Lehman Endures Ugly Streak

A male streaker, wearing only a pair of shoes and carrying a hat, raced down the 18th fairway Sunday at the British Open - beating winner Tom Lehman to the green.

“It wasn’t as good as Wimbledon,” cracked Lehman, alluding to a 23-year-old waitress who streaked the men’s final there two weeks ago before she was ushered off.

The unidentified man - probably in his 30s - suddenly appeared running down the fairway after Lehman had hit his second shot into the green. He was tackled about 5 yards from the pin by two stewards who tried to cover him up.

Woods top amateur

Tiger Woods, the two-time U.S. Amateur champion, missed a 12-foot putt for par at the 18th hole that would have set an amateur scoring record for the Open. Still, he received the silver medal as low amateur. Woods, who shot his third consecutive sub-par round (70) and Iain Pyman (1993) share the amateur scoring record at 281.

Woods, who tied for 22nd, plans to play in the Greater Milwaukee Open and Quad City Classic before returning to Stanford University for his junior year. His timetable for turning pro is uncertain. “I’ve still got two years of school, until ‘98,” he said.

Woods’ major? Economics, of course.

Shot of the day

Lehman arrived at the difficult, 212-yard, par-3 12th hole not having made a birdie in his round. He ripped a 4-iron to 12 feet and canned the putt.

“I hit the best shot of the week,” Lehman said. “At that point, I really felt in charge.”

Mr. Consistency

Two-time British Open champion Greg Norman had a rather quiet week, but he began making a little noise early in the afternoon when he got to 8 under par for the tournament after making five birdies and an eagle through his first 11 holes. He eventually shot 67, finishing in a tie for seventh place at 7-under 277.

Norman has finished in the top 10 in each of this year’s majors. In the 1990s, he has 13 top-10 finishes in majors, including one victory (1993 British Open).

Rare U.S. invasion

The only other American to win in the nine British Opens played at Royal Lytham was amateur Bobby Jones in 1926, the first time the Open was played here. Lehman’s 271 was the best score at Lytham in an Open, bettering Seve Ballesteros’ 1988 effort by two shots.