Fisher can cope with links course

The 138th Open, Turnberry
Date: 16-19 July
Coverage: Live TV coverage on BBC Two, Online and the Red Button, live on Radio 5 Live and text commentary online on all four days

By Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Turnberry

Fisher is drawn with Timothy Wood and David Smail on Thursday

Oliver Fisher is the first to admit that he did not encounter much links golf growing up in Chigwell.

But this highly-rated young Essex golfer is a quick learner and is mentally well prepared for his first Open Championship at Turnberry.

"You're always going to get some funky things happen," he told BBC Sport.

"The secret is to take it on the chin and play your way out of trouble. And I did play quite a lot of links golf in my English amateur days."

He added: "It's just that we don't get to play as much now I've turned professional."

The only surprise, as Fisher gets ready to tackle an Open course for the first time, is that it has taken the 20-year-old this long to get here.

I've always watched The Open on TV, it's the pinnacle of the game and it's a dream to play in it Oliver Fisher

He was the youngest-ever player in Walker Cup history when he represented Great Britain as a 16-year-old in 2005.

And he became the youngest British player on the European Tour at 18 when he won his card at the 2006 Tour School.

Now, at 20, he is all set for his Open debut, in the company of two Antipodeans, Australian Timothy Wood and New Zealander David Smail in Thursday's penultimate tee-off slot (1610 BST).

"I've not had a tee-off time as late as that for a while," he said.

"And there's a chance we could get the rough end of the draw, but this is the biggest tournament in the world.

"I've always watched it on TV, it's the pinnacle of the game and it's a dream to play in it.

"The fairways and the greens look great. My short game will be the key this week.

"I'd love to still be around at the weekend but really it's just great to be here at all."