The Open Championship, St Andrews, 15-18 July
Coverage: Live on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website, with updates on BBC Radio 5 live Full coverage details

By Ged Scott BBC Sport at St Andrews

Scotland was born on the day Tom Watson won his fourth Open

Zane Scotland gave himself the perfect birthday present as he returned to St Andrews on Saturday morning to make the halfway cut at the Open Championship.

Scotland was among the 10 groups forced off the Old Course when the light finally failed late on Friday night.

But, despite a double bogey at 17, the Surrey golfer did not need his closing birdie at 18, which earned him a 74, two inside the cut mark on level par.

And he then bolstered that position with a third round 72 to stay level.

"Not a bad way to spend your birthday, at The Open at St Andrews with your dad on the bag," Scotland told BBC Sport.

"I've had 24 holes in the day, so dad's feeling the pace a bit and he's a bit tired. But he's well pleased with that. He loves being here.

There's two things you shouldn't do at the 17th - don't hit in the Road Hole bunker and don't hit it on the road. And I did both Zane Scotland

"And we're having a bit of a barbecue to celebrate my birthday tonight at the house, with my family and my mates who have come up."

Scotland's father Bernie, who has been his caddie at St Andrews all week, will have better recall than his son of Zane's arrival into the world in Manchester on 17 July 1982 - 28 years to the day since Tom Watson won his fourth Open at Royal Troon.

But, 28 years on, Scotland Sr was just as proud of his son, who was playing only his second Open 11 years on from his debut as a record-breaking 16-year-old amateur when he racked up rounds of 82 and 81 at the formidable Carnoustie in 1999.

Having racked up four straight pars when he returned to the course to resume on the 13th on Saturday morning, the birthday boy then briefly threatened to blow out his own candle at the Road Hole, where he ran up a double bogey six.

"There's two things you shouldn't do at the 17th," Scotland said. "Don't hit in the Road Hole bunker and don't hit it on the road. And I did both. I certainly got my full usage out of the hole.

"I got a perfect tee shot away but then just tried to do much with the second. I tried to be a big shot and go for the pin with a three iron and turned it over and found the bunker."

But he then rapidly put it right with the last-hole birdie that, as he was playing it, he thought he still needed to make the weekend.

"I actually thought the cut was going to be one over," he said. "And I was sweating it a bit coming down the last.

"But I hit a lovely drive at 18, and although I only went three foot past with the approach, it seemed longer when I knocked it in.

"And that birdie proved useful as it bought me an extra bit of time before I had to go out for the third round."

I feel really comfortable out here. I feel much more at ease in front of the crowds than I do on the Challenge Tour Zane Scotland

Rested up for a couple of hours, Scotland, whose second round 74 had followed his opening 70, then started very tidily in the afternoon.

Seven straight pars were followed by birdies at seven and nine to take him to the turn in 34 - just as he had done on the first day.

But, although he added two more birdies, at the long 14th and 18, for the third time this week, his card was also littered with bogeys at 11, 15 (where he three putted), 16 (after finding the sand) and 17, where he missed his putt after a superb lob wedge to two feet.

"I feel like I've played a bit better than level par," said Scotland. "And I'd love to finish under par tomorrow.

"I feel really comfortable out here. I feel much more at ease in front of the crowds than I do on the Challenge Tour.

"The Challenge Tour is a good breeding ground but ask anybody and they want to be on the main tour. That's what you practise for.

"And a good round tomorrow to get myself up there and I might get a few more tour starts."

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