DENNIS PASSA
AP Sports Writer
HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Bryden Macpherson finished his second and last round of the British Open 32 shots off the lead, and with a smile on his face.
He was never going to make the cut after opening his first major as a professional with an 18-over-par 90. His start on Friday wasn’t encouraging either — he bogeyed his first four holes at Royal Liverpool.
“I enjoyed every moment of it, as much as you could,” Macpherson said after finishing with a double bogey and an improved 80. “You go out there and you try and take in the experience for what it is, instead of what you want it to be.”
The 2011 British Amateur champion qualified for the British Open by finishing tied for fourth at last year’s Australian Open.
In between his rounds at Royal Liverpool, Macpherson received sage advice from countryman and 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott, who’s had his share of problems at the British Open. In 2012, Scott dropped four shots in four holes to hand the tournament to Ernie Els at Royal Lytham.
“Hopefully, he can still have a bit of fun out there and enjoy the experience,” Scott said. “We’ve all had a shocker at a major.”
Macpherson’s second round wasn’t quite as shocking as the first.
“I actually hit the ball in play today, missed a few putts early,” he said. “I hit the ball well enough to be scoring half-decent, and I played solid golf on the back nine.”
Macpherson, who attended the University of Georgia, played two majors as an amateur, missing the cut at the British Open in 2011 at St. George’s and at the 2012 Masters. He’s playing on the PGA Tour China Series and the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Asked if he considered withdrawing on Thursday, he mentioned fellow Australian and 1991 British Open champion Ian Baker-Finch, who withdrew after shooting 92 in the first round at Royal Troon in 1997.
“He’d (Baker-Finch) already won a British Open, so he had a little more grandstanding than me,” Macpherson said. “Definitely not, no. I’ve never pulled out of a tournament, a competitive event, and I plan to keep it that way for the rest of my career.”
When told Scott suggested he might get over his difficult debut by having a couple of beers, Macpherson said: “Yeah, there might be a couple. Maybe Scotty will buy.”
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