AT LEAST I managed to end my Open in some style and go out on a high. Walking up the 18th green to a great reception from the grandstand mid-morning yesterday was something special.

Being first out - along with American Duffy Waldorf who also had a nightmare Saturday - may have meant I wasn't challenging at the top of the leaderboard but it will still live long in the memory.

The 71, one under, I carded in my final round did give me satisfaction because I did not want my second Open Championship to end on a disappointing note.

Having made the cut, Saturday's third round proved more frustrating than anything else. Shooting 80, eight over, when I genuinely believed I could force my way up the leaderboard hurt.

It wasn't that I played that bad on Saturday, it was just I didn't nail my putts. I had something like 40 putts and that's not good enough.

The rest of my game was Okay. Or it was until the infamous 17th road hole. I managed to drive my tee shot over the Old Course Hotel fine, but I missed the fairway and went out of bounds on my way to an eight on the par four.

The hardest aspect of the hole is if you land in the Road bunker- and I also found that but my recovery shot was quite good. The damage had already been done.

FINISHING higher, instead of near the bottom with an eight over total, would have been good.

But the whole experience was great, particularly as it's the first time I have played all four days at the Open.

The way I'm looking at things is a few weeks ago I didn't even expect to be at St Andrews. Now I have picked up a cheque for a few thousand which is a bonus for me.

As well as walking up the Tom Morris hole yesterday to a good reception, I also have a few other great memories from St Andrews that I will hold for the rest of my life. Watching Jack Nicklaus say farewell to the professional game at the Old Course on Friday was incredibly touching, while me making the cut on Friday night was fantastic.

PERSONALLY I would have liked to have seen Jose Marie Olazabal or Colin Montgomerie catch Tiger Woods up yesterday and pip him to the Claret Jug.

This appearance at St Andrews for Olazabal - who was only in as a replacement for Seve Ballesteros - was probably the Spaniard's last chance to win the Open.

Everything was set up for him because he has been playing great. He tends to hit the ball wide as well and he can get away with that at St Andrews.

In fairness, though, Woods was never really going to throw it away. His game is too well suited to the course because of the distance he gets with his driving.

NOW - after driving back down the A1 yesterday afternoon - all my attention is focused on trying to earn enough money for me to climb in to the top 100 in the Order of Merit.

There's talk that if I claim another £50,000 I will be at the Seve Trophy in September but, although I would love to be at Wynyard, I can't see it.

I think captain Monty will have to pick either Paul Broadhurst or Nick Dougherty as his wild card. Dougherty has been in fantastic form and deserves to be at the Seve Trophy.

Published: 18/07/2005