BBC SPORT | THE OPEN | Begay's crash and burn

Notah Begay III saw his early Open challenge go into freefall on the infamous 17th hole at St Andrews when he recorded a disastrous triple-bogey seven.

It was all the more upsetting for the American, because he held a a two-shot lead over his fellow competitors at the time and slumped to a three-under 69 when it could have been so much better.

Begay enthralled the galleries with an entertaining round, the highlight of which was a chip-in for an eagle at the 12th - which he swiftly followed with another birdie to move to seven-under-par and a two-shot lead.

But the American, who can putt both left and right-handed, saw his early work scuppered by dropping three shots in one fell swoop at the 17th.

Notah Begay
Begay's blunder overshadowed much of his early work
And a bogey at the last gave him a rollercoaster total of 69, which consisted of an outward 31 and an inward 38.

Begay's escapades at the notorious Road Hole - which poses one of the most formidable challenges in world golf - were reminiscent of Jean Van de Velde's efforts at the 72nd hole at last year's Open at Carnoustie

On that occasion the Frenchman shot from tee into rough into water - and ended up taking three putts for a seven.

On 17 I was trying to avoid that bunker - I went into the rough, got a bad lie, it was a bit of a nightmare

Notah Begay III

Begay struck his tee shot alarmingly into the rough on the left and then proceeded to hack his second shot only yards forward.

He put his third way over the green into the Swilken Burn.

However, the ball was only parly submerged, and Begay took the gamble of rolling up his trousers, jumping into the burn and playing a pitch from the water.

To the delight of his ever-expanding fan club he safely negotiated the shot - but he had to settle for a seven and plummeted down the leaderboard.

Begay got off to a fantastic start when he birdied the first and then captured a further four birdies from the fifth hole onwards.

Notah Begay
Begay blasts his way out of the burn
He bogeyed the par three 11th but chipped in an eagle on the 12th and hit another birdie on the par-five 14th.

And a bogey at the last left him with a total of three-under 69, which consisted of an outward 31 and an inward 68.

The American was just as taken aback by his rollercoaster round as the people watching from the galleries.

"I think I had everything in that round," said Begay.

"On 17 I was trying to avoid that bunker. I went into the rough, got a bad lie, it was a bit of a nightmare.

"When I got in the water I felt it was muddy and looked as if I could get it out, I enjoyed that.

"The bogey was just a mistake. It's the first time I've played here and I'm going to be susceptible to first time mistakes but overall it was a pretty good card."


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