Wood a great example to Haylock

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

Haylock is eager to emulate Chris Wood at Turnberry

Tom Haylock will tee off at his first Open Championship on Thursday looking to match the achievements of Chris Wood a year ago.

Bristol amateur Wood amazed a lot of people by finishing tied for fifth at Royal Birkdale - but not Haylock.

"I was in the same English amateur squad as Chris Wood at under-21 level," he told BBC Sport.

"But there's a lot of really good players out there and it just shows that you can do it."

Broxbourne-based Haylock, 22, who plays out of The Hertfordshire, certainly showed what he could do in qualifying.

In the regional qualifier, at Abridge in Essex, he was five over with six holes to play, only to squeeze in by sensationally birdieing his last four holes.

And his nerve then held when he got to Western Gailes, as he sneaked in by a shot to book his place alongside Tiger Woods and co at Turnberry.

When you think how hard to is to get into this tournament, it's just great to be here

Tom Haylock

"My mum and dad are over the moon," he said. "So is my girlfriend and I've had a lot of good luck messages.

"But I think they'll be watching me on TV. Scotland's a long drive. It's seven or eight hours away."

Haylock's love affair with the Open started in childhood as a spectator alongside his dad.

And he admits that he has been using his practice rounds to help him get used to the intimidating idea of playing in front of the large galleries he was once part of.

But he admits: "You've just got to play your own game.

"When you think how hard to is to get into this tournament, it's just great to be here.

"I've not played much links golf. As a pro the last couple of years I've played more parkland.

"But I played more links golf as an amateur. And I know I've just got to keep in the fairways and hit the greens. So not that different to most weeks really."