TRON, Scotland — If you want him gone, you’re not alone.
Everyone — except maybe Daniel Brown — expected Daniel Brown to leave.
Brown, who shot a 6-under 65 in Thursday's opening round to take a one-shot lead, was expected to fall behind and cede his spot to the star player on the British Open leaderboard at Royal Troon on Friday.
Brown played well in a tough second round on Friday, shooting a 1-over 72 to earn himself a spot in Saturday's third-round final, two shots behind 36-hole leader Shane Lowry, who was expected to miss.
Brown hasn't left yet.
The 29-year-old Englishman entered the final round of the 152nd British Open at 3 under, one shot behind leader Billy Horschel with 18 holes to play.
“I think a lot of people probably thought I was going to be shaking and really nervous this morning,” Brown said Saturday after a 73. “But I was totally fine. I'm proud of my performance, but obviously the last two holes stung a little bit because of not playing bad golf. Links golf got the better of me on those two holes. But I guess, overall, I'm happy.”
Brown bogeyed the 17th hole, then had misfortune on the 18th hole when his tee shot came to rest on the edge of a bunker, leaving him in an awkward position in the sand. He did the right thing, learned his lesson, and hit his ball into the fairway.
But his third shot hit a greenside bunker, which exacerbated his problems and he took double bogey and lost a one-shot lead.
but…
“We’re still there,” Brown said. “It’s tough. I’m a little disappointed with how I played the last two holes because I played really well to get there. It kind of sucks to end it like that.”
“After the last two holes, I guess it was a bit of a knock on the head, but if you had told me I was going to be one or two shots behind in the Open final, I would have ripped your hand off.”
Brown, who is playing in his first career major, was mocked this week for having the same name as the author of “The Da Vinci Code.”
He's not a writer. But if he wins the prize on Sunday, someone might write a book about him.
Brown, who made the cut this week after holeing a 20-foot putt on the final hole of a 36-hole qualifying tournament, entered this tournament having missed seven of eight cuts on the DP World Tour.
These are some of the key elements that make up the Cinderella story.
Twenty years ago in Troon, an unknown player named Todd Hamilton looked like an unexpected tourist when he reached the final in a playoff against Ernie Els, a two-time U.S. Open champion who had won the Claret Jug at Muirfield two years earlier.
Hamilton is expected to wilt under the intense pressure.
He didn't.
He beat Ayers and captured the Claret Jug.
“Based on how I played today,” Brown said, “I think I’ll be pretty good tomorrow.”
The biggest day of Brown's career is coming Sunday.
“I’m kind of a realist,” Brown said after playing Friday. “I’m not going to start getting all cocky and thinking, ‘Oh, gosh, I’m leading in the Open, I’m second in the Open,’ or anything like that. There’s 36 holes left. I could have a good round tomorrow and then a bad round on Sunday. You just don’t know.”
He had a good round on Saturday and will be looking to avoid a “terrible” performance on Sunday.
Brown would “sneak” a cigarette or two during his patrols, which he called “a bad habit I've developed.” [as] A coping mechanism.”
In the third round. Getty Images
When asked why he filmed secretly, he said: “My mum and dad are here. A lot of people are watching. I don't know how people will take it. They know [I smoke]but I won’t do it in front of them.”
After playing cards on Saturday, he returned to his rental house with some friends, who he said were “very drunk,” “but I don't drink here.”
“I kept it clean and they had a lot of fun, playing cricket, taking a hot tub and having a few beers in the evening, it was great fun,” he said.
Hopefully, for Brown and company, the fun is just beginning.
“Yes,” he said. “Good luck.”
