[ad_1]
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — It’s golf’s new energy couple. Nicely, not less than for the following few weeks.
In spite of everything, no different husband and spouse is believed to have performed within the males’s and ladies’s British Opens in the identical 12 months.
No marvel newlyweds Alex Wrigley and Johanna Gustavsson had extensive smiles as they posed for images on the Swilcan Bridge beneath brilliant sunshine close to the top of a follow spherical on the Outdated Course at St. Andrews on Tuesday.
For Wrigley specifically, these are pinch-yourself moments after years dwelling within the shadow of the lady he married just some weeks in the past.
Whereas Gustavsson, a Swede, has established herself as a number one participant on the Girls European Tour — she is third within the order of benefit for 2022 — and has performed within the girls’s majors, Wrigley has spent greater than a decade competing in regional qualifying occasions to get an opportunity to play on the British Open.
When he isn’t taking part in on the satellite tv for pc excursions throughout Europe, he teaches golf in each Sweden, the place the couple lives, and in his native England. Among the many folks Wrigley coaches is Gustavsson, since 2016.
“Alex is at all times with me, supporting me in my profession,” Gustavsson stated behind the 18th inexperienced, standing proudly alongside her husband. “So it’s good he’s attending to be within the middle of every thing this week.”
That’s as a result of Wrigley lastly acquired into the Open Championship this 12 months after successful a playoff in last qualifying at close by Fairmont St. Andrews final month.
Gustavsson was scheduled to be taking part in an LET occasion within the Netherlands this week. These plans had been instantly canceled — she was going to caddy for her husband on the dwelling of golf.
“I simply needed to be right here,” she stated.
And there she was Tuesday, lugging Wrigley’s bag across the Outdated Course and providing recommendation to her husband solely when requested.
“Johanna brings numerous expertise to the function — she has performed in 4 or 5 majors already, in entrance of massive crowds — so she may be very calm in these types of conditions,” Wrigley stated, explaining the on-course dynamic between the couple. “I simply need a few of that to rub off on me if it could actually.
“I study loads from her, positively from the psychological a part of issues. She is additional on in her profession, playing-wise, than I’m and had extra expertise on the large stage.”
Wrigley, who earned round $7,000 from every of his two largest wins as a professional, was nervous when he turned up at St. Andrews over the weekend, in line with Gustavsson.
However she has seen him getting accustomed to crossing paths with largest names within the sport. On Tuesday, he performed his follow spherical with 1999 champion Paul Lawrie, one group forward of Rory McIlroy. On Sunday, Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry joined Wrigley on the seventh gap and so they performed the remainder of the spherical collectively.
“It’s a completely different world,” Wrigley stated, “however the extra you spend time with them, you understand all these nice gamers are regular folks, too. They’re down-to-earth people who find themselves simply actually good at golf.”
Subsequent week, regular order will resume. Gustavsson will probably be taking part in main golf on the Evian Championship and Wrigley will probably be watching her. It received’t be lengthy earlier than he’ll be again teaching, alternating between Orebro in Sweden and his dwelling membership in northeastern England, Hartlepool Golf Membership.
“I’ve a loyal buyer base in Hartlepool that retains coming again to me,” he stated.
Wrigley certain may have some tales to inform them at their subsequent classes.
___
Extra AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
[ad_2]
Source link