Daly tips could work for Wardrop

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

Wardrop is drawn with Michael Wright and Peter Ellebye on Thursday

Didsbury's Danny Wardrop might be playing in his first Open this week - but he has gone straight to the top when it comes to getting a few hints.

Wardrop, who qualified by a shot at Western Gailes last Tuesday, played his first practice round with John Daly.

And he went one better on Wednesday when paired with last year's hero, and two-time champion, Greg Norman.

"It's been a great experience. Just having a chit-chat with John Daly was great," said Wardrop.

"He was just trying to relax me and said all the right things going round the course."

After his encounters with the Wild Thing and the Great White Shark, Wardrop will be in slightly less illustrious company when he tees off on Thursday morning (1110 BST) in the company of Australia's Michael Wright and Dane Peter Ellebye.

And it is a draw that has proved even less kind, given that their three-ball will be out last on Friday (1621 BST) - a tee-off time that usually guarantees a post-nine o'clock finish.

I played here about six years ago but, to be honest, I can't remember anything about it as the stands and everything make it look completely different

Danny Wardrop

But the Ormskirk-born 25-year-old is itching to get back out on the sort of links course he knew well in his Lancashire youth.

"I grew up playing a lot of links golf in my amateur career," he told BBC Sport. "It's all about staying out of trouble and keeping on the fairways.

"I played here about six years ago but, to be honest, I can't remember anything about it as the stands and everything make it look completely different."

Wardrop has his American coach Duncan Smith, former assistant pro at Didsbury and now working at the David Leadbetter Academy in Florida, coming over to help him.

But his biggest worry will be how to satisfy the carloads of supporters he has coming up from Manchester.

"I know there's a few from Didsbury coming," he said. "But I've only got eight tickets."