Mystical Scotland On Our Way To The Open Sunday 22 July 2018 in Carnoustie

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In what seems like a very few hours later, we are up again and into our morning routine to carefully nearly overfill ourselves with sustenance, empty ourselves aplenty, and in between prepare for our Sunday At The Open Adventure. We are not moving as fast due to yesterday's lengthy and rigorous hikes, as well as the addition of what I only can guess is Dad's now 60-pound duffel bag. So today we are in Group 2 and rather than attempt to navigate through the ship's small theater to a seat, I hug the wall, drop the bag and continue to stretch. This will not be easy, and most worthwhile achievements are not easy, but surely it will be a fun adventure. 

At the appointed ungodly hour, we exit the theater en masse to alight the tender boat that will transport to our magical coaches headed for The Open, plus another one on the way to St. Andrews for a leisurely Sunday morning. I see suspicious blue patches in the sky through the cold mist as we motor to the dock where our coach awaits. I spy more blue sky with my little eye from the coach winding its way up the coast. It is positively sunny when we arrive at Carnoustie. I have other things on which to concentrate, as I carry the heaviest UPS-bound bag the length and breadth of beautiful Carnoustie because still no ship crew has secured a special purple parking pass for our coach.    

No matter, surely I can secure a taxi for Mom and me. Surely not, it seems, and Don't call me Shirley. The good news is there aren't many people queued as everyone from the ship has long since passed us on their way to The Open. The bad news is I've got to carry what now seems like an 80-pound duffel up and over a railroad to get to The Open Spectator Entrance, which I can see from the top of the bridge does have a bit of a queue, but likely will diminish by the time we reach the ticket takers who seem so far away across the hay called Gorse here.  

Forgot to mention Mom's near crippling fear of heights. For Mom, trying to navigate a sparse bridge with a great view is like trying to scale a cliff with no gear or skill and a big case of vertigo. Dun dun dun. It's very scary for her. So I've got Mom in a sort of Conga line behind me with her hands on my shoulders with my backpack, and our big black bag sliding along the railing just in front of me on my left. Mom implores me to slow down which is excruciating for I fear if I slow I will stop and just be stuck, when ahead we must hike to The Open Entrance, down the 499 yard Par 4 18th, and across the Spectator Village to UPS. Jimminy Christmas that is a long way to go with a lot of bottles, books and rocks, oh my. 

Surrender is not in our nature so once more unto the breach we go. No one is queued at the X-ray machine when we approach so I commence unloading as Mom produces our tickets. I spy an unoccupied golf cart near the Tee Times kiosk and after The Open X-ray and Metal Detector commence to load the back of the cart with the bag and backpack and unload myself on the front seat for a brief rest, or with any luck some local hospitality and pity. Huzzah for the locals, but we must respect their quaint custom of only one passenger per utility cart, so of course I send Mom along for the ride with all our baggage. We also must gratefully accept their rules of golf carts that states this one cannot cross the great seal of Hole 2, with which we're familiar due to our own lack of a Purple Parking Pass, so I am to hightail it over to 2 Tee. The kind driver gives me directions which sound to me like a corkscrew, so as he whisks away Mom in her chariot, I grab yesterday's map out of my back pocket and try to work out where am I and how do I get from wherever I am to the 461 yard Par 4 2nd Tee. 

I don't run, as a rule, ever, unless it's a matter of life and death, but I am winded when I wind my way over to Tee 2. I'm also puzzled as there's no sign of Mom, a golf cart, golfers as we're between groups, and it makes no sense that I could have gotten here first on foot. I climb up what we in Florida would call a giant hill to get a better view but still no sign of Mom. I lost my Mommy at The Open. Dagnabbit. I stay to watch a few groups tee off, then head to the Spectator Village where I know someone can help me and which miraculously, surprisingly, is relatively nearby. No one is in line to buy an Open Programme, so I ask the fellow selling them if he wouldn't mind using his radio to kindly ask on behalf of a lady from the States where is the cart driver who was on his way to 2 Tee. The lad asks me the driver's name and I explain it would be better for the driver not to have it broadcast as he was performing a great favor of chivalry Not At All in his Job Description and we wouldn't want to get him in any trouble. Intrigue at The Open. Gotta love it. 

It doesn't take long to receive my mission instructions over the walkie to return to 2 Tee. Roger that, we reply. I thank the kind lad to forget please I had ever asked him to use his radio, and head right back to 2 Tee with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. Still no golf cart full of Mom and luggage and the nicest volunteer ever. I meet several other nice volunteers as again we're between groups of golfers. I ask these volunteers about today's weather, with a few clouds in blue sky, and they believe the weather will remain beautiful all day. I ask them if this is not unbelievable, if not unprecedented weather for The Open and they agree. I tell myself a pair of rain pants is light enough to remain in my backpack just in case, but perhaps the snow pants and extra rain pants today can start their trip back to the States. I'll decide when we finally get to UPS. 

Hark, my Mother and her charming knight approacheth, drive past me, and park at the foot of the giant hill behind 2 Tee. The driver tells me when the call came over the radio, he returned to 2 Tee where he had deposited Mom and offloaded our bags, because he just couldn't leave her there alone with all that heavy baggage. And we missed each other because I did get there first, as this cart must stop for spectators and golfers and such. He and Mom even yielded for Dad's favorite golfer, Mr. Tom Watson in his own official golf cart. I thank him profusely and he asks if UPS is nearby from where I asked for the radio call, and could I guide him to it. Yes sir, with pleasure and many thanks, I reply, and off we go. 

It is a tricky task, weaving a golf cart through waves of people. Like I've said I do not run, but I will always delight in the knowledge that I move faster than a golf cart at The Open. When we arrive at UPS our knight unloads all our bags for us. I ask him if he needs my help getting back through the crowd as a courteous gesture of gratitude, and he declines because we both know he is a great driver and Open Ambassador and away he goes. We are the better for meeting him today on many levels in multi dimensions. 

In yet more Sunday at The Open miracles, there is no line at either The Open Shopping Storage or UPS, and the first box our shipper chooses just will hold our treasured mementos of everything we've experienced so far in Amsterdam and the British Isles and The Open, oh my. She's not sure she can close the box once everything is inside so I ask if I can borrow her tape and give it a go, she presents me with it, and I get a second wind of upper arm strength to wrap every bit of that box closed and covered in tape. I return it, she thanks me, and I ask Mom if she wouldn't mind giving me 14 pounds so I can go secure us some beer and we can meet like yesterday at The Open Arms. 

Armed with a 20 pound note I head back to The Open Arms and hit a wall. Literally. I walk along this wall until I find an opening and ask a volunteer inside why is The Open Arms closed, if you please. I learn that even though we're in Scotland, we won't be buying beer here at The Open until after 11 a.m., no kidding. I look at my big watch and it's 10:55 a.m. so three huzzahs! By the time I hike back down the wall, volunteers already have begun to open The Open Arms, and I'm the first in line for two Boddingtons for Mom and me. And that's another First for me! I head back to the picnic tables near the bins with the best vantage from which to find Mom, and marvel at what we've accomplished by 11:02 a.m. Mom will be a while with her layers in the loo near UPS, so I grab Travel Bear to get a photo of him with his beer that we are about to share.  

Again I retrieve the Course Map from my back pocket and unfold it to figure out how to get back to the 3 & 6 Tee and Holes 2 & 5 Greens grandstands that we enjoyed yesterday, and heartily wave to Mom as I spot her approaching. It is good timing as it is near impossible to capture the elusive Mom on camera. Again we raise our glasses to The Open and savour our Belgian beer and the scene. If we weren't here to see the continuing epic battle for the title of Champion Golfer of The Year, we'd spend a lot more time drinking it all in and investigating curiosities with polite queries and more beer. Instead we drink down enough to get moving to golf without spilling our beer. Not an easy task as there must lit'rally be double the number of characters at the Spectator Village over yesterday.  

We gracefully wind our way through the colourful crowd much like the Barry Burn through the course and join the Mr. Fowler and Capt. America Group on the 461 yard Par 4 Hole 2. Their fairway seems like a gentle slope down while we are scaling what we Floridians call an enormous bluff. Mom's got my elbow and neither of us are spilling beer so we're in great shape and thankful to be enjoying Sunday at The Open. 

Did you know you're not allowed to drink beer in the grandstands at The Open in Carnoustie? Being from the States, and raised on NFL, bowling, pool, golf and fishing, it just never occurred to me that there would be no beer allowed in the Carnoustie grandstands. But I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no golf. Here in Scotland, they have a reverence for their sport you'd never dream of if you didn't experience it in person, and it's brilliant. It's also not a problem to quickly finish a bit of good Belgian beer. 

Since our ship must leave today before dark, and we know to accommodate this and not get left behind we must be back at the Coach Park on the other side of town by the ridiculous Sunday at a Major hour of 5 p.m., we decide to explore more of the links and head out to the 580 yard Par 5 Hole 6. From there the deceptively simple 410 yard Par 4 Hole 7 stretches into the tee at the 187 yard  Par 3 Hole 8. As we take it in, we decide to head back to 18 to track the action, and soon again are enjoying being lost. We stroll by the most magnificent pair of pot bunkers you ever want to see. 

It seems we had made our own fairway crossing as we were between Groups of Golfers and ended up inside the ropes I think on Holes 14, 5 and 4 for a while. Can you imagine? Inside the ropes, on the fairway, on a Sunday at The Open? Mom and I are positively giddy until we run into an actual Spectator Crossing. We'd been bumping into the Mr. Phil and Mr. Pepperell of England group going both ways, so that was rather nice. But once the crowd crossed, we had to enquire of another cheery-ho volunteer directions please to 18 Green. And all we need to do is follow the 396 yard Par 4 Hole 1 right into 18 Green. Yea!

A leaderboard tells us it's 2:23 p.m. and Mr. Spieth, Rookie Schauffele and still Mr. Kiz are tied for the lead at -9, followed by Mr. Chappell at -7, and Mr. Von Rooyen, Capt. Hairdoo and our favourite Signore Molinari at -6. And Mr. Tiger is right back there ready to pounce at -5 with Mr. Simpson and Mr. Alex Noren of Sweden. 

A group of fellows each with their own tartan kilt but matching T-shirts stride by. I see the first person of color other than Mr. Tiger. Finally a few gray clouds are blowing by. All is right at The Open. It doesn't look like I'll have to shed any waist-down, logistically challenging to remove, layers. 

The tall grandstands at 1 Tee sit eerily empty as we make our way to join the throng ringing 18 Green. It is unlikely we will get a grandstand seat here today, we are told, but we kind of expected that. You can't have front row seats at The Open every day, can you? We knew the queue formed on a ridge with a great view of the green and leaderboard so we didn't mind, although our dogs were a'barkin'. 

And darn if the first Group we see approaching isn't Mr. Phil and Mr. Pepperell again. Mr. Phil finishes with a bogie 5 for -1 and not the Championship of This Open. Mr. Pepperell makes par for a -5 and the lead in The Clubhouse. Good on Mr. Pepperell! And good try Mr. Phil!   

The big clock upon the leader board reads 3:43 p.m. and -9 for Spieth and Schauffele, -6 for Kisner, Chappell, Molinari and Woods. Wow! 

We only watch two more groups finish their Sunday at The Open: Herr Langer since he was the first player we ever saw in person at The Open yesterday, today grouped with Mr. Perez, and Mr. Cantlay and Mr. M. Kim, because U.S.A.! Mom is ready to rest up at The Open Arms before we take our last walk for a while through Carnoustie. So we head over there, squeezing into an unvelivelably small space with a great view of the massive Spectator Village telly. 

Mr. Tiger drives it way down and up and down the dune of a fairway at the Par 4 Hole 7. Meanwhile, both Mr. Spieth and Rookie Schauffele bogie the 427 yard Par 4 Hole 5 and drop back to -8 and only one ahead of Mr. Tiger. Mr. Kiz holes a brilliant shot from a long bunker of sand, wall and grass flanking the green at the Par 5 Hole 6 to get himself to one back too at -7, after a bit of bother with a double bogie at the Par 4 Hole 2, followed by bogie at the Par 4 Hole 3. Why is the sun still shining? At least the wind has picked up. It's gusting to 20 mph at some spots on the links. 

At the 582 yard Par 5 Hole 6, Rookie Schauffele sends it into the right gallery, and Mr. Spieth follows suit. Ah golf. Fore right. At the 403 yard Par 4 Hole 7, Mr. Tiger hits an iron for his second to the front of the green. His playing partner Signore Molinari chips for a birdie from the lush grass far from the pin and it nearly goes in, leaving a fairly short putt for par. Ah golf. Spieth hits a wood out of the trampled Gorse rough and into a Gorse bush farther down on the right. Rookie Schauffele knocks his ball down the right side of the fairway. 

On the 195 yard Par 3 Hole 8, Mr. Tiger saves par out of the sand and such for solo third at -7. Mr. Spieth at -8 gets it out of the sand and Gorse and onto the green, but hits enough putts to double bogie the Par 5 Hole 6, dropping out of the co-lead to -6, and now sharing second place with Signore Molinari and Mr. Kiz. Viva Italia! Rookie co-leader-for-the-moment Schauffele has one foot on the grass lip of a pot bunker and the other in the sand at 6 for his fourth shot, and with little green to work with and little experience with this type of shot predictably sends the ball rolling miles past the hole which leads to a heroic attempt at par that just didn't get there by inches, resulting in a bogie and bump down to -7 and still a co-lead, but now with Mr. Tiger. Well, well, well. ...!

Co-leader Mr. Tiger hits driver straight down the fairway at the Par 4 Hole 9. We can all feel the wind a little bit, and Mr. Tiger hits his second shot into the bunker next to the green. The good news is that he and his playing partner Signore Molinari are both bogie free for the day so far. Mr. Rory holes a looooong putt for birdie at the 476 yard Par 4 Hole 9 for -4, putting like we love and expect he'd love to see a lot more of those magical putts as well. Wouldn't everyone? 

Former leader Mr. Kiz now at -6 at the Par 3 Hole 8 hits it over the back of the green for more spot of bother. Am I saying that right, in the Queen's English? Bigger spot of bother, maybe?

Co-leader Mr. Tiger has found himself in a pot bunker at the 451 yard Par 4 Hole 10 and it's time for us to go, Mom says. Only The Open gate guards are at The Exit, under a canopy that reads "Safe Journey Home." Heavy sigh. So over the railroad bridge and through Carnoustie with a few photos along the way we go. Picturesque laundry, several dogs, including one sitting in the passenger seat of a car with his tongue hanging out the window, and hello, hello, hello, what have we here? 

For the first time in four trips through town I notice a small grocer's on the main street ahead not too far from our coach park. Our tour groups are the only people ,DUH, on the streets of Carnoustie, so Mom acquiesces to follow them the last wee bit of the way to the coach while I nip in for some liquid libations to go, which likely will be at least half price of our last round at The Open.  

Mom only had a 50 pound note for that last round at The Open Arms, so I am armed for shopping. I head right for the coolers in the back to get the darkest, highest alcohol percent beer, called by sheer genius Super Strength Lager, and a water. I've not a minute to spare soaking in the shelves of exotic groceries so right back to the cashier, who tells me that yes, I can afford that Vodka behind the counter and I'm allowed to buy it even on Sunday in Carnoustie, so I do! We don't have that in grocery stores at home! I get more Scottish coins as keepsakes, and she even gives me a sack that usually costs a few pence gratis as again, I just didn't know, but I'm thankful to learn, I tell her, as I hurry on to the coach park. Neato. Luckily I hit some sort of wormhole to the coach park and get back in time to ask our driver if I could please use the loo, and could he please get The Open on the radio and over the speakers for everyone on the coach, unless of course he's already done so. He has indeed already unlocked the loo, but not tuned in the radio, so we both set about our missions on the coach. 

When I get back from the loo to the seat next to Mom, I inquire of our kind driver as to why are we not hearing The End of The Open golf match. He says he is trying, but he cannot tune it in. The passenger across from us offers his cell phone for our guide to key into his mic so the whole bus can hear The Open broadcast unfolding through the technology of his phone. I interject that I am 100 percent behind this brilliant and selfless plan, as our guide makes it so, to the wild cheers of our entire coach. 

Then the bus goes silent, but for The Open over the speakers. 

At the 403 yard Par 4 Hole 7, co-leader Rookie Schauffele hits his third shot from the left Gorse way left of the pin nearly into the gallery, where it's stopped by the messy stuff. Could be better, or worse. ...

At the 451 yard Par 4 Hole 10, Mr. Tiger manages to hit a brilliant bunker shot onto the green, save par, and take the lead at -7. Signore Molinari from the fairway at Hole 10 pitches his second shot beautifully over the Barry Burn and just past the pin, but misses birdie by inches right to remain at -6 and only one off the lead. Meanwhile at the 403 yard Par 4 Hole 7, Rookie Schauffele chips from the Gorse for par, the ball rolls past the pin, up the opposite bank, and back down toward the pin, and he is no longer a co-leader as he's dropped to -5. Poor little bugger. His playing partner Mr. Spieth got par, which ties him with Signore Molinari for second at -6. Rookie of the Year Schauffele surely and any of the other players at -5, Mr. McIlroy, Chappell and Kiz, could start heading up that leaderboard at any moment. 

At the 195 yard Par 3 Hole 8 though, Rookie Schauffele hits it far right, way below the green, then chips it close to the hole. His playing partner Mr. Spieth from the greenside bunker chips to a few feet from the pin, and saves par to remain at -6 and tied for second with Signore Molinari. 

The 13 to 20 gusting to 31 mph winds start to take their toll as leader Mr. Tiger at the 385 yard Par 4 Hole 11 hits it off the tee into the right rough. Signore Molinari inexplicably also hits his tee shot at 11 into the right rough Gorse, and then sends it sailing onto the front of the green. Mr. Tiger was looking to do the same, but his ball ricochets off a spectator along the back of the green. 

Olympic Gold Medalist Mr. Rose at the 501 yard Par 5 Hole 14 hits his second shot from the fairway into the pin, which smacks it back a few inches giving the crowds a thrill, and Mr. Rose a good shot at an eagle that would move him up to that -5 group just two off the lead. At the Par 4 Hole 10, Mr. Kiz is able to make a birdie and climb back into second place at -6. Mr. Chappell also has moved to -6. But Mr. Rory has slid back to -4 by the time he tees off and over the back of the green at the 184 yard Par 3 Hole 13, and he's running out of holes if he wants to win another Open Championship. Another par isn't great for Mr. Rory at this point. 

Mr. Spieth hits it at least only into the first cut of rough off the tee at the 476 yard Par 4 Hole 9, which leads to a shot landing on the green, but to the far, far right of the hole. Back at Hole 11, the fan who gave Mr. Tiger's ball a good kick to a good lie gets a signed glove from The Open leader, who proceeds to chip it almost halfway up the green, only to see it roll back down next to a pot bunker. Signore Molinari's birdie attempt from the far right misses by a few inches, setting him up for a relatively easy par. Next Mr. Tiger putts around the pot bunker and past the left edge of the hole a few feet for bogie. Tiger hates bogies. And he ends up with his first double bogie of the week and falls out of the lead to -5 with Mr. Rose, Rookie Schauffele, and Mr. Pepperell of course in The Clubhouse, behind co-leaders at -6 Mr. Spieth, who just missed a super long birdie at 9, Signore Molinari, Mr. Chappell and Mr. Kiz again. 

Somehow Mr. Tiger finds a patch of green rough left off the tee at the 508 yard Par 4 Hole 12, and his next shot lands him in the right rough way behind the pot bunkers guarding the green. Back at the 385 yard Par 4 Hole 11, co-leader Mr. Chappell misses a birdie putt to remain at -6. Signore Molinari from the left rough too on 12 hits it to the fairway just in front of the green heading straight toward the flag, then leaves himself about seven feet for par. Rookie Schauffele on the Par 4 Hole 10 hits his first to a respectable distance from the Barry Burn, which leads to a shot that rolls to the left of the hole, setting him up for birdie to get one back. A few paces in front of him, Mr. Spieth doesn't get much spin, and his ball goes well beyond the hole. 

At the 261 yard Par 3 Hole 16, Mr. Rose at -5 hits an iron to get to the front of the green. Mr. Tiger does not get his par again at 12. Mr. Rory gets a roar at the Par 5 Hole 14 when his long eagle putt hits the back of the hole and drops, putting him into a six-way tie for first at -6. Mr. Finau is unable to make a birdie at 18 and his hopes for an Open Championship are dashed as he finishes at -4, one behind Mr. Pepperell leading in The Clubhouse at -5. Signore Molinari sinks a long one for his 12th par in a row at Hole 12 to stay in the six-way tie for first at -6.

Co-leader Signore Molinari watches his ball fly off his iron onto and over the back of the green on the 184 yard Par 3 Hole 13. Mr. Rose has a super long birdie putt at the 261 yard Par 3 16th to make it seven on top but alas, it rolls a few feet by the left of the hole. Co-leader Rookie Schauffele is in another spot of bother as he straddles in and out of another pot bunker greenside for his third shot at the Par 4 Hole 11, and again gets it relatively close to the hole, setting up a par to keep a share of the top spot. Back at -4 on the Par 3 Hole 13, Mr. T hits an iron left of the flag almost to the back of the green, a good leave. A 20-30 foot birdie putt at Hole 11 for Mir. Spieth goes left and a few inches long, leaving a relatively short par putt to keep him in the six-way tie at the top. 

All the way down in quite a tall pot bunker at the Par 4 Hole 12 is co-leader Mr. Kiz hitting his third shot up and out just, into a mess of nearby Gorse hay, from which he chips to several feet from the hole for a bogie putt and no longer shares the lead. Co-leader Mr. Rory launches from the tee of the 465 yard Par 4 Hole 15 more than halfway down the right side of the fairway with a great look at the pin. In a most un-Rory fashion though, he leaves himself a birdie putt way far left of the pin. If only he could putt like everyone loves to see him putt, but alas, it is not to be and he remains in the co-lead at -6. 

From the far left side just off 13 Green, Signore Molinari chips it but his birdie attempt rolls by the hole till the ruffer cut stops it. Mr. Tiger's birdie attempt goes by inches to the left and leaves a few feet for him to remain at -4. Signore Molinari makes his 13th par in a row from afar, and Mr. Tiger follows suit. Unfortunately Mr. Kiz at 12 is again losing the lead and his -6 as he makes his putt for bogie, and he's already made too many bogies today so he should stop that. 

Co-leader Mr. Chappell hits an iron way left of the flag at the Par 3 Hole 13. At one back at the 464 yard Par 4 Hole 17, Mr. Rose from the fairway hits his second shot to the middle of the green with a good shot at the pin on the far right, but his birdie putt straightens at the end and misses by a few inches. One off the lead at 13 Tee, Mr. Kiz hits an iron that lands the ball right next to the hole, where it proceeds to bounce and roll to the ruffer stuff along the back of the green. He's got a good idea of the line if he had good eyes on it. 

Co-leader Signore Molinari at the 501 yard Par 5 Hole 14 hits driver down the left of the fairway and gets a great bounce sending the ball down and over a fairway mogul. Mr. T two back now at -4 drives it for reasons beyond comprehension into the left gallery and their golden Gorse carpet. At the Par 4 Hole 12, both co-leaders Rookie Schauffele and Mr. Spieth drive their balls to the fluffy green left rough. The good news is the wind seems to be dying down? Rookie Schauffele sends his ball way off the back of the green, down into the golden Gorse. Mr. Spieth switches clubs after seeing this and sends his ball past the hole, but it rolls back down a bit from the worst of the rough to the greenest of it. He's another one we'd like to see play all the time like we all know he can. That seems impossible though in golf but for a few, which is largely the reason Mom and me only play putt putt golf. 

Co-leader Mr. Rory's iron sends his ball well over the left of the green at the Par 3 Hole 16. Co-leader Mr. Chappell is unable by just inches to convert his long birdie putt at 13 and taps in for par. Co-leader Signore Molinari from 14 fairway hits it right to the flag, where it bounces and rolls near the back of this half of the double green for a chance at eagle and the sole lead by two. No pressure on Open Sunday though. Co-leader Rookie Schauffele from way off the back of 12 Green chips it to a few feet from the hole, getting a thumbs up from Mr. Spieth. 

Mr. Rose at the 508 yard Par 4 18 Tee must miraculously hit a hole in one for the lead on the course and in The Clubhouse, but stripes it down the fairway short of the Barry Burn. Co-leader Mr. Rory elects to putt up to Hole 16, and his ball peels away a few feet off the hole, leaving a fairly easy par. Co-leaders Mr. Spieth and Rookie Schauffele save their pars at 12, showing their gumption. Mr. T's third shot from 14 fairway needs to go in the hole or very near, as Mr. T is running out of holes and his current -4 score cannot win The Open. His chip onto the green, however, ends woefully short of the hole.  

Rookie Schauffele hits iron off the 184 yard Par 3 13 Tee and safely spins it left of the hole, and Mr. Spieth does the same, just a few yards shorter. From just short of the Barry Burn, Mr. Rose hits it close for what should be an easy birdie and the lead in The Clubhouse. Meanwhile back at 14, Signore Molinari's long eagle putt comes up three or four feet short of a two shot lead for him. A bit of the old Tiger Magic returns as Mr. T sinks a very long birdie at 14 to get to -5 and one shy of the lead. But just until playing partner Signore Molinari sinks his birdie putt to take the lead outright at -7. Viva Italia!

The Carnoustie crowd gives Mr. Rose a rousing cheer as he approaches 18 for a birdie putt to take the lead in The Clubhouse at -6, still one behind Signore Molinari. In it goes and the crowd gets loud again. Leader Signore Molinari from the front of the green for long birdie on 15 misses to the right by inches, and ends up a few feet away for par. Mr. Tiger putts for birdie too, but from the rough off 15 green, and he too misses by inches, then taps in for par to remain two back at -5. Signore Molinari makes his par as well, and retains his one shot lead at -7.

At one back with -6, Mr. Rory at the Par 4 18 Tee must set himself up for birdie across three legs of the Barry Burn winding through the deceptively straight fairway that's surrounded by big bunkers this Sunday at The Open to take the lead in The Clubhouse and tie Signore Molinari's score through 15. His wood sends the ball careening far down the left side of the fairway. At the 501 yard Par 5 Hole 14, again Mr. Spieth hits into the left Gorse. From out of the Gorse it is difficult to get the ball to stop, so again his ball bounces to the right of the pin at the front of the green, then commences to bounce and rock and roll to the way back but still on the green, with a chance for eagle to take the lead alone. Funny ol' game.

Signore Molinari at the 261 yard Par 3 Hole 16 leaves his ball short and right of the hole, down in the short rough. Mr. T at 16 just needs a hole in one to tie the lead, but hits an iron to coax the ball to about halfway through the green toward the back pin. Mr. Spieth's eagle attempt at 14 is spot on but he didn't hit it, leaving him several feet for birdie to tie the lead. Mr. Chappell at -6 has found a spot of bother as his second shot landed in a greenside pot bunker at 15, but a decent chip leaves him with several feet to save par and think about playing the last three holes at three under. Rookie Schauffele's shorter than Mr. Spieth's but still long eagle attempt for the outright lead at 14 burns the left edge of the hole but does not go in. He taps in for birdie and The Rookie of The Year is again tied for the lead at The Open, with Signore Molinari.

Back on 18, Mr. Rory just needs to hit it over only one more leg of the Barry Burn and straight into the hole to take the outright lead into The Clubhouse, but leaves himself a decent chance for birdie from right of the hole to tie the current leaders; his putt was always left, and he taps in for par to remain at -6, which ties Mr. Rose in The Clubhouse. From the short rough below 16 Green, Signore Molinari chips his second shot up onto the green, where it runs all the way across and past the pin on the left. Mr. T's 60 foot birdie attempt also misses the hole to the left, but leaves him with only inches for par, and still he is two back. On 14, Mr. Spieth's birdie attempt to again tie the lead lips out, and he must settle for a par that has to sting. Signore Molinari as he has all day makes his par on 16 to remain co-leader at -7 with The Rookie. Mr. Chappell at 15 manages to save his par and remain with the five other fellows one off the lead at -6. 

Mr. Kiz hits iron into the Par 3 Hole 16 which lands on the front of the green, then bounces and rolls past the flag in the middle and keeps going off and down the back. At the 464 yard Par 4 Hole 17, co-leader Signore Molinari hits it over part of the Barry Burn and way down the fairway. Still at -6 on Hole 16, Mr. Chappell hits one of the best shots of the day into the slope at the front of the green, slowing the ball as it rolls toward the hole, leaving a good chance for birdie. Mr. T at -5 on the Par 4 17 needs a great shot short of the Barry Burn to set himself up for birdie, and hits it way down the left fairway, a good angle for the hole on the right of the green. Mr. Spieth at -6 finds himself in another fairway bunker on the Par 4 Hole 16, and gets the ball back on the fairway just, so he'll need to hole his third shot to join the co-leaders. One of said co-leaders, his Rookie playing partner, again from the fairway has hit the green near the flagstick at the front, sending the ball bouncing and rolling off the back of the green. 

Signore Molinari from the fairway on 17 hits it into the right side of the green, where a good bounce sends it toward the hole for a decent shot at birdie and solo lead. Back at 16, Mr. Kiz putts from down behind the green and misses the hole by inches as the ball rolls well by. Mr. Chappell just didn't hit his birdie putt that was tracking all the way at 16, so he remains one back with a tap in par. Rookie Schauffele putts from down behind 15 a long way back to the front of the green near the pin, a decent leave for par from so far away. Mr. Kiz saves his par at 16 to remain one back with the five others at -6. Mr. Spieth just misses his par at 15, and falls to -5 with Mr. T. At 17, Mr. T nearly chips it into the hole to gain ground on his partner's co-lead, but the ball slides past the hole. Rookie Schauffele shows great fortitude at 15 and saves his par and his co-lead at -7. Generally you'd call it an easy, short par putt, but nothing is truly easy Sunday at The Open. 

Co-leader Signore Molinari up at 17 misses his birdie putt by inches, and settles for a par and the co-lead heading into his last hole. At -5, Mr. T must make his fourth putt of several feet to remain two back and he sinks it. Back at 16, have Mr. Spieth and The Rookie learned how to deal with the Scottish Draught and not send their balls bounding by the hole and down the back of the green? Co-leader Rookie finally gets it and hits his ball into a ridge on the front of the green so the rest of the bumps through the green slow it down before it reaches the pin at the back. At two back, Mr. Spieth hits the hill guarding the front of the green which considerably slows his ball and shortly stops it in the front valley of the green, leaving a heck of a long and winding putt for birdie. 

Mr. Chappell from the fairway at 17 hits it far right of the green into a Gorse bush, and will have quite the challenge to remain one off the lead. Co-leader Signore Molinari staring down the Barry Burn winding its way back and forth through the 508 yard Par 4 Hole 18 just skirts a bunker, and his tee shot lands just right of the fairway. One behind the leaders at 17, Mr. Kiz from the fairway finds the far left of the hole for a possible birdie and the co-lead. Rude spectator revelry at the top of Mr. T's backswing at 18 Tee helps send his ball scurrying into the right rough as well. This is the first time this trip I've heard The Open crowd yell "Booooooo." Somehow we can hear the downright disgust in their "Boos" as they do not abide such rude and unsportsmanlike behavior at The Open. Mr. T certainly is none too pleased either as he knows he needs birdie as well as a bit of help from Signore Molinari and Rookie Schauffele for any chance at a win today. 

Mr. Spieth at 16 in the same two back boat as Mr. T gets his long birdie putt closer to the hole, but not quite in yet. Rookie co-leader misses his excellent chance for solo lead just left, and has a tap in for par to remain at -6. From the right rough behind Signore Molinari at 18, Mr. T sends it bouncing from the front of the green straight for the hole, leaving a good chance for birdie, but will it be too little too late. Signore Molinari also does well from the rough ahead, and his ball rolls past Mr. T's and left of the hole. The crowd at 18 Green is very happy to see Italy's first golfer with a chance at a win here approach with Mr. T. 

Back at 17, Mr. Chappell has to take an unplayable lie and likely take himself out of the race as the Gorse bush leaves him still putting for bogie. Mr. Kiz finally gets a chance at his long birdie, and oh it's short by just inches of getting him back in the lead. Everyone including Mr. T really wants to see him birdie 18, but alas and sigh it is not to be as he finishes at a respectable, in some perspectives, -5. With a chance to get into The Clubhouse with a lead of his own at -8, Signore Molinari hits it right into the cup and the crowd goes as wild as we've heard yet. 

On 17 Tee now one behind the lead, The Rookie sends it down the right side of the fairway. At -5 and now three off the lead, Mr. Spieth also hits the fairway, and again inexplicably from the fairway hits it into the pot bunker guarding the right front of the green. The Rookie also shoots himself into a spot of bother a few paces beyond the Gorse bush to the right of the green that ended Mr. Chappell's hopes of winning The Open Championship. Mr. Chappell now way back at -4 just right of 18 fairway hits it in front of the flag a few paces, and rolls it to a nice spot not too far right of the flag, giving himself a chance to finish at The Open on the positive note of a birdie. Mr. Kiz at -6 from 18 fairway a bit left needs to hole his second shot to get back in the lead, now thoroughly being enjoyed solely by Signore Molinari in The Clubhouse. Alas Mr. Kiz's ball gains a high bit of momentum and bounds past the hole to the back of the green.  

From the gallery-trampled, sandy blonde Gorse right of 17 Green, Rookie Schauffele hits it off the front greenside dune and well past the hole to the left, leaving a long putt for par to remain one off the lead at -7. But The Rookie has been getting himself in and out of trouble all day, albeit sometimes more successfully than other holes. At 18, Mr. Kiz's long birdie putt cozies up to the hole, leaving him a tap in to remain at -6, which is no longer the lead he had enjoyed at many times on all four days, including solo lead after the first and third rounds at The Open, and co-lead after round two. You have to feel for the guy, after doing such an admirable job and never giving up. 

Rookie Schauffele on 17 Green just didn't hit his long must-make par putt that was tracking all the way, and with bogie drops back to -6, where he'll have to hole it from 18 fairway to tie Signore Molinari in The Clubhouse. As exciting as this is for all of us, what must be going on now with Signore Molinari? What is he thinking? Mr. Spieth lips out at 17 for his par, and drops back to -4, where he will not be a back-to-back winner at The Open. Still, his performance this year was almost as exciting as his win last year at Royal Birkdale, and greatly contributed to the epic battle all through Carnoustie. 

Up at 18 Green, Mr. Chappell makes his birdie to finish at -5. Mr. Kiz misses a long birdie attempt at 18 and makes par to finish The Open at -6, which is no longer the lead he enjoyed throughout much of the championship. Surely not the optimum finish for Mr. Kiz, but a good one he can be proud to add to his experiences nonetheless. At -6 now two back of the lead on the 499 yard Par 4 18 Tee, Rookie Schauffele also now needs to hit the fairway and then hole it to get back into a tie with Signore Molinari in The Clubhouse. The dunes to the left kick The Rookie's drive back into the fairway, giving him a shot. Mr. Spieth at -4 off 18 Tee does not get a kick, and again is in the mounds of Gorse, left of the fairway. From the hay, Mr. Spieth hits the front of the green and the ball rolls past the hole in the back left, way to the right and bloop, off the back of the green. Mr. Rookie Schauffele stuffs it in front of the pin leaving a decent shot at birdie, officially making Signore Molinari 2018 Champion Golfer Of The Year at the 147th Open. Good on you Signore Molinari, winning your first Major Championship at Carnoustie. Viva Italy, where celebrations will surely continue early into tomorrow morning, afternoon, evening, weeks, years?, for its first Open Champion!

Mr. Spieth gets his birdie try from off the back of the green within inches, and knocks in his par putt to finish at -4. He will just have to win another Open Championship to give himself another chance to win back-to-back. Mr. Rookie Schauffele's 20-30' birdie putt for solo second rudely lips out and shoots 90 degrees left of the hole, and he settles for par. Mr. Rookie is in great company in Second at -6 for The Open with Mr. Kiz, Mr. Rose and Mr. McIlroy, just ahead of Mr. Tiger, Mr. Chappell and Mr Pepperell at -5. No slouches at -4 are Mr. Spieth, and U.S.A. Olympic Bronze Medalist Mr. Kuchar. Well played and thank you to everyone in the field, their teams and families.

Signore Francesco Molinari is taking home the Claret Jug for the first time and it's the first Open Championship for Italy as well, and I have to thank Mom for making sure we were there to see a lot of it at Carnoustie Saturday and Sunday, after we sent our own souvenirs the long way home today at The Open UPS. Viva Italia! Viva Senor Molinari! Grazi and Viva The Open, Mom, all the players, volunteers, locals, spectators, staff, officials and families. I thank Golf Channel surely for making this one of their "Final Round Favorites" too. Truly it was a once in a lifetime experience for Mom, TB and me, but twice even! Eventually a Mason jar full of Carnoustie Open Gorse on the bookshelf and a pair of Open Bears on the couch at home where I'm just grateful to have a roof over my head, as well as our story here, will never let me forget to be very thankful for the time Mom took us to The Open. The End