Open Championship: Bryden Macpherson takes the positives after 26-over-par finish
Last Updated: 19/07/14 4:11pm
Bryden Macpherson is confident he will not suffer the same fate as fellow Australian Ian Baker-Finch after finally completing his Open nightmare.
The 23-year-old from Melbourne, whose openinground of 90 at Hoylake was the worst Open round for 15 years, bowed out of the competition after shooting 80 on Friday to finish on 26 over par.
It was a humbling experience for a player appearing in his first Open since turning professional - and second overall - but he is convinced he can bounce back.
I think it's just character-building, that's all it is. If you see it as anything more or anything less, then you're looking at it the wrong way.
Bryden Macpherson
That was something Baker-Finch was unable to do after carding a shock 92 at Troon in 1997, a remarkable capitulation that came just six years after he actually won the Open.
Macpherson said: "I think a fellow Australian, Ian Baker-Finch did a similar thing, first round in '97, and that triggered his retirement.
"Now, he'd already won a British Open, so he had a little more ground to stand on than me. It would be a little weird for me to retire, I think.
"I think it's just character-building, that's all it is. If you see it as anything more or anything less, then you're looking at it the wrong way."
Experience
Macpherson insisted he never even considered pulling out after his "embarrassing" and potentially demoralising 18-over-par first round, which included a quadruple bogey, a triple and three doubles.
He said: "Definitely not. I've never pulled out of a tournament, a competitive event, and I plan to keep that for the rest of my career.
"I enjoyed every moment of it, as much as you could. You go out there and you try and take in the experience for what it is, instead of what you want it to be."
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Macpherson was also backed to recover by his friend Mike Newell, the former Everton and Blackburn striker, who followed the match around the Royal Liverpool course.
The pair met three years ago when Macpherson won the British Amateur Championship at Hillside Golf Club in Southport, where Newell is a member.
Macpherson even stayed with Newell last week as he practised at Hillside ahead of the Open.
Newell said: "He had a bad day yesterday and it's tough to see when you know someone but hopefully he will be better for it in the long run."
Macpherson said of Newell: "He's a good man, and it's nice to come out and watch me. He texted me last night as well, commiserations and all that."
