Time marches on, doesn’t it? In fact, it sometimes feels like it tramples all over us. It’s 10 years now since Jack McDonald went toe-to-toe with a young man called Bryson DeChambeau in the closing singles of the Palmer Cup. And beat him.
A decade on, Robertson and DeChambeau are back in the same field at an Open Championship. “That was a long time ago now, but it’s great to be back competing with these guys,” said McDonald as he prepares for his major debut in his own backyard. “A lot of the guys I played with back then have gone right to the very top.”
McDonald and DeChambeau both turned professional in 2016. But that’s where the career similarities end. In that time, the bold Bryson has captured two US Open titles, created all sorts of headlines, jumped on board the LIV gravy train and amassed the kind of fortunes that would make Warren Buffett gasp.
McDonald, meanwhile, has spent the last eight years chipping away at so many golfing coalfaces, his clubs are just about covered in a light dusting of soot.
In this game of patience and perseverance, though, good things do come to those who wait. An Open tee-time has been a nice reward.
The 31-year-old, who came through a play-off in the final qualifier at Dundonald Links a couple of weeks ago, is out in the very first group of the 152nd championship, in the company of past Royal Troon Open champions, Justin Leonard and Todd Hamilton.
At least MacDonald can just roll out of bed for his dawn patrol. He lives just 10 minutes away, after all.
“On my side of Troon it’s really quiet this week and I reckon you could go to Morrisons and you wouldn’t know The Open is taking place,” chuckled the Barassie member.
“It’s going to be so special to play with two champions of Troon. I’d rather be out at that time than having to hang about all day.”
A year after the unheralded Ben Curtis’ Open success at Sandwich, Hamilton struck another blow for the underdogs at Troon in 2004 when he beat Ernie Els in a play-off, while employing a hugely effective and somewhat pioneering hybrid club.
Even an 11-year-old McDonald was intrigued by this weapon in Hamilton’s armoury.
“I remember quiet vividly watching him hit all those shots with the rescue club,” he recalled. “He kept knocking it to about a foot every time. It was incredible. It’ll be really cool to play with him after all these years.
“Of course, I’ll feel a bit nervous. I’d be lying if I said otherwise. But I’d be more worried if I wasn’t feeling nervous. It’s a massive event. The course is obviously a bit different to what it normally is too. But I’ve worked hard to get here and I’ll try to embrace the week as much as possible.”
McDonald’s professional career has led to active service on the now defunct PGA EuroPro Tour, the Challenge Tour and Paul Lawrie’s Tartan Pro Tour.
The former Walker Cup player was a three-time winner on that domestic circuit back in 2022, a prolific spell which arrived after a stint working at a local Argos shop for a couple of winters.
“It was good to do something else other than just playing golf,” he said. “I had jobs away from golf three years in a row in retail. I met people who I would not normally meet because it was outside the golf bubble.
“It taught me how to manage my time better because you have to go and practice around your work. It gave me structure to my days, which helped me a lot. I’ve probably enjoyed my career more the last few years.
"I just think I am maturing. I’ve found that if you try and force something too much it can hinder you rather than actually helping.”
Back in 1977, McDonald’s grandfather, the well-kent Gordon Cosh, made his one and only Open appearance at Turnberry. Here in 2024, it’ll be young Jack’s turn to fly the family flag.
“I’m sure papa will be up for the early start,” said McDonald. He won’t be the only one.
