Grant Forrest aims to play with more big guns after Scottish Open outing with Brooks Koepka
Local man has sights set on securing The Open spot after solid start at The Renaissance Club
Local hero Grant Forrest lapped up playing with five-time major winner Brooks Koepka for the first time and is determined it will be a taste of things to come.
Forrest was paired with Koepka and also Australian ace Min Woo Lee in the opening round of the $9 million Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club.
“Yeah, it was,” replied the East Lothian-based player to being asked if he’d enjoyed his morning assignment on a sun-kissed day on Scotland’s Golf Coast.. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a group like that. In fact, I don’t know if I’ve ever had a group of that calibre and it was really nice. I’ve played with Min a few times but never with Brooks before today.”
As Koepka and Lee both signed for matching five-under-par 65s, Forrest opened with a 69 after being three under with eight holes to play at the Dirleton venue.
“I hit every green,” he reported. “Yeah, I got to three under then made two really poor three-putts from not that far away, to be honest, and that sort of put the handbrake on the round a bit.”
Forrest is among 74 players in the field battling for three coveted spots in next week’s 154th The Open at Royal Birkdale next week.
Out of the five Scots in that group, Forrest was the only one who played in last week’s Final Qualifying, missing out by two shots at Dundonald Links after rounds of 74 and 69.
“I was disappointed walking away from Dundonald as I played more than well enough to do it, but just didn’t putt well enough,” declared the Nexo Championship winner at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire last year.
“I’ve not played the Final Qualifying for a few years and I think it is a really good chance, especially when there are five spots now when there used to be only three the last time I qualified.
“We have another chance this week and obviously a lot of guys playing who are already qualified, so you just don’t know come Sunday.”
Forrest lives in Pencaitland, meaning he’s facing a journey of less than half an hour to get to this week’s venue, and is also attached to The Renaissance Club.
“The course is looking fantastic with the definition, but the rough is definitely the thickest it has been,” he observed. “Especially in certain areas, they’ve tried to grow it where you are hitting into. Yeah, there are a few holes that make you think a bit more now.
“There’s more of a premium than there has been in the past. As it dries out, it will get tougher as well as the greens firm up a bit because they are still quite receptive. If they get firmer, it will be a really good test.
“They’ve used a couple of back tees. They put us back on what we are playing as the second, which they haven’t done before. It adds another 30 yards and, I think the wind is to switch to come from the east, and it will be a monster if they keep the tee there. It will be a par 4-and-a-half!”
No doubt helped by enjoying his home comforts, Forrest has recorded five top-50 finishes in this event, including an 11th-place effort in 2023 and tie for 22nd last year.
“It’s good to be staying at home this week - it is really nice,” he said, smiling. “I think (wife) Christy is enjoying the creche this week to get a wee bit of a break because (son) Spencer is full on!”