The Open 2010: Zane Scotland unfazed by Open challenge

The Open Championship, St Andrews, 15-18 July
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A car accident halted Scotland's progress as a professional golfer

By Ged Scott
BBC Sport at St Andrews

Zane Scotland will not forget his only previous Open appearance in a hurry when, at Carnoustie in 1999 as a 16-year-old amateur, he carded 82 and 81.

He was the youngest-ever qualifier that week but, just across the Firth of Tay, 11 years older and much wiser, he fancies his chances more at St Andrews.

"I've played here a lot before," the Surrey golfer, now 27, told BBC Sport. "I really like the course.

"And I have got to see this week as the kickstart to bigger and better things."

It has been a rough road for Wallington-based Scotland over the last few years since suffering a neck injury in a car accident in 2003.

606: DEBATE

There are a lot of contenders this year and a number of English players look capable of sustaining a challenge at the Open

AllSaintsNoCurves

Having first made headlines by winning a national newspaper competition in 1997 to find Britain's answer to Tiger Woods, Scotland enjoyed a highly successful amateur career.

But his career was put on hold after that road crash which left him unable to practise properly. And, although he won his European Tour card by finishing 96th on the Order of Merit in 2007, his progress since has been limited.

A wrist injury in Munich in 2008 earned him a medical exemption on the European Tour in 2009. But it was not until he shot a first day 66 in final qualifying at Fairmont a fortnight ago, before following it up with a second day 71 to book his passage to St Andrews, that Scotland showed any sort of form when it mattered.

Now he has the stage to show what he believes he was always capable of - and he is sure that his experience at Carnoustie 11 years ago will stand him in good stead.

"Being at any Open is awesome," he said. "And for me to come back at St Andrews makes it even better.

"It's an amazing place even when there's nobody here but when those yellow leaderboards are up and the galleries are watching you, it's an even more special place.

I was the youngest-ever player 11 years ago and it's taken me a little while to get back as I've had a few injuries and my share of ups and downs

Zane Scotland

"But I'm not just here for a good time.

"I had a practice round this week with Steve Tiley, who played his first Open six years ago. And we both agreed that the experience of having been here before will help.

"It was just a bit of fun last time, but now we see it more as an opportunity to do well.

"I was the youngest-ever player 11 years ago and it's taken me a little while to get back as I've had a few injuries and my share of ups and downs.

"But I still count myself as being lucky that I'm playing a sport like golf, which you can pretty much play until you drop dead.

"I've got my family here to watch, including my four-year-old nephew, who's already making lots of noise, and I've got a bunch of mates coming up to share a flat.

"In fact, that's my biggest worry. They're all getting tee-shirts printed but they haven't told me what's on them yet, so I'm dreading that."