Smyth Lurks, Will Play Again With Watson

By Ryan Morgan, USGA

Kettering, Ohio -- Last week's Senior British Open runner-up Des Smyth fired a 1-under-par 70 Saturday in the third round of the U.S. Senior Open.

Smyth, who lost in a playoff last week to Tom Watson, sits at 7 under for the championship, four shots behind co-leaders Loren Roberts and Craig Stadler.

The condition of the course seemed to give many of the players, including Smyth, a bit of trouble this afternoon, as the heat finally began to dry out NCR's South Course. The increasingly firm conditions of the fairways seemed to be the most troubling aspect of the course for Smyth.

"The golf course was more difficult today because the ball was actually bouncing into the rough," said Smyth. "The first two days if you pitched it on the fairway, it stayed there. I hit three good drives, and three times they just bounced through the fairway and into that heavy rough. You might have to play a different strategy if the course is going to play this fast tomorrow."

The 52-year-old European Tour veteran is no stranger to adverse conditions. Smyth still resides in his birthplace of Drogheda, Ireland, and holds the title of oldest player to win a European Tour event thanks to his victory at the 2001 Madeira Island Open at the age of 48. He fought through last week's horribly windy conditions to record his fifth top-10 finish this year on the Champions Tour. He attributes much of that success to switching from a short putter to a long one before the Senior British Open.

"I switch over and back," said Smyth. "I was using the short one up until last Thursday . . . the wind was blowing so strong. I switched to the long one last week and putted well, and I continue to putt well while it's hot."

Smyth struggled with his ball-striking in round three, hitting only four fairways and five greens in regulation, but managed to make several key par saves throughout his round. Although he missed two 8-foot putts on 15 and 17, for par and birdie respectively, Smyth knows that he escaped with a solid score for the day.

"I didn't play that well today," said Smyth. "I'm happy with 70. It was a bit of a struggle. I tried [attacking the course] today and it didn't work. I might have to go with a new game plan tomorrow."

Already a two-time winner this year on the Champions Tour, Smyth looks to win his first major title Sunday afternoon. His final round pairing should seem familiar – he will join Tom Watson in the 1:55 p.m. pairing.

Ryan Morgan is a Programs Associate for the USGA. E-mail him with questions or comments at rmorgan@usga.org.