2024 Senior Open presented by Rolex: Ames leads at Carnoustie as Canada burns

There are many potential storylines coming into this week at Carnoustie. Both Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington are looking to add a Senior Open victory to their Open Championship wins on the same course 25 and 17 years ago respectively; Bernhard Langer has come in search of a record fifth Senior Open title, and is on the comeback trail after injury; Alex Cejka is here as the defending champion and hoping to become the first repeat champion since Christy O’Connor Jr in 2000; and almost all the winners from the 2024 PGA Tour Champions and the Legends Tour are here, but every now and then this sport has a fairytale story which plays out on the course.

Stephen Ames has been a Canadian citizen since 2005 and resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. Right now one of the great natural wonders of his nation burns, with vast wildfires tearing through the world-famous Jasper Park, and the Jasper Park Lodge and its iconic golf course have not escaped (the lodge is pictured above). More than 25,000 people (5,000 residents, 20,000 visitors) have been evacuated from the town of Jasper, and it is being reported that all are safe and well, but their properties and livelihoods, thousands of animals and the landscape have either been destroyed or are under threat.

The Jasper Park Lodge opened in 1922 and the Stanley Thompson-designed golf course opened three years later in 1925. The course consistently ranks among the greatest in Canada, and was literally last week announced as the number four course in Canada by Score Golf, the Canadian Golf Magazine.

The Alberta Premier said on Thursday afternoon (Canadian Mountain Time) that he believes a third or maybe half of all buildings in Jasper have been destroyed.

So it would be absolutely inappropriate to label Stephen Ames as being ‘on fire’ today during the first round, so let’s just call his round outstanding. It featured five birdies and one bogey, and he will lead into day two in Angus. If he could pull off the victory, his third win of the season and first Senior Major, it would be a small but symbolic moment and I am sure an emotional moment for Ames.

One behind Ames is a chasing pack of four players at 3-under-par, including KJ Choi, Paul Broadhurst, Peter Baker and Richard Green. Choi seemed set to post a stern number of 5-under-par in the clubhouse until he bogeyed 16 and 18 to complete an up and down round which featured 7 birdies and 4 bogeys. Legends Tour Order of Merit Leader, Scott Hend is just 2 off the lead after a round of 70. The Australian made a spectacular eagle at the par-five twelfth hole, and is in contention for his first Senior Major title.

Padraig Harrington, Steven Alker and Bradley Dredge are three of twelve players tied at 1-under-par, all breaking the par of 72 and just three shots off the lead.

Bernhard Langer, attempting to play 72 holes for the first time since returning from injury, got off to a tough start, shooting 74 to sit 6 off the lead heading into the second round. Defending champion and fellow German, Alex Cejka is one shot better off at 1-over-par, 5 shots adrift of Ames’ lead.

Second round play begins at 0645BST from the first tee, check europeantour.com for complete tee-times for Friday.

SHANK, by Matt Hooper