The Open: Matthew Southgate fights again tears after qualifying

Englishman Matthew Southgate has been related to the Open Championship for many years.

So it’s no shock that he displayed such emotion after qualifying for this yr’s Open at Royal Troon, which is able to mark his sixth look in golf’s oldest main. Southgate carded a 6-under 136 over 36 holes at Royal Cinque Ports to take house medalist honors by three photographs on the Southeast England qualifier.

“Sorry,” Southgate stated, combating again tears.

“Simply jogs my memory of my Dad. The Open is the best possible.”

His father, Ian, who sadly handed away in late 2020, beloved The Open virtually as a lot as his son. He grew keen on Tom Watson within the Nineteen Seventies when the American started to dominate links-style golf in earnest. The elder Southgate additionally held a membership at Carnoustie, the place Watson gained his first Open in 1975. Ian Southgate knew everybody on the course and had for years, which explains why 10-year-old Matthew watched Jean van de Vedle’s notorious 1999 collapse play out from probably the most famend locations in golf.

“The marshalls referred to as me and my pals over to sit down on the Barry Burn bridge,” Southgate informed the World Golf Put up finally yr’s Open at Royal Liverpool.

“My legs had been dangling over the water as I watched every part occur.”

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His Open championship reminiscences as a teenager don’t finish there.

A decade later, when Watson held the 54-hole lead at The Open, the Southgate father-son duo received of their automotive on Saturday evening and drove as much as Turnberry. They may not miss the prospect to see their favourite participant make historical past.

Alas, Watson fell simply wanting Stewart Cink in a playoff. However Southgate has gone on to make loads of Open reminiscences since then.

He first certified for The Open in 2014 at Royal Liverpool, the place he missed the minimize. However two years later, he tied for twelfth at Royal Troon. Then he tied for sixth at Royal Birkdale, which noticed Jordan Spieth win the Claret Jug. He earned an invitation again to The Open in 2018—held at Carnoustie—however tied for 67th. A minimum of he made the minimize.

However that will be the final Open his father would see him play.

Photograph by Tom Dulat/R&A by way of Getty Photos

Southgate didn’t qualify for The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, after which, one yr later, the R&A canceled their marquee occasion due to the pandemic. Southgate additionally missed out on 2021 and 2022, however he joined the Open radio commentary group for the one hundred and fiftieth Open, lending his perspective about what performed out on the Outdated Course.

Humorous sufficient, this yr, after qualifying, he joked about his broadcasting expertise.

“That’s why I attempted so exhausting during the last 5 holes; I didn’t need to work it once more,” Southgate stated, which drew loads of laughs on The Open radio broadcast.

“No, I can’t wait to see everyone. Troon is a magical golf course.”

Southgate additionally certified for The Open final yr at Royal Liverpool and performed properly. He tied for twenty third.

However the Englishman has not been at his finest all through 2024. His finest end got here on the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan in April, when he tied for 18th. He has not made a minimize on the DP World Tour since then.

“I’ve had such a tricky time the final couple of months, however I performed very well immediately,” Southgate stated.

“It has been catastrophe after catastrophe, so to lastly get one thing to go proper simply means every part.”

Now, he’ll play in The Open at Royal Troon for the second time, the course the place Watson gained his fourth Claret Jug in 1982. So, maybe Southgate—like Todd Hamilton and Ben Curtis earlier this Millenium—can proceed to play in addition to he did in qualifying, shock the world, and win The Open as an final longshot.

No matter what occurs, his father will smile down upon him with nice pleasure, understanding that his son has already completed a lot.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.