McElhinney aims to cut it at home of golf
British amateur champion Brian McElhinney feels his short game will be the deciding factor in whether he goes one better than last year and makes the cut at this year’s Open at St Andrews.
The 22-year-old from County Donegal failed to make the weekend at Royal Troon after shooting two rounds of 76 for a 10-over total but he aims to improve on that at the home of golf.
Baking sunshine and a gentle breeze mean the course is playing shorter than its 7,279 yards but what will be key to the week will be successfully negotiating the lumps, humps and bunkers, especially around the greens.
McElhinney, the only Irishman in this August’s Walker Cup team, knows that is where he has to be on top form.
“It’s nice out there. I played here two years ago in the British Amateur and I played a practice round for the Links Trophy here this year,” said the young Irishman, who hails from the North West Club.
“It’s a bit harder and the ground is drier so it’s playing a bit shorter. That will make it a lot trickier – I don’t know whether that is good or bad.
“I’m swinging it OK but not as good as it should be, but it’s hard to tell in a practice round.
“If my short game is pretty good I feel I can do all right. If I play well I could probably make the cut. I just hope to play well and make it to Saturday and Sunday but if the weather stays like it is I’m sure there will be some low scores, definitely.”
McElhinney has already had some success on an Open championship links course this year when he won the British Amateur title at Royal Birkdale in Southport last month.
Despite playing only the one competitive round at St Andrews, he remains confident he can better last year’s performance.
“In the Amateur I shot [par] 72. That is really the only time I have played it in competition but I’ve done all right. I like the course,” McElhinney said.
“I won’t be looking at the cut on Thursday. I’ll try to enjoy it – that is the main thing because the Open at St Andrews is definitely the place to be.
“To play well will be a bonus.”
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