By the time this third day (August 2, 2009) rolled around it was really starting to fell as though I belonged. The “specialness” of the surroundings and the enormity of playing golf in Scotland was still present but I felt a bit more in control of the resulting emotions.

The golf culture is but a small part of the overall beauty of Scotland. Scenery, people, pace of life, all these things are interwoven in the way the Scottish people approach life. The general feeling is one not of disinterest but of casual acceptance of whatever life may bring. This relaxed attitude is far healthier (in my view) than the American “stress over everything” approach.

Mike drove us in the rental car through Dundee, across the North Sea and off to Carnoustie, where we would play the 4th round of golf in three days. I was sore but already sad about the prospect of the end of this golf journey.

This would be the toughest test we would have considering the wind was blowing about 30 mph and the course was very tough. My caddy was memorable; a 66 year old veteran named Pat who was just terrific.

I made a solid par on #5 to calm the nerves but followed it up with a disturbing triple bogey 8 at the famous Hogan’s Alley on #6. I started to find my groove and made the turn in 47 and made a great par on 10 to start the back.

My other bright spot was a par at the 449-yd. par 4 #14 Spectacles, hitting 4W persimmon and 5 iron to 50 feet and making a nice two-putt. The match with Mike was already won (3 and 2) when I made a triple bogey 7 on the #18 home hole, where Jean Van de Velde famously lost the Open cahmpionship from the Barry Burn.

I hit my presimmon a shade left off the tee and had a mixed, uphill lie from about 160 yds but downwind out of the right. I picked an 8 iron to clean and yanked it OB left, into the neighboring putting green. All in all, a very respectable 47-46=93 at a super tough track.

Pat is a member at the Carnoustie Golf Club across the tiny street and asked us across the way for a post-round pint. I enjoyed a Guinness and debated global warming (he denies its’ existence) and we headed back to St. Andrews for what would be our final night.