The Open Championship, St Andrews, 15-18 July
Coverage: Live on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website, with updates on BBC Radio 5 live Full coverage details

By Ged Scott BBC Sport at St Andrews

Streeter turned professional in 1996 - when he was 31

Lincolnshire pro Paul Streeter will be in familiar company when he finally makes his Open Championship debut at the age of 43 on Thursday afternoon.

Streeter was a boyhood amateur rival of England's top golfer Lee Westwood - and the old pals have this week shared a practice round on the Old Course.

"I know Lee well from my amateur days," Sleaford-bred Streeter told BBC Sport.

"In fact, I've known him so long that it's sometimes hard to remember he's now the world number three."

Streeter now actually lives in Westwood's native Nottinghamshire, in Newark, having learned his golf in his hometown before moving to take up his first professional appointment at Belford Woods.

"I've played all over the county," said Streeter, who now works at Lincoln Golf Centre. "And I played a lot with and against Lee when we were much younger.

606: DEBATE Who do you think will provide the strongest English challenge around the Old Course?

"It's easy forget how far he's come. I don't see him like that as I've known him such a long time.

"It was good to watch him hitting the ball so well and watching some of the things he does but I actually learned more from listening to his caddie, Billy Foster."

At his first Open, either as a spectator or player, Streeter has had to learn a lot of things quickly this week, having witnessed almost every shade of weather the Fife coast is capable of unleashing.

"I've never even been to watch an Open before," said Streeter, "so to play in the 150th anniversary couldn't be better, but I wasn't expecting weather like this.

"I got some new waterproofs yesterday and really wasn't hoping to try them out this soon. But I don't mind playing in the wind. That's what links golf is all about. It's the rain I don't like."

Having been on Lincoln City's books as a youngster, Streeter actually had to make the choice between football and golf as a teenager.

He was not introduced to the game by his father Brian, a 12-handicapper, until the age of 16.

But, having got down from 24 to a handicap of five within a year of taking up the game, the only surprise was that Welbourne-born Streeter did not actually turn pro until 1996 - when he was 31.

And he admits that, until he came through this year, with a 69 in regional qualifying at Lindrick before shooting 69/66 to win by two shots in final qualifying at Scotscraig, he had not even been close to making it to golf's oldest and most illustrious major championship.

I've played in all the main tour events apart from the Open. This was just the one thing missing off my CV Paul Streeter

But now he has become one of the oldest ever to make their Open debut, Streeter has the chance to make up for lost time.

"It was always my dream to play in an Open," he said, "even though I have probably only entered half the times I could have done.

"I was a bit nervous but I didn't really think l was under that much pressure. I've done Tour School, don't forget, and that's what real nerves are all about.

"I've played in all the main tour events apart from the Open. This was just the one thing missing off my CV.

"And I just hope I can do something for all the people coming up to watch. The lads from Lincoln Golf Centre, where I work now, are coming, and some from Sleaford and from Belford Woods."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version