By Matt Slater and Rob Hodgetts BBC Sport at Hoylake

Bladon likes to enjoy the social aspects of the game

When I referred to pro ("in the loosest sense of the term" - his words) golfer Warren Bladon as "a character", I had no idea quite how much of a character big Warren really is.

But when we dined with Warren and his mates last night in Heswall's Indian Fusion restaurant (this time only five yards away) it became fully apparent that the 40-year-old golfer/ plumber/ picture framer is so much more than a likeable larrikin with an unfulfilled talent.

He could have been Leamington Spa's very own John Daly, but with shaggy highlights instead of a mullet.

The facts of his "career" (again in the loosest sense) are straightforward enough. Brilliant at 16, not so good at 17, out of the game for five years in his 20s, back in it at 30 to win the British Amateur.

That victory earned him a place in the 1997 Masters. He also played in the 1996 and 1997 Opens. He missed the cut in all of them but had a blast every time.

At Augusta he played a practice round with Jack Nicklaus, only to walk off after nine holes "knackered". And at Lytham in 1996 he played a round with Tiger Woods, then his US equivalent as amateur champ.

"I said 'hi' to him earlier this week," Bladon told us. "I don't think he remembered me. He's all right, though."

I'm going to get my mates into the players' lounge for a few free beers and then we'll be out on the course... or in the bar Warren Bladon

The following year at Troon, Bladon played Greg Norman and took �10 off him with a birdie at the last.

"He signed it 'Great birdie, Warren, all the best, Greg Norman'. Never mind eBay, there have been plenty of times I've very nearly smashed the glass and spent it," he admitted.

Recent years have seen him try, and fail, to win a place in a European Tour event via The Golf Channel's "The Big Break IV". But then playing twice a week with his mates is hardly the ideal preparation for that, let alone the Open.

In fact, his girlfriend only lent him the money to enter this event (he was short of the �110 fee) if he promised to "practise a bit and take it seriously".

She wasn't in the curry house but his three best mates were, and they were looking forward to a refreshing day at the golf on Saturday.

"I'm going to get them into the players' lounge for a few free beers and then we'll be out on the course... or in the bar. Bit of both," said Bladon, who at eight over was only one worse than Seve Ballesteros, Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter.

Was he disappointed to be only watching? "Nah, I did OK. Started with a birdie and ended with a birdie," he said, poppadom in hand.

"And let's not forget that I played in tougher conditions than Tiger. I reckon that breeze and the spiked greens were worth at least 10 shots."

Warren, we believe you. And please don't wait 10 years to come back to the Open.

Warren Bladon, of course, was not the only "man of the people" competing at Hoylake this week. Penrith's Gary Lockerbie was another.

Well supported by a well-lubricated gang of well-wishers, the 22-year-old toiled for most of his two rounds but ended well with birdies at his 34th and 35th holes to improve to 10 over par.

Two late birdies made Lockerbie's dinner taste better on Friday

It was around then that we overheard two of his supporters discussing recent results in various golf competitions in Cumbria.

"I've won the club championship and the county strokeplay. Even Locky hasn't done that, and yet he's here playing in this. It's unbelievable," said one. Unbelievable, indeed.

But imagine how world number 10 David Howell feels. He's only the third best player at his Queenwood club. Ernie Els and Adam Scott are also members at the Surrey course.

Bladon's bonhomie has rocketed him into the reckoning in our Nicest Man in Golf competition but the bar has been raised by hot favourite David Howell.

The Order of Merit leader may have missed his sixth cut in eight Opens but the competitor in him is refusing to yield in this one, showing a Tiger-like tenacity to hold onto top spot.

Now, there is a chance one or two shots may have escaped us, but of the two rounds played by the 156-man field, Howeller was the ONLY player seen picking up each of his broken tees, walking to the back of the tee box - no matter how far that may have been - and carefully depositing it in the rubbish bin.

Such impeccable manners. Such a lovely young man.

American visitors to these shores are often perplexed by our seemingly different language, short beds, only five TV channels and inability to make ice in hot weather.

But there seems to be one local custom that has taken one of our transatlantic cousins completely by surprise.

Word has reached Diary Towers that Kenny Perry's caddie "Dave", out and about in Hoylake earlier in the week, was minding his own business when a young lady stripped completely naked in the street and advertised her business to all and sundry.

An incredulous Dave rushed back to recount this tale to Perry and practice partner JB Holmes, who asked whether it was a pretty sight.

"Not in the slightest," Dave is reported to have said. It's unclear whether the scars left by his ordeal contributed to Perry missing the cut.

Despite seeing literally hundreds of punters in football shirts, actual footballers have been far harder to spot at Hoylake than we had been led to believe.

There was the "shaggy-haired Keith something from Northern Ireland" on Thursday and rumours of Liverpool's Steve Finnan "and some mates" on Friday.

But the vigil is over. We've seen one. Former England and Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince, with his son, watching the Tiger & Ernie show.

We'll stop looking for them now. Which means we're bound to be seating next to a squad load of them in the curry house this evening.

Ken's enthusiasm got him a little too close for Tiger's liking

Tiger Woods doesn't say much whilst working and when he does it is usually significant. So when he started shouting at somebody from the middle of the 1st fairway, waving his arms, we all strained to listen.

"Hey Brownie! Brownie! Out-a-tha-way!"

It seemed that between the world number one and the green was friend of the diary Ken (Kenneth to Peter Alliss) Brown.

'Brownie' might not be a name he usually responds to but it's nice to know you've made some kind of impression on one of the world's most famous individuals.