Stewart has warning
for Zane ScotlandUS
Open champion Payne Stewart had some advice for teenage qualifier Zane Scotland
at Carnoustie on Tuesday - do not make the same mistake as Justin Rose. Scotland
is not 17 until Saturday and finds himself in the same spotlight as Rose coped
with wonderfully last year at Birkdale, finishing a brilliant fourth just short
of his 18th birthday. Where
Rose went wrong, Stewart believes, is turning professional straight afterwards. It
has taken Rose 22 events just to make a halfway cut on tour and Stewart said:
"He has an uphill battle now - you can't run with the big boys if you are
not ready. "If
I was giving any advice to this 16-year-old it would be: don't turn pro yet. I
wish Justin had gone to college in America and I am sure he is maybe thinking
the same now. "I
don't think that at 16 or 17 you are mature enough to compete against the best
players in the world. "I
just hope things get better for Justin. I would like to see him be successful
but he has been thrust into the world of adults and he has to take baby steps." Stewart
has not played since his thrilling success at Pinehurst but was in Ireland practising
with Tiger Woods, David Duval, Mark O'Meara and Lee Janzen last week.
As well as playing
golf together Stewart showed his ability as a harmonica player and joked: "The
reception I got told me that if I ran for mayor in Waterville it would be a landslide." President
Clinton is among the people who have sent letters of congratulations to the 42-year-old
American for winning another major - 12 months after tossing away a four-stroke
lead in the same event. "They
are all very special. I accomplished something I will never forget, but after
the rest I am excited about playing again," said Stewart. "I
come in with a lot of confidence. I don't want to play poorly and say 'Oh, I won
the US Open and that's okay'. I won't accept that. "I
have always said I had a really good chance to win the British Open (he was second
to Sandy Lyle in 1985 and to Nick Faldo in 1990). I play a whole bunch of shots
and am a good chipper and putter." Asked
if he had watched a re-run of Pinehurst yet he said: "A couple of times -
but not all of it. I always want to get to those last three holes." Stewart
sank a 20-foot putt for par on the 16th, hit his tee shot to four feet for a birdie
at the short 17th and then made an 18-footer on the last to beat Phil Mickelson
by a shot. | 
