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 James Pontin BBC Wales at St Andrews

They say you can judge a man by his shoes.

If that's correct then the footwear adorning Rhys Davies' feet means he has moved up to the top table of world golf.

Wales' number one will be trekking around the spectacular links of St Andrews Old Course in custom-made blue and white tartan-cross-snakeskin golf shoes.

One of the leading manufacturers asked him if they could create a special shoe for the Royal Porthcawl product as he takes part on the 150th Open Championship at the home of golf.

Rhys Davies sports his new shoes ahead of the Open Championship

Davies duly obliged and looks resplendent as he swaggers with a confidence that only golfers in the top 50 of the world can pull off.

And the new additions on the feet of this talented 25-year-old only emphasise his rise to the top.

This time last year Davies was playing in his first Open Championship.

He failed to make the cut at Turnberry and was still trying to establish a name for himself on the Challenge tour.

Twelve months on and Wales now has its latest European Tour winner.

Since banking his card on the main tour, Davies has notched up a win at the Hassan II trophy in Morocco, finished second three times and returned six top 10 finishes.

It is a rise which he admits came earlier than even he expected.

"I've come a long way in a year," said Davies.

"I've worked hard and my game has come together.

"I suppose it came as a little bit of a rush but I have enjoyed it.

I continue to work hard and the results have spoken for themselves.

"I'm coming into this with form. I feel comfortable with my game.

It really does summarise what golf is and what golf should be like, it has got history, it is unique and has everything that you want as a golfer Rhys Davies on St Andrews

Admiring St Andrews' Old Course, Davies continued: "I'm a huge fan of the place.

"It really does summarise what golf is and what golf should be like, it has got history, it is unique and has everything that you want as a golfer.

"I've played here a few times as an amateur so I've got a few ideas of how it can play.

"It will play tough so you have to stay patient and take your chances when they come."

This will be Davies' second Open Championship.

At Turnberry last year he failed to make the weekend, but will take heart in playing all four days at last month's US Open.

Unlike his footwear, Davies is neither pretentious nor flamboyant.

He is a hard worker who is on the cusp of walking with the elite.

This week he hopes to stride in the footsteps of some of the greatest and triumph on the course simply known as the 'Old Lady'.

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