ON Sunday evening, 9,300 spectators crammed into the stands at Hoylake when Tiger Woods walked onto the 18th green to secure his third Open Championship. Pictures of the event were beamed into millions of homes across the globe. In the Media Centre, 600 journalists and 300 photographers were soon busy trying to ensure that, as mornings broke across the planet, their readers could have the most detailed picture possible of how the Claret Jug was won. But professional golf has many faces and so does the Open. The last group home on Friday evening consisted of Mark Pilkington, Nick Ludwell and Ben Bunny, all of whom had to go through final qualifying in order to play at Hoylake. All began their rounds with realistic hopes of making the cut. Bunny's chances of avoiding moving day did not last beyond the par-four eighth where he five-putted from 50 feet and took an eight. About a hundred spectators watched this slow disaster with a mixture of disbelief and sympathy. On the back nine, the 28-year-old Australian who, like Ludwell, was playing in his first Open, slipped from two to 11 over par. Both Ludwell and Pilkington's courageous efforts to stay in the championship were followed by small groups of friends, whose shouts of encouragement could be heard clearly in the cool evening air. The galleries that had watched Ernie, Sergio and Phil a few hours earlier had long since disappeared. On the 12th hole, the scoreboard operators had gone home. As the knot of spectators watched the players preparing to putt on the 13th, they could hear the sound of the fifth green being given its evening cut. As the trio walked down the 14th fairway, the big screen in the tented village shone brightly in the background. It was showing highlights of the Open golf. "I hope you can cope with the crush," one wit of a marshal shouted across to his mate at a crossing. There was no-one but his colleague on that side of the fairway. Around some of the greens, notices had been placed warning spectators that "this area may be occupied by a TV camera and spectator views may be obstructed". But there was no chance of Ken Brown or the BBC's mobile gizmos turning up this late. Even the cameras on the gantries had their protective covers on. And this was a shame, because the band of friends, spectators and diehards who followed that last match were treated to some gutsy golf. Having shot a three-over par 75 on the first day, Wakefield-based Ludwell had gained one shot over the first 14 holes but missed a crucial short putt for birdie on the15th and a double-bogey six on the 17th put paid to his chances. Pilkington's struggle to stay in was even more impressive and ultimately, therefore, even more painful. The 26-year-old from Morfa Nefyn was three over with four to play but birdied three of those to finish level par. His exquisite chip over a bunker on the last was the only way in which he could make an eagle but the ball rolled a few feet past the hole. The shot was watched by 47 spectators and a few litter collectors in the giant stands. His birdie gave him a 68, the same score as Angel Cabrera and Mark Calcavecchia that day. But it was not good enough and Pilkington's efforts over the two days earned him £3,000; Ludwell and Bunny collected £2,000 each. The last group had gone out at 4.21. It was nine minutes past nine when they made their way back to the clubhouse and another working day in the lives of three professional golfers had come to an end. | 
