The Open 2010 Diary: Rory McIlroy earns his pint of Jigger

Chubby Chandler has once again taken over the Jigger Inn, a watering hole situated on the Old Course, in which the agent of Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy first found solace for the 2005 championship here. The Jigger serves an eponymous ale, which is said to be excellent, and is next to the Old Course hotel that offers a marker for the line off the tee for a player hoping to negotiate the famous Road Hole. "We have players and their families and a few friends over in the evening, people from all over the world and some of the lads who are staying at the Old Course hotel," Chandler says of his haven. So do Els, Westwood and McIlroy enjoy a tipple there? "It's a pub, it sells beer," is Chandler's disbelieving answer. Slow but not that slow A very prominent European player just had to seek out the Diary to complain about the Old Course's practice putting green that sits adjacent to the 1st hole. "It is two feet slower than the actual greens. The worst on the whole tour," he wailed. Still, judging by his score, it cannot have been too bad. Tiger shunned by women Tiger Woods shot a fine 67 to suggest he may make it a third Open title at St Andrews, having won here in 2005 and 2000. But when standing over the 1st tee he did not have much support from the fairer sex, according to a survey by golfalot.com. While 90% of men wanted him to begin his championship with a blistering drive, 80% of women confessed they hoped he topped it. Meanwhile 90% of women are praying that Tiger misses tomorrow's cut. The Diary cannot fathom why he has attracted such opprobrium. Lee backs England 2018 Lee Westwood, the world No3 who was five under par today, wants the football World Cup to be played in England in 2018. "To think the tournament could be played in England in 2018 is an incredibly exciting prospect," he says. "I've been lucky enough to experience amazing support playing at tournaments like the Open but that would be eclipsed by the excitement that would grip this country should we host the World Cup." That's fine, Lee. But after the debacle in South Africa, how exciting would it be if England limped out of the tournament at the last‑16 stage? Or worse?