Robert Dinwiddie has promised his daughter a new trampoline if he lands the biggest pay-day of his career.
Dinwiddie has swapped the building site for the leaderboard at the 150th Open. The world No 1779, aged 39, previously played on the European Tour but now only plays part-time.
The Wandsworth-born Challenge Tour player even started working for his friend’s construction company during lockdown as a labourer. But he built a very good round at the Home of Golf where he ended five-under with a birdie at the last to take a share of third place with a 67 as he finished after 10pm in the gloom following six hours on the Old Course.
Dinwiddie, who turned pro in 2006, is now looking to make the cut at the third attempt in the Open after trying in 2017 and 2015. He said: "Through lockdown and helping my friend out I have always tried to keep my golf sharp at the highest level I can.
“I am very happy. It was a fantastic day to be able to put together a good score.
“My daughter Beatrice was out and so were other family and friends. To see her gave me a boost coming off the back of 13th particularly.
“Well done to her staying up until 10.30pm which is probably three hours past her bedtime. She will have her heart set on a whole lot if I do well.
“She is well into her gymnastics and would probably want a new bar and trampoline. But it is a long way away. It is a tough golf course with potentially tough conditions. I have to break it down to small bits and get on with it."
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He opened yesterday with a birdie at the first and followed it with others at the fifth and six to stand three-under at the turn. He also birdied the 10th and finished with two birdies in the last four holes after he made his only bogey on the 16th. It was a far cry from his time labouring in lockdown to help pay bills.
He said: "There was no golf and, though I was teaching a bit at the time, my friends who were in the trade and still doing essential work said: ‘you can come and help us out’. I did and have been doing that for two years.
“I was just a general handyman, helping out, labouring, all kind of building work, managing projects for them if they’ve got a few on the go. It’s physical but quite satisfying and I enjoy it.”
Dinwiddie will be back in action at 11.04am on Friday with Mingyu Cho and Jorge Fernandez Valdes. He admitted it was hard to keep his concentration for over six hours yesterday as the temperature dropped and the darkness came on.
But he battled on and now wants to build on his round when he returns to action. He added: "I was playing well.
“I just try to give every shot 100% with concentration, effort and commitment. You expect it to be a long round and I had plenty of food in my bag.
“But it is a test physically and mentally when it is dark and getting cold. It was tough.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself now. I want to rest up, look after my body and focus on starting well on Friday."
