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 yr’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 dwelling medalist honors by three pictures on the Southeast England qualifier.

“Sorry,” Southgate stated, preventing again tears.

“Simply jogs my memory of my Dad. The Open is the very best.”

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 some of the famend locations in golf.

“The marshalls known as me and my associates over to take a seat on the Barry Burn bridge,” Southgate advised the International Golf Submit finally yr’s Open at Royal Liverpool.

“My legs have been dangling over the water as I watched every part occur.”

Getty Photos

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 bought of their automobile on Saturday night time and drove as much as Turnberry. They may not miss the prospect to see their favourite participant make historical past.

Alas, Watson fell simply in need of 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 reduce. 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. A minimum of he made the reduce.

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

Picture by Tom Dulat/R&A by way of Getty Photos

Southgate didn’t qualify for The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, after which, one yr 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 group for the a hundred and fiftieth Open, lending his perspective about what performed out on the Outdated Course.

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

“That’s why I attempted so arduous during the last 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 yr 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 reduce on the DP World Tour since then.

“I’ve had such a tricky time the final couple of months, however I performed very well at present,” Southgate stated.

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

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 pleasure, figuring out that his son has already completed a lot.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.