Final hole woe hits Robert Rock’s Masters bid
Staffordshire’s Robert Rock let slip a promising position at golf’s British Masters when he suffered a double-bogey on the 18th hole.
Rock, from Armitage, near Rugeley, was four under par until he carded a six at the last hole taking him down the leaderboard at Close House, in Northumberland yesterday.
In an up and down round, Rock recorded seven birdies but also suffered three bogeys prior to his last hole issues.
Finishing on two under par, he ended the day in joint 29th, the same position as Wolverhampton’s Aaron Rai, who also carded a 69 on the first day of the tournament.
Rai managed birdies at holes eight, 10 and 17.
Tournament host Lee Westwood, the highest-ranked player in the field, is tied 50 on one-under.
Rock and Rai are five shots behind leader David Law who enjoyed a successful, if somewhat surreal, return to action at the British Masters.
Law began his first round at Close House with five straight pars but then birdied the next five holes in a row, produced a brilliant up and down from thick rough to save par on the 11th and birdied the 12th and 13th as well to finish with a 64.
Former US Open champion Michael Campbell admitted he was “completely flabbergasted” after finding himself high on the leaderboard on three under par.
New Zealander Campbell has not made a cut on the European Tour since 2013 as he struggled with a foot injury.
