Preston puts tilt for Open place down to experience

CHARLIE PRESTON believes he can play his way into next year's Open Championship after being put through the wringer in his first crack at Open Qualifying last week, writes Andrew Griffin.

- Andrew Griffin.

The former junior member at the two clubs where Justin Rose played golf before securing a dream spot in the 1998 Open at Royal Birkdale as an amateur, believes his game can stand up to the unique test Final Qualifying presents having finished tied for 45th at Burnham & Berrow.

Rose qualified at the same Somerset course 27 years ago before his meteoric rise to the top of the game, as World number one, US Open winner, Olympic Champion and a runner-up in both the Masters (twice) and The Open.

But Preston, who holed a birdie in a playoff at North Hants to make it through to Final Open Qualifying, revealed how he overcame a major rules dispute over his damaged driver during his second round.

The Hook golfer fired seven birdies in the morning to find himself four shots outside the top five after some crucial self-inflicted mistakes.

He also admitted looking at the scoreboard on the front nine when three back had affected his play as he started dreaming of achieving what Rose had achieved as a 17-year-old, only for his driver to fall apart on the sixth.

Preston, who had his coach Kev Flynn on the bag, revealed: "I had a few problems with my Callaway driver when I won the club champs at Hartley Wintney a couple of days before playing Final Qualifying.