01하루 만에 뒤바뀐 무대, 악명 높은 난코스를 길들이다
프로 골퍼 마이클 스튜어트(Michael Stewart)가 단 24시간 만에 골프 인생에 기억될 놀라운 반전의 드라마를 써 내려갔다. 지역 기반의 타탄 프로 투어(Tartan Pro Tour)에서 경기를 치른 지 불과 하루 만에 세계적인 난코스로 손꼽히는 카누스티(Carnoustie) 골프 링크스 무대에 올라 인상적인 활약을 펼쳤기 때문이다.
카누스티는 좁은 페어웨이와 악명 높은 벙커, 까다로운 해풍으로 인해 선수들에게 극심한 중압감을 주는 코스로 유명하다. 그러나 스튜어트는 급작스러운 무대 변화와 피로 속에서도 탁월한 경기 운영 능력을 발휘하며 코스를 성공적으로 정복해 나갔다.
하부 투어 현장에서 세계적인 격전지로 이어진 그의 숨 가쁜 24시간은 순식간에 골프 팬들과 언론의 이목을 사로잡았다. 준비 시간이 턱없이 부족했음에도 불구하고 펼쳐낸 정교한 플레이는 그가 가진 베테랑으로서의 기량을 다시 한번 입증하는 계기가 되었다.
단 하루 만에 극적인 환경 변화를 극복하고 카누스티를 정복한 마이클 스튜어트의 인상적인 여정은 투어 무대에서 오랫동안 회자될 명장면으로 남게 됐다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
Scotland's Michael Stewart may just have one of the most remarkable opening round stories at this year's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
After finishing second at the Tartan Pro Tour event on Wednesday in Duddingston, the Scot travelled to the Alfred Dunhill Links and posted a 65 at Carnoustie to hold a share of the first round lead.
The 36-year-old, who plays on the Tartan Tour full time, opted not to play a practice round after recieving a tournament invitation on Monday, but he had a very good reason.
Already a two-time winner this season on the Tartan Pro Tour, a third victory would secure automatic promotion back to the HotelPlanner Tour, which he played on as recently as 2024 before struggling with his back.
With the Duddingston Classic roughly an hour and a half away from St Andrews, the 2011 Walker Cup player led after two rounds, before ultimately finishing second.
With courses he knows well, Stewart said he had no issue feeling ready for his tee time at Carnoustie on Thursday morning,
"It's easy to get yourself up for this event, isn't it," he said afterwards.
"It was fine. I played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, straight here and courses I know well anyway. Played here a lot in the past and just delighted to be part of the event.
"I feel home at links golf. I grew up on a links course. The conditions are a little bit better here than the last few years, which has been nice. I don't mind the wind. As long as the rain stays away, we're good to go."
After finishing the tournament around three in the afternoon, Stewart explained that he had to have fellow Scot David Law pick up everything he needed.
"Obviously I didn't have any accreditation or nothing for the event so I drove from Duddingston, got to St Andrews at half five. David Law had arranged my yardage books, my accreditation, parking pass, all that.
"So we met him first, he dropped my stuff off and then got to my uncle's in Cupar last night at like seven."
Stewart, who enjoyed an successful amateur career that included a runner-up finish at the Amateur Championship, victory at the 2010 Scottish Amateur, and runner-up in the 2011 Links Trophy, showed his love for links golf on Thursday with a bogey-free 65.
He began his round with back-to-back pars before a birdie at the third, but it wasn't until the back-nine where he began an impressive run that started with an eagle at the par-five 12th.
Four birdies in a row followed to move the World Number 979 to seven under par, parring his way in to set the clubhouse target before being joined by Jack Buchanan.
"I played nice all day to be honest. Lots of fairways, lots of greens and then on the back, putter got hot.
"Today the putter was really good again which was nice. It's been not been behaving as well as it usually has the last sort of couple of events. Again, the long game was good today and it was nice to see some putts go in on the back nine.
"You know, the front nine is sort of tricky into that wind and our playing the majority of the holes into the wind. You turn and you get to 10, sort of coming in, you know there's going to be a lot more chances. And I just managed to put myself in good spots and managed to hole some putts."