No Dundonald date, rags to riches tale and scribe's story - Martin Dempster's US Open diary

No Dundonald date this year for Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood is not returning to Dundonald Links early next month to try and qualify again for The Open.

The Englishman thrilled big crowds by turning back the clock to win last year’s Final Qualifier at the Ayrshire venue to progress to Royal Portrush for a first major appearance since 2022.

He won’t be in the field, though, on Tuesday week in the scramble for spots at Royal Birkdale due to the US Senior Open taking place that week at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio.

That’s the same reason Ian Poulter is not playing in Open Final Qualifying, with the LIV Golf pair having cleared a path to return to the DP World Tour by paying million dollar fines for competing in LIV Golf events without an official release.

Rags to riches for ‘Cashmere’ Keith Mitchell

‘Cashmere’ Keith Mitchell might have lived up to his billing on the back nine in his opening round at Shinnecock Hills but it was more a case of him wearing old rags on the front nine.

After starting at the tenth, the American went out in six-over 41 before then coming home in 29, carding four birdies and an eagle, which came at the par-5 fifth.

In doing so, he became the first player in US Open history to play nine holes in the 20s and nine holes in the 40s during the same round.

Slow play can feel like a lifetime

Even allowing for the fact it was windy, play was painfully slow at times in the opening round at Shinnecock Hills.

As one such culprit took ages to hit an approach at the first, which is adjacent to the Media Centre, renowned golf writer John Hopkins shared a story about Pat Ward-Thomas, a legendary golf scribe.

Watching a player take ages to hit a shot - and it’s probably a lot worse now than it was back then, Ward-Thomas mused: “Does this little s*** not know my life is ebbing away!”

Sadly, this correspondent often shares that sentiment while watching professional golf.

Scottie Scheffler backed over links remark

Scottie Scheffler’s view about Shinnecock Hills not being a true links has been backed by Jamie Kennedy, who is building a big following in golf in his role as Golf Digest’s director of digital content.

In his pre-event press conference, Scheffler pointed to greens on links courses in Scotland being “pretty flat” whereas the ones here are raised and slopey as well.

“Lots of people have been asking me for validation about what Scottie said and this not being a links when I’ve been out on the course and I agree with him,” said Kennedy, an Edinburgh man and decent golfer himself.

“Put it this way, if my dad played the Old Course at St Andrews and was hitting his 3-wood or hybrid, he’d have a chance of keeping it on seven or eight greens but that wouldn’t be the case here.

“Indeed, my wife's boss came over from Scotland and played here last month. He's not a golfer. The 11th (ironically) was the only green he hit in regulation.”