LIV Golf reserve player Catlin in Claret Jug debate

Timing is everything in golf. Just ask John Catlin. It was approaching 3:20 on an increasingly gloomy Saturday afternoon in Scotland when the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader hit a 2-foot putt for par on the 18th green at Royal Troon.

By the time Catlin had signed his scorecard and left to meet his media obligations, the sky had overcast and the light rain had turned into an unpleasant, steady drizzle.

As tournament director Shane Lowry walked to the first tee for his start at 3:45 p.m., Catlin couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“My timing is pretty good,” said the American, who was dry and sheltered after safely navigating this treacherous links route before the heavens opened.

Thanks to a great start, in which he birdied four of the first seven holes, Catlin was able to finish his round with a score of 2-under 69.

That gave him a total of 2-over 215 through 54 holes and left him tied for 30th as the leaders began their third round. With the weather worsening, he hoped those ahead would back off and allow him to climb up the leaderboard. Sure enough, 90 minutes later he was tied for 23rd. And when scoring conditions worsened with the late surge midway through the final nine holes, he was tied for 16th.

Did he feel he still had a chance of lifting the famous Claret Jug on Sunday?

“Just keep doing what I’m doing. It’s all in Shane’s hands at this point. I’ve got to go out there and do something really special to even be in the conversation,” added the seasoned pro, who has had a very special season so far.

After securing his starting spot in the 152nd Open Championship by finishing in a tie for third place at the season-opener IRS Prima Malaysian Open, Catlin won back-to-back victories at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and then the Saudi Open presented by PIF.

Two weeks ago he was defeated in a play-off by New Zealander Ben Campbell during the International Series Morocco.

This week has underscored Catlin’s status as a professional golfer, even as he remains remarkably modest.

“I’m just taking it day by day,” Catlin said. “I’m taking the opportunities that come my way. I’ve played well this year on the Asian Tour, which is a feeder to the LIV. I’m taking those opportunities when they come.

“I fought hard for invitations to the DP World Tour. Unfortunately, they chose another path. So I had to keep doing what I could do. I had to keep playing the Asian Tour and keep playing well. That opened the door to LIV. Like I’ve been telling myself all year, I just want to keep playing good golf. Whatever door opens, I’m going to take it.”

After an opening score of 76, Catlin had to show his qualities in the worst conditions of Day 2 to have a chance of making the cut.

And so he did, hitting 13 pars in his first 14 holes, then birdieing three of the final four holes to shoot a 70 and make the cut.

“The first 12, 13 holes yesterday were an absolute bear race. It was hard to make pars. Every par you made felt like a moral victory. Then it calmed down a bit and I was able to take advantage and make some birdies in the home straight.

“I was pretty much on that (cut) number, just in it all day. I just stayed steady, kept making pars. I knew 6-over would be enough, so I just kept pushing,” said Catlin, who carried that momentum into the start of round three.

Catlin is one of five members of the Asian Tour to make the cut this week, along with fellow American Andy Ogletree (HyFlyers GC), Chilean Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC) and Korean duo Minkyu Kim and Jeunghun Wang.

Catlin and Wang booked their places through the IRS Prima Malaysian Open, while Kim earned his place here thanks to his victory at the Kolon Korea Open, the event for which Younghan Song also qualified.

Song was paired with reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Ogletree in the third round at Royal Troon.

Both struggled to make their mark, with Song shooting a birdie-less 77 and Ogletree managing just one birdie in an error-ridden 79.

Photo credits: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)