Andrew Coltart is a man who thrives on inspiration and there is plenty of it in the air at St Andrews this week, coming both from July and from just a few days ago.
The former Dunhill Cup winner with Scotland needs a sizeable cheque to avoid a return to what he calls “the six-day job interview,” the tour’s final qualifying school, but he put himself in good shape with a 71 to lie at four-under in a share of 11th, the highest-placed home player.
“I think everybody that’s pegged it up this week is just sort of inspired with what the boys did for themselves and for the European Tour at the start of the week,” said Coltart, who saw it all close-up at Celtic Manor as part of BBC Five Live’s on-course commentary team.
“It was sensational to be there, and not hitting balls for six days may have helped me as well.”
Back at St Andrews, he’s feeding off his Open return there in July, when he got on the leaderboards on the first day.
“Coming here in July and knocking in a few putts and getting a fill-up of the buzz off the crowd, that really geed me up and reminded me of what I was capable of for at least one round,” he said.
“It maybe has helped playing alongside the boys from last week, you want to go up and shake their hands and there’s an extra-special buzz, because everybody also wants to beat them by a couple of shots.
“For me the best moments were the crowd in that god-awful weather on the first morning, giving such a reception to the players when they deserved medals just for being out there, and Lee Westwood standing up there after two months out and nailing it down the fairway.
“Also, obviously, McDowell on the 16th, after being told what was needed, he hits his shot to the middle of the green and makes the putt that’s absolutely fantastic.”
Martin Laird slipped back with a costly double bogey on the 13th but Stephen Gallacher’s nagging consistency showed again at Carnoustie, proving brutally tough on Friday, where his 72 kept him within range at three-under.
“There were two par fours you couldn’t get up to on the front nine, so I have to be happy with 72. I just hope the draw turns out fair tomorrow,” he said.
“My aim is just to get top 15 in the Race to Dubai, getting me into majors and other stuff next year.
“In terms of world ranking I’d love to get into the top 50 so I’ve just got to finish the year well and they’ll be achievable.”
Paul Lawrie also shot 72 at Carnoustie, despite a bogey-bogey finish, to be one-under, while exile Alan McLean is at three-under after a 73 at Carnoustie.
Colin Montgomerie continued to ease himself back into the regular day job with another par round of 72, giving him a decent chance of making Sunday’s play, but Marc Warren slipped back with a 76 while Richie Ramsay had a 78 at Kingsbarns to drop to three-over.