He was an Open Championship long shot. On Saturday, he’s in the final pairing

A Rising Star at Royal Troon: Can Dan Brown Capture the Claret Jug?

TROON, Scotland — The question on everyone’s mind is whether Dan Brown, the English golfer, can triumph at the 152nd British Open at Royal Troon. Not to be confused with the famous author of *The Da Vinci Code*, this Dan Brown hails from Northallerton in North Yorkshire.

 

Absolutely, he can.

 

Consider Todd Hamilton, who clinched this tournament at this very course in 2004, overcoming golf legend Ernie Els in a playoff. Before his victory, Hamilton was known but not a household name, except perhaps in his hometown of Oquawka, Illinois.

 

Similarly, in 2003, Ben Curtis from Kent, Ohio, another relatively unknown player, won the British Open at Royal St. George’s.

 

So, what’s stopping Dan Brown from achieving the same feat? North Yorkshire, much like the Midwest of England, is a region characterized by its rural simplicity. Dan Brown’s father works in the pig business, adding a touch of pastoral charm, though the family isn’t particularly fond of pork. Brown’s mother, a mortgage advisor and the family cook, ensures pork isn’t often on the menu.

 

Louis Oosthuizen, who won the 2010 Open at St. Andrews, also has a farming background, having grown up on a dairy farm in South Africa.

 

Brown has a golden opportunity to etch his name on the Claret Jug with a strong performance this weekend. Even if he falls short, his showing could open doors to numerous events, propelling him beyond just being a tall man with a short name.

 

The 36-hole leader, Shane Lowry of Ireland, stands at seven-under par. His closest competitors include the seasoned Justin Rose and “this guy Daniel Brown,” as Lowry referred to him in a press conference on Friday. Lowry admitted, “I’ve never played with him, but obviously he had a great day yesterday and looks to be going all right today.”

 

Indeed, Dan Brown had an impressive opening round of 65, six under par, which was the day’s lowest score, followed by a 72 on Friday. Despite getting the worse of the weather draw, he and Lowry will be the final pairing on Saturday.

 

Brown, who watched Lowry’s 2019 Open victory on TV, is now experiencing his first major tournament firsthand. He admired Lowry’s “grit and determination” and hopes to compete toe-to-toe with him.

 

At 29, Brown won last year on the DP World Tour. He is a tall, bearded, and tanned athlete with a laid-back demeanor. His Ping bag, loaded with Ping clubs, accompanied him on the back nine on Friday, where his parents were joined by Ian Walker, a Troon member and Ping executive, and John Solheim, son of Ping founder Karsten Solheim.

 

Walker confessed, “I think I’m more nervous than he is. He’s got to be living out a dream here.”

 

During the Thursday-Friday rounds, Brown played alongside Denwit Boriboonsub, a 20-year-old pro from Thailand, and Matthew Dodd-Berry, an English amateur from LSU. The Open highlights the youthful and global nature of professional golf, though veterans like Justin Rose, 43, are still prominent.

 

Asked if he knew the names Ben Curtis and Todd Hamilton, Brown acknowledged, “Were they first-time winners? We’ll see, we’ll see. I’m not going to say too much.”

 

Like Curtis, who won in his first major, and Hamilton, a seasoned pro, Brown’s grounded approach is evident. After his round on Friday, he made a U-turn to shake hands with young fans following his group.

 

“I’m a bit of a realist,” Brown said. “I’m not going to start getting ahead of myself. There are still 36 holes left. I might have a good round tomorrow and then a stinky round on Sunday. You just don’t know.”

 

Indeed, you just don’t know.

 

As for the weekend, we shall see.