JOHN BICKERTON will take a well-earned break after his Open challenge following his worst round of the week yesterday.
The 36-year-old will spend time with his six-year-old son George and recover from a neck injury after a hectic six weeks.
During that period Bickerton managed to lift the biggest prize of his career, the French Open, but he claims to have been feeling the heat at Hoylake.
He now plans to leave his clubs in the garage -- even if that decision costs him a potential place in September's European Ryder Cup team.
"I've spent too much time in the physio truck at Royal Liverpool and I need this rest," Bickerton said after finishing level par for the Championship.
"I've not seen my son for five weeks and to spend a fortnight with him will be great fun.
"I'm sure he will drive me wild but I've missed him recently.
"I'm sure he's looking forward to spending a bit of the money I won the other week."
But Bickerton will not forget Hoylake in a hurry.
The former welder made the cut for the second Open in succession and played his third round alongside American legend Tom Watson.
But after impressive rounds of 72, 70 and 70, his touch on the greens deserted him and he drifted back down the field.
And Bickerton was honest enough to admit: "I played rubbish.
"I got off to a bad start with the putter and lost my confidence on the greens.
"When you do that it makes it very difficult. I started cutting putts, which I hadn't done all week, and it really affected my game.
"But I had a great week and have got some special memories."
Bickerton will spend plenty of time over the next three weeks with his fingers crossed.
He is currently in the running to go to the season's final major, the PGA Championship in Illinois, but his inactivity might change that with only the world's top 100 qualifying.
"I'm 93 at the moment and hopefully that won't change," he added.
"I'm enjoying the big tournaments and with this rest I'm sure I can improve my game."
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