Published on July 22, 2024
John Catlin has the Major championship bit firmly between his teeth. Thanks to a typically gutsy closing even-par 71 at Royal Troon, Catlin claimed a hard-earned top-20 finish in the 152nd Open Championship.
Story by Spencer Robinson, Asian Tour contributor, at Royal Troon.
He also had the distinction of finishing as the leading Asian Tour member – a fitting achievement given his current status at number one on the Order of Merit.
“It’s an amazing week. Such an amazing event, and I hope to be back here every single year,” said Catlin, who had missed the cut on his two previous appearances in the championship.
“I was walking up the last, and I was in that greenside bunker and I still couldn’t help but smile. It’s just such a cool walk. It’s so unique to The Open. That’s something I’ll always cherish,” added the American, whose 72-hole aggregate of two-over 286 left him in a share of 16th place – 11 strokes adrift of his triumphant compatriot Xander Schauffele.
With his appetite for the big stage well and truly whetted, there’s no danger that Catlin will be resting on his laurels – either in his bid to top this year’s Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merit standings, or his aims for further Major success.
He said: “I didn’t have that many expectations (at the start of the week). I just wanted to come and play as well as I could.
“I feel like I belong. I feel like I belong at the Major level. I hope I get a lot more opportunities. It’s been my dream since I was a kid to win a Major championship, and I think one day it might happen.”
Before the next men’s Major at Augusta National in April 2025, however, Catlin has other matters on his mind.
He said: “I want to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit. I want to win the International Series Order of Merit – and I want to lock up that LIV spot for next year.
“I think this will be my seventh season playing on the Asian Tour. It’s a pretty storied list of champions that have won the Order of Merit. To be on that list would be something truly special.”
Ends.
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