Golf: Paul Waring - I’ll learn from my Carnoustie mistakes

Jul 8 2008 by Richard Williamson, Liverpool Daily Post

GLOBE-TROTTING Paul Waring could be forgiven for settling for a few home comforts having qualified for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

But the Bebington-based European Tour rookie is determined to stick with his tournament routine for his first appearance in a Major as a professional.

The former English Amateur champion came through the nerve-shredding European qualifier at Sunningdale when a spectacular birdie-eagle finish landed him one of the coveted Open places ahead of players like Darren Clarke and double Masters winner Jose Olazabal, who was actually Waring’s playing partner.

But while the temptation to enjoy a few days at home during the tournament must be strong for the Wirral player – who has already visited South Africa, Indonesia, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria and France this campaign – he is determined to say fully focused on the job in hand.

Waring explained: “I’m really looking forward to playing in front of the large crowds. It’s going to be fantastic.

“I haven’t quite decided what to do accommodation wise. I’ll probably try and get somewhere near Southport. I only live down the road in Bebington but staying at home will make me almost too relaxed and I won’t be able to get into tournament mode.”

However Waring is still looking forward to enjoying plenty of local support along with caddy Duncan Robertson, who is a fellow member at Bromborough Golf Club.

“I’ve already had a ridiculous amount of requests from family and friends for tickets to Birkdale,” Waring added.

“As a player I’ll receive three other passes which are access all areas; they tend to go to wives and girlfriends and parents of the players. I also get another four normal tickets and then a discount on any others I want.

“My caddy Duncan is already rounding the troops up and I’ll have a lot of support.”

Waring has already experienced the circus that surrounds the Open after qualifying as an amateur at Carnoustie last year.

But with prize money at stake this year, the 23-year-old knows a good performance would enhance his prospects of keeping his European Tour card without having to return to the qualifying school.

Waring occupies 148th position in the European Order of Merit with 90,472 euros won, but he has found his opportunities to make the starting line-up limited and has only played in 12 events. The top 115 will automatically get playing rights to the 2009 tour.

“It’s my first Major as a pro, I really got a taste for it playing last year at Carnoustie,” Waring added. “It’s a good opportunity to get some decent prize money on the board which would really help my year.”

Waring was actually first to tee off at Sunningdale alongside Olazabal, but with eight holes remaining of the 36-hole decider it seemed like his dream of playing at Birkdale was evaporating fast.

“I was three over through my round after 10 holes of the second round which left me at one-over-par for the tournament,” he explained. “I gave myself a bit of a telling off on the 10th green and 11th tee. I got a bit cross and went birdie, birdie, birdie. I then managed three pars before finishing birdie, eagle.

“The only time I got a little bit nervous was when I hit my tee shot to within about four feet at the 17th. I knew if I holed that and then birdied the last I might get in the play-off.

“I was pumped up coming down the last and managed to sink a long putt for an eagle three.

“I was first out at 6.30am so didn’t know for sure what the winning score would be, but I was told that traditionally four-under-par would make the play-off and five under would get me through. Fortunately that proved true and I managed to get in without even having to take part in the play-off.”

Waring enjoyed his rounds with Olazabal, but the Spaniard, who has been battling against injury, failed to make it through to Birkdale.

“He was quiet and we didn’t really talk that much but despite the fact that he’s not been playing much you could still see glimpses of why he’s won Majors in the past,” said Waring.

Waring is hopeful of an invite to the Scottish Open this week, which would allow him to hone his game ahead of the Birkdale while giving him a chance to enjoy a strong second half of the season.

“I can’t afford to not be playing in events at this time of the year, especially not an event as big as the Scottish Open,” he said.

“If I don’t get in at Loch Lomond then I’ll just get more time to spend preparing for Birkdale. I’ll practice hitting a few lower shots.”

However one of the lessons he has learnt from Carnoustie is not to over prepare.

“I played too many holes at Carnoustie during the practice rounds last year and was worn out by the time the tournament started,” he said.

“This year I’ll stick to the normal week-to-week routine, which is to walk the course on Monday, play a practice round on Tuesday and practice on the Wednesday. I might then play nine holes on Wednesday, too.

“I don’t actually know Birkdale that well. I’ve not played it for a few years so I’m not familiar with all the alterations.

“I’ve got a couple of friends who are members there so I might try and get up for a game.”

Waring will be joined at Birkdale by fellow European Tour professional Phil Archer from Warrington, who made it through qualifying after 12 unsuccessful attempts, and former Cheshire county colleague David Horsey, a two-time winner on the European Challenge Tour.

Waring added: “It’s really nice to see Phil Archer and David Horsey get in too. I know David really well from our amateur days together and I was chatting quite a bit with Phil down at Sunningdale.”