Late starter Waring set for Open bow

Jul 19 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

IT WILL be almost eight hours into the 136th Open Championship before Paul Waring tees off at Carnoustie this afternoon, but he can wait.

The 22-year-old Bromborough player qualified at Monifieth 10 days ago and is raring to get his first experience of “every young player’s dream” underway.

But his 2.09 starting time is seven hours the 39 minutes after the action starts and well over a third of the field will be already in when he sets off.

“It’s been really great so far,” said 22-year-old Waring. “Everyone’s been really friendly, especially when they know it’s your first time.”

The Cheshire county player and England international, arrived up at in Scotland on Sunday and just walked the course later that afternoon.

“I played a practice round with Trevor Immelman and Niclas Fasth on Monday, which was very enjoyable and a good experience to play with two top tour players.

“I had another game all the way round on Tuesday and then today I’ve just walked the course and played a few shots at odd holes.

“It’s strange really when you’re out there,” said Waring.

“You don’t really see the crowds, you just concentrate on the shots you have to play. Hopefully I’ll be able to do that when the action starts.”

Waring, who was a Hoylake as a spectator last year, is staying with his parents Brian and Gill in static caravan up near Arbroath, which he describes as “luxurious, just ideal for what we want”.

And he is being helped this week by one of his best friends Duncan Robertson, who is carrying his bag. “Duncan and I are good pals from schooldays. He is a three handicap member at Brombrough, plays off three and he was club champion a couple of years ago.

“He’s just graduated as a physio from Birmingham University, in fact it’s his graduation ceremony tomorrow but he’s missing it to help me out instead.”

Waring is also expecting a few friends and members from Bromborough to come up in the next couple of days.

The object is of course to make the cut on Friday, then they can be here for the weekend.”

He tees off at 2.20 this afternoon alongside Americans Ben Curtis, the surprise Open champion at Royal St George’s in 2003, and Aaron Baddeley, a winner on the US PGA Tour this year.

“I haven’t met them yet so I’m looking forward to introducing myself on the first tee tomorrow,” said Waring.

The trio then tee off at 8.58 in the morning in their second round tomorrow. Liverpool’s Nick Dougherty is also an afternoon starter today, playing with Sweden’s Niclas Fasth and world number two Jim Furyk.

Having played with Tiger Woods in the third round at the US Open last month, Dougherty can handle the limelight, which is where many pundits feel he belongs.

“My preparation has been good and I’m ready for it,” said Dougherty, who is off at 1.31 today and 8.20 on Friday morning.

North Region professional David Shacklady outranks his playing partners when he tees off at 9.53 this morning with 24-year-old American Michael Putnam and Japanese professional Tomohiro Kondo.

Having played in the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1998, the 40-year-old professional from Mossock Hall in Ormskirk, is the only one of the trio with “Open experience”.

“I’ve enjoyed it so far and I’m raring to go,” said Shacklady.

Their starting time on tomorrow is 3.04.