THE Illawarra was delighted again yesterday as another favoured son put the region’s name in lights.
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Port Kembla’s Lincoln Tighe carded a five-under 66 to take the first round lead in the Australian Open at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney.
The local boy left the world number one and defending champion Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott in his wake, but faces a big challenge now to maintain that momentum.
Earlier this month, Tighe spent some time catching up with the Illawarra Mercury’s senior sport reporter Tim Barrow.
He seemed to predict the day one of the Open in that conversation when he said: “Everything is going well at the moment, I’m getting a lot more comfortable about performing in the bigger tournaments.”
Clearly.
He also spoke of surprise when some of the biggest names in golf had started taking notice of his game.
Tighe spoke of some time on the practice fairway next to Scott and a chance meeting with another Australian great in Peter Lonard.
“It was amazing to hear Peter say he had been watching me (play in the US),” Tighe said at the time.
“He’s a guy who made a career in the US and played at all the majors, so it was just good to be able to chat to him and listen to his experience.
“When I was hitting balls next to Adam Scott, it kind of reminds you how great it is to be back playing the big tournaments at home.”
Tighe paid tribute to his newfound success to his concentration on the mental side of the game.
“I’ve been a lot more consistent,” he said.
“I’ve been working with a sports psychologist as well and it’s certainly paying off.”
Tighe hopes to break into the PGA Tour in America in the not too distant future.
With more performances like his first round of the Australian Open his dream may well come true.
Congratulations Lincoln and best of luck for the rest of the tournament.
In a week where X-Factor winner Cyrus Villanueva put the region’s name in light, the Gong is truly on a roll.
With any luck we can add an Australian Open winner to Wollongong’s wall of renown.