Finch ready for step up in class

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

Finch made the halfway cut in his fist Open, at Birkdale in 2008

The affluence of the seven-star Turnberry Hotel is a long way removed from Richard Finch's early days on Springfield Park municipal in Hull.

But the 32-year-old Yorkshireman has made great strides in his golfing career over the last two years.

And he will not look out of place lining up alongside a former Open champion in Mark O'Meara come Thursday morning.

Finch is in one of the early groups out round the Ailsa Course (at 0714 BST) and, as well as Argentine Rafa Echenique, he will be in the same three-ball as 1998 Royal Birkdale winner O'Meara.

"It's a nice early draw," Finch told BBC Sport. "A chance to get some momentum. And, to be paired with a past winner, I've got to be pleased with that."

It was at Birkdale a year ago that Finch's own Open career got started in what had already been a special 12 months for him.

Having just scraped his European Tour card less than two months earlier, he won his first title at the New Zealand Open in December 2007.

I can see why so many take a week off after a major because it's so mentally demanding

Richard Finch

And he then followed that up by taking the Irish Open at Adare Manor six months later, providing one of the more enduring images of the golfing calendar by treating himself to a leap in the river by way of celebration.

"If I was a horse, you'd day that I'd stepped up in class, if you like," he grinned.

Then came Birkdale in July, he did what not too many do on their first appearance and made the halfway cut. And, at Turnberry this week, he is out to improve on last year's tie for 58th place.

"It was great to play in my first one last year," said Finch. "But I can see why so many take a week off after a major because it's so mentally demanding.

"You just don't realise all the hype, the build-up, the interviews and everything."

Now comes just as tough a test round Turnberry's wonderful Ailsa Course, an Open experience for some reason kept from players and public alike for the past 15 years.

"I've not been to Turnberry before," admitted Finch. "And I have to say, the rough is prominent.

"If you're in there at all, it's not going to be very long week.

"But there's no beating about the bush," he added, choosing his puns carefully. "You've got to play good and be patient.

"And hopefully it will all click for me this week."