By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Fil-American Justin delos Santos showed steely resolve in his debut in the fabled British Open, coming through with a spectacular pitch-in eagle on the way to a one-under-par 71 at the St Andrews Thursday (Friday in Manila).
The 26-year-old eagled the par-4 12th hole from a lucky shot that proved more than enough to make up for a bogey mishap on the 11th to trail solo leader Cameron Young of the United States by seven strokes.
At the end of the day, he emerged tied for 35th place with 19 others that include Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama and Webb Simpson.
After a bogey on the second hole, De Los Santos bounced back with a birdie on the third before capping his round with another birdie on the 18th following a bogey on the 17th.
Meanwhile, Young torched the course with a bogey-free 64 highlighted by eight birdies including five at the front nine.
Rory McIlroy trailed by two strokes with a 66 marred by a bogey on the 13th against seven birdies, while tied for third were Cameron Smith and Robert Dinwiddie with similar 67s.
Delos Santos even outshone Tiger Woods who struggled with a 78 after two double bogeys, five bogeys against three birdies.
That would be enough to inspire De Los Santos further and make it to the weekend play of the oldest championship offering a total prize fund of $14 million.
