Full of optimism, anticipation and curiosity, Andrew Landry boarded the 747 charter carrying players from the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, to Scotland Sunday night.

The next to last player in the field for the British Open at Carnoustie or, as some call it Carnastie, the Port Neches-Groves ex was eager to get his first look at the toughest of the Open venues. His final round at the Deere gave him a head start on preparation.

Landry was paired with one of his PGA Tour favorites, Zach Johnson, and while on the way to a closing round of 64, Johnson offered some advice on the differences in the game he will be playing in Scotland. During the round the talk was mostly about club selection.

Later, on the lengthy flight, Landry gleaned additional information on what to expect from a guy who was the British Open champion in 2015 at St. Andrews. In Johnson’s only Open at Carnoustie, he finished 20th in 2007.

“I am looking forward to a great week,” said Landry, who will be participating in his second major. “I am playing some really great golf right now, so I am looking for a good experience. From what I hear, Carnoustie is playing firm and fast.”

Landry, who finished tied for 55th at the John Deere, won’t have the distinction of being the first Pea Patch alum to play in the British Open. Chris Stroud claimed that honor in 2014 when he was in the field at Royal Liverpool.

That was the year three Lamar exes made it into the Open lineup.

Avid readers of this column may remember the photo from Royal Liverpool with Stroud, Dawie van der Walt, Shawn Stefani and then-LU coach Brian White. Unfortunately, none of them made the 36-hole cut.

In addition to putting together a game plan for Carnoustie, Landry needs to get his body clock adjusted quickly to the 6-hour time difference. He will hit his first British Open shot at 2:14 a.m. Port Neches time on Thursday.

It gets a little more normal on Friday when he tees off with Brian Harman and Yuta Ikeda at 7:15. For you early birds, Golf Channel coverage starts at 12:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday and continues throughout the day.
CHIP SHOTS

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo authored his top accomplishment as a golfer Sunday when he won the American Century Celebrity Championship at Lake Tahoe.

Romo shot a closing 68 to finish with 71 points in a Stableford format that awarded six points for an eagle, three for a birdie, one for a par and deducted two points for double bogeys. He edged former San Francisco pitcher and three-time defending champ Mark Mulder by three points.

Because he wants to maintain his amateur status, Romo did not take the $125,000 first place check. The money went to one of the event’s charities.

Romo had finished second in the tournament three times before finally walking away with the first-place trophy.

Among other notables in the field, former NBA sharpshooter Ray Allen tied for third, former Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl winning QB Trent Dilfer was fourth, former Atlanta Braves pitching ace John Smoltz was 10th, Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry was 11th and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was 18th.

Oh, yes, NBA Hall of Famer and analyst Charles Barkley was dead last. With a dreadful minus 93 points . . .

Chris Stroud enjoyed his best week since the January Touranment of Champions with a T30 in the John Deere Classic. Stroud collected a check for $36,830 after shooting rounds of 68-68-67-69 for a 12-under 272 …

In the Monday’s Senior 50 Plus 2-ball at Babe Zaharias, there was a tie on the front at 3-under between the team of Keith Mullins, Tom LeTourneau, Larry Reece and Paul Duplantis, and the foursome of James Shipley, Earl Richard, Bob Luttrull and James Trahan.

The Mullins team won the back at 2 under . . .

The Super Saturday 2 ball at Zaharias saw the team of James Shipley, A. Davis, Richard and Ron Hicks post 7 under to win the front. On the back, the team of Kenny Robbins, Dan Robbins, LeTourneau and a ghost player finished first with minus 2 …

In the Friday Senior 2 ball, the team of Robbins, Harrel Guidry, Ron Mistrot and Charles Leard took the front with minus 2. The back was won in 1 over by the foursome of Rick Pritchett, Bob Byerly, LeTourneau and Dwayne Benoit …

The Wednesday DogFight was won with 17 points by the team of Don MacNeil, Cricket Owen, Charles Leard and a ghost. Placing second was the team of Cap Hollier, LeTourneau, Richard and Benoit.

Closest to the pin winners were Richard (No. 7), Pritchett (No. 12) and Mistrot (No. 15) . . .

The West team — Grayson and Bob — walked away with a co-championship in the Tom Kite flight of the 38th Texas Father-Son Championship played over the Fazio Course at the Westin Stonebriar Hotel and Golf Club in Frisco.

After leading the first two days of the best ball tournament put on by the Texas Golf Association, the Wests were caught by Matt and James Mahan in Sunday’s final round.

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Golf news should be emailed to rdwest@usa.net.