Birkdale trip helps Verplanks establish father-son links

Scott Verplank, who brought his son over for a golf trip surrounding the British Open, makes a practice shot. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

SOUTHPORT, England - If ever the situation presented itself to mix business with pleasure, this was it, so Scott Verplank was going to take advantage.

The 137th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale may have been the impetus for his trip overseas, but what would give it special meaning was a son's 16th birthday, a treasured trip to the heart of links golf, and the priceless time spent bonding between a father and son.

Ask Scottie Verplank if it was worth it and his smile lit up a cool, gray, blustery day. "Oh, yeah," said the birthday boy, "it was awesome."

No cake, no candles, no present with a fancy bow. But Scottie Verplank could have cared less. That's because he had received Royal Dornach, Cruden Bay, the Old Course at St. Andrews, and a links experience that would be hard to beat. Mind you, it was one that came with the most flavorful slice of it all - that is, golf into the early evening at the birthplace of the game, St. Andrews, so it was all that much sweeter.

If it were possible to have a better start to Scott Verplank's 12th British Open, the 21-year veteran did not know how. Perhaps the only way for the business trip to match the vacation would be for him to win, but that was getting ahead of himself. He was going to savor the time spent with Scottie and cherish those memories of golf well played.

"I was in the bushes a few times," said the proud father, who teamed with his son in matches against Verplank's caddie, Scott Tway, and a friend. "They kept getting mad at [Scottie] because he made a couple of pars."

In their thirst to add rounds of memorable golf at historic links courses before the British Open, the Verplanks were in great company, for it has become commonplace with many of these competitors. Tiger Woods in his earlier years always would lead into the British Open with fishing and links golf in Ireland with Mark O'Meara, and the late Payne Stewart would make similar excursions. Geoff Ogilvy understands the appeal.

"Last year we played [before the British Open] up in Scotland," said Ogilvy, who was accompanied by his good Aussie friend, Adam Scott. "It's great fun. I just enjoy doing it."

This year, Ogilvy found some great venues not far from Birkdale - West Lancanshire, Royal Liverpool, and Formby - and traveled with several friends from the United States.

When Jim Furyk ventured out Saturday to play at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, about an hour south of Birkdale, he had a familiar face a group ahead (Ogilvy) and beside him, caddie Mike "Fluff" Cowan. In another era, Cowan had aspirations of playing pro golf, but the Maine native soon settled into a career that has served him well, looping for the likes of Peter Jacobsen, Woods, and Furyk. Still, he loves to play when he can and the trip to the British Open extends him those chances.

"I love Crail," said Cowan, in reference to the historic course just outside of St. Andrews that dates to a mere 1786.

He's not adverse to other legendary links, however, especially if it stirs great memories. So there he was Saturday alongside Furyk as they reached the 372-yard, par-4 second hole at Royal Liverpool. No matter where their approach shots wound up, they were going to try to re-create the magic Furyk had crafted there two years earlier, a miraculous bunker shot with a putter that had bedazzled spectators and even playing competitors Rod Pampling and Greg Owen.

"Kind of 1 out of 100," said Furyk at the time of the putt that rode the wall of a deep-faced bunker, popped out, and curled around another pot bunker before trickling down to 15 feet. He made the putt to save par that day, but two years later, on a day of fun, Furyk couldn't duplicate the shot. It was a different story, however, for his caddie.

"Mike got it down to about 4 feet," said Furyk, who is definitely in favor of mixing in some links pleasure before the business of the British Open.

"I did it a lot more earlier [in my career]," said Furyk. "For me, links golf is different. It takes a few days to get situated, the flight of the ball, the chip and run, and just getting used to it. The time change is miserable. So getting over here to play and get used to it is fun."

Whereas in past years he took in some of the great Irish links, Furyk in recent years has flown over Friday night and played different courses Saturday and Sunday before settling into the Open Championship venue. It's a luxury that appeals to a lot of players.

"If I were an exempt player, I think it would be cool to set up a trip before the [British] Open," said Paul Goydos. "But I'm not, so I haven't done it. I didn't know I'd be here [for his British Open debut] until two weeks ago."

Scottie Verplank had much more notice than that.

"He told me six months ago," said the teenager, who studied up on the legendary home of Donald Ross, Dornach, which is a pilgrimage golfers have talked about for years. "I read a lot of magazine clips about it."

Always, Scottie Verplank had enjoyed golf, but he has only become passionate about it in the last six months or so, so the trip to the heart of links country came at a perfect time. And as if some sort of Hollywood scriptwriter were at work, the vacation phase of the trip came to a smashing end when the young man played three brilliant shots into arguably the toughest par 4 in golf - the famed "Road Hole" 17th at the Old Course. When a perfect drive was followed by a splendid 4 iron, Scottie Verplank converted a mere 3-foot putt for birdie to achieve something some of the world's greatest golfers haven't done.

So he had something to write about if teachers in the fall assigned him one of those "what you did on your summer vacation" papers, but that thought was on hold yesterday, because on a cool, blustery day at Royal Birkdale, Scottie Verplank walked the famed links layout watching his dad play a practice round alongside Justin Leonard, John Rollins, and Steve Stricker.

While links golf was still the stage, the landscape had changed. The vacation was over. It was time to get to work.

Jim McCabe can be reached at jmccabe@globe.com.