They lined up four rows deep, craning their necks for a glimpse of Nick Faldo, Tom Watson and Fred Couples walking onto the first tee at the British Open.
Turns out a few other older players grabbed the attention on Thursday at Muirfield.
By the time Faldo, Watson and Couples trudged off with a combined score of 16-over-par, Todd Hamilton was already in the clubhouse with a two-under 69. Then came Mark O’Meara, who wound up a shot off the lead with a 67. Tom Lehman chipped in with a 68.
All are former Open champions – all with plenty of links’ knowledge and experience.
“One for the old farts,” O’Meara said.
With 49-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez also shooting a 68, the leaderboard was starting to have the look of a seniors’ competition.
Darren Clarke in 2011 and Ernie Els last year showed that age should be no barrier at the British Open. Both were 42 when they lifted the claret jug. O’Meara, Lehman and Hamilton are taking it to a whole new level, though, as they seek a second title on the British links.
O’Meara is yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He’s still waiting for the captaincy of the US Presidents Cup team.
Despite two major championships – one more than Couples – 24 wins around the world, five Ryder Cup teams and trophies collected from five continents, O’Meara is used to feeling left out.
So he’s letting his golf do the talking this week.
The 1998 Open champion at Royal Birkdale curled in a 35-foot eagle putt at No.17 to cap a round that reached its height at the ninth hole when he moved to five-under.
“I realise I’m 56 but I also realise that I’ve won the Open championship and I know that links golf is a little bit different than playing in the Masters. It’s a little bit different than playing in the US Open. It’s a little different than a PGA,” O’Meara said. “That experience, I think, plays a big factor in how guys play.”
At times, O’Meara feels he’s playing better than he did 15 years ago.
“I understand I’m not a spring chicken,” he added, “or I may not putt as good or chip as good or whatever, but the quality of shots that I hit out there today, I would say, ‘Hey, that’s as good as I played when I was in my prime’.”
Another claret jug would surely clinch his place in the Hall of Fame.
The 54-year-old Lehman, who won the Open at Lytham in 1996, finished birdie-birdie in the group after O’Meara.
If any of them go on to win on Sunday, they would become the oldest Open champion – taking the record of Old Tom Morris (46 years, 99 days) from 1867.
