The Open 2010: Tom Whitehouse ready for St Andrews

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

Whitehouse booked his place at St Andrews through the qualifying play-off at nearby Kingsbarns

By Ged Scott
BBC Sport at St Andrews

Midlander Tom Whitehouse was a young rookie pro the last time he qualified to play in an Open Championship.

He shot a 75 and 71 at Muirfield in 2002 to miss the cut by just two shots.

But when he pitches up to play at St Andrews this week, the Birmingham golfer, now 30, admits he could not have wished for any other Open venue.

"Somebody reminded me that it was eight years ago when I last qualified," he told BBC Sport. "But I'm so glad I've made it to an Open here of all places."

It is not just because Whitehouse is a mad keen Birmingham City fan that it means so much to play at St Andrews.

Whitehouse first played here in his amateur days - and the former Maxstoke Park member still recognises just what a unique place St Andrews is.

I should have qualified outright if I'm honest - I was flying at one stage but I came home in an ambulance and ended up in the play-off

Tom Whitehouse

"I got here yesterday with my mum and dad," he said. "And to see people paying just to watch the practice days and see the galleries that were here already makes it feel even more special.

"I've not got a good draw. I'm last off on Friday so I'll be coming in with the garbage trucks.

"But this is the only place to play the Open. And really I'm just happy to be here at all."

Whitehouse booked his place back on golf's biggest stage when he took the first of the two places available in a four-man final qualifying play-off for the 139th Open Championship at nearby Kingsbarns.

After carding a second-day 69 to better his opening 71, he was left on four under, three behind the winner, Ireland's Colm Moriarty, and tied with three amateurs, Scotsman James Byrne and English duo Jamie Abbott and Grant Little.

But after just missing the sand with his drive at the second extra hole, Whitehouse recovered to find the putting surface before holing a monstrous, impeccably-judged putt.

606: DEBATE

Looks like the outward nine will play very tough on Thursday and Friday and the extra 40 yards on the 17th may not cause too much havoc - I think Harrington's odds just improved

DMRobo

"I should have qualified outright if I'm honest," he said. "I was flying at one stage but I came home in an ambulance and ended up in the play-off.

"We all parred the first but I was a bit left off the tee, it lipped round the bunker and, from that moment on, I just thought it's got to be my day. You don't miss links bunkers like that very often.

"Even then I was 50 feet away, with a big slopey putt and I knew I'd do well to get within six feet. But I sunk it. And somehow it just felt like it was meant to be. After all, stranger things have happened. Just take Ben Curtis.

"A good week can kick start your career, and why not here? It's all about handling yourself."

Curtis's victory in his first Open Championship at Royal St Georges in 2003 came a year after Whitehouse's own Open debut.

And, although he has been hampered by back problems since winning his first Tour card in 2005, Whitehouse is happy with the form he has shown this year on the Challenge Tour.

I was not surprised to get through but it's still nice when something happens for you like that and all the hard work pays off

Tom Whitehouse

"I've been playing well for a while now without having the finishes," he said. "So I was not surprised to get through but it's still nice when something happens for you like that and all the hard work pays off."

The only tinge of regret for Whitehouse is that he has returned to the Open too late to take up a long-held promise to have legendary Scottish caddie Willie Aitchison on his bag.

The Glaswegian caddied Robert Di Vicenzo to victory at Hoylake in 1967 before twice helping Lee Trevino to successive Open wins in 1971 and 1972.

And, having met Whitehouse at a party hosted by Prince Andrew at Loch Lomond, he promised to do the same one day for the young Midlander - if ever he qualified for an Open at St Andrews.

But the years have finally caught up with Aitchison. He is now 82 and will have to settle for passing on his tips from the galleries.

"He's been good to me," said Whitehouse. "He's arranged places on the practice grounds in the past so I could take a closer look at the best players.

"He's a great old guy and a good friend but, when we made that pact, I didn't realise he would be 82 when the 150th anniversary Open came round. I'll just have to settle for having a chat with him instead and hoping he teaches me a few things."