for him.
He won’t win but it’s a great achievement to be in the field. An experience he will share with his grandkids and will never forget.
Come on Richard ‘Ricky’ Teder… stranger things have happened and who doesn’t love an underdog story.
Soeaking of which – Open Links is available here – with all my profits helping to save lives via Anthony Nolan
