Donegal ace dreams of Open glory
Brian McElhinney may have played the Old Course at St Andrews seriously only once but he still believes he can succeed this week.
The 22-year-old British Amateur champion tees off in the Open on Thursday with American Jerry Kelly and Australian Craig Parry, for what will be just his second competitive round at the home of golf.
However, despite having only 18 holes on the famous links under his belt – in the 2003 British Amateur – McElhinney is confident he can cope.
“In the Amateur I shot [par] 72. That is really the only time I have played it in competition but I have done all right. I like the course,” said the Donegal golfer, who is Ireland’s only representative in August’s Walker Cup in Chicago.
“I will try to enjoy it – that is the main thing because the Open at St Andrews is definitely the place to be. To play well it will be a bonus.”
This is McElhinney’s second Open, having missed the cut with a two-round 10-over total at Troon last year.
He aims to at least better than on his return to Scotland on a course which is playing shorter than its 7,279 yards due to some baking sun and only light breezes.
“It’s nice out there. It’s harder and dry and that will make it a lot trickier – but I don’t know whether that is good or bad,” added McElhinney, who triumphed on an Open links course at Birkdale in Southport last month to win his amateur title.
“I am swinging it okay 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 am sure there will be some low scores, definitely.”
| Related Stories: |
|
