There’s a clip doing the rounds on social medal of an eight-year-old Carly Booth cheerily telling an television interviewer how she’d like to grow up to be like Australian golfing legend, Karrie Webb.
Well, yesterday, Booth got the chance to play alongside the player she idolised in the first round of the AIG Women’s Open. And it didn’t go to plan.
In stark contrast to the smiling, youthful wonder displayed in the footage of nearly 20 years ago, Booth emerged from the recording hut visibly upset and dabbing away tears after a torrid six-over 78 which left the two-time Ladies European Tour winner down near the foot of the standings.
“I actually played a lot better than the score suggests but I had a very bad back nine and struggled badly on the greens,” lamented Booth, after a round which fell apart on the run in and featured two double bogeys at the 15th and 17th.
LISTEN: Golf podcast from the Women's British Open
“It was lovely to play with Karrie. I’ve played in tournaments that she’s been at but never been grouped with her before. The score had nothing to do with being in her company and building it all up. It was just one of those days.”
Booth was joined on the six-over mark by fellow Scot, Kylie Henry, leaving Catriona Matthew, the champion at Lytham a decade ago, to lead the small Scottish contingent.
The European Solheim Cup captain carded a one-over 73 and was left cursing a damaging brace of three-putt bogeys on two of the par fives.
“To do that is very annoying,” she said of leaking shots when she should have been making gains.
Matthew, 49, was playing in the company of Bronte Law, the Stockport golfer who is looking for a Solheim Cup wild card from Team Europe’s skipper.
Law’s two-under score didn’t do her chances any harm. “I joked to her on the tee that she’d better play well and she did,” grinned Matthew.
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