The Open: Matthew Southgate fights again tears after qualifying

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

So it’s no shock that he displayed such emotion after qualifying for this 12 months’s Open at Royal Troon, which can 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, cherished The Open virtually as a lot as his son. He grew keen on Tom Watson within the 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 one of the crucial famend locations in golf.

“The marshalls known as me and my mates over to sit down on the Barry Burn bridge,” Southgate informed the World Golf Publish finally 12 months’s Open at Royal Liverpool.

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

Getty Pictures

His Open championship recollections as a teen don’t finish there.

A decade later, when Watson held the 54-hole lead at The Open, the Southgate father-son duo acquired of their automobile on Saturday night time and drove as much as Turnberry. They may not miss the possibility 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 recollections 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. Not less than he made the minimize.

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

Picture by Tom Dulat/R&A through Getty Pictures

Southgate didn’t qualify for The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, after which, one 12 months 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 staff for the one hundred and fiftieth Open, lending his perspective about what performed out on the Previous Course.

Humorous sufficient, this 12 months, after qualifying, he joked about his broadcasting expertise.

“That’s why I attempted so onerous over the past 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 12 months 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 troublesome time the final couple of months, however I performed rather well at the moment,” Southgate stated.

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

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 satisfaction, understanding that his son has already achieved a lot.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.