Open to Anyone
If the name Paul Streeter doesn't ring a bell, you're definitely not alone. The 43-year-old golfer is ranked 1,360th in the world and has won less money as a professional golfer since turning pro at age 30 than many accountants do in a year. But Streeter made his St Andrews debut Thursday when he teed off as the most unlikely entrant.
Streeter qualified via Lindrick and then Scotcraig and his presence is the perfect example of why this tournament is called the Open. He is happy with the 76 he shot, despite the day of low scoring, and is confident though the rain was a bit frustrating,
“It was really good for the first six holes but then went downhill," he said of the eagle-birdie on 5 and 6. "I hate the rain and we had some really heavy showers, unfortunately every time it was my shot it was a heavy shower."
Preferred football to golf
Streeter started playing golf when he was 16, and supplements his income by coaching golf at the Lincoln Golf Centre. He was a big football jock growing up, and never got into golf until his father pushed him towards it:
"My dad joined Sleaford golf club [in Lincolnshire] and I started there, got a handicap of 24, came down to five in the year and had a couple of lessons with Graham Bradley, who's still my coach. Then I progressed through club golf, played for my county and in 1997 I went to tour school to try and get my card. But I didn't manage that until 2000.”
His modest professional career consists of a £3,000 win at the Open De Sevilla six years ago, his highest earnings from a golf event. He’s been professional for 13 years now and his total return stands at around £42,000. Unlike many of the child prodigies we see sprouting up on the courses today, Streeter was a complete novice when he began playing.
Streeter is not all together unfamiliar with the St Andrews layout. He played the Links Trophy but never attempted to go for the Open,
“For the Open, since being an amateur, I only tried to qualify around half the times I could. Sometimes I just forgot. Others it is so difficult that I didn't even feel I was playing well enough to attempt it . . . Again this year I was umming and aahing whether to go for it, purely for financial reasons. But my wife said:
'You've got to be in it to win it.' So with two days to go I faxed my entry form through to St Andrews." There’s nothing like a little spontaneity to liven things up at the Open.
Practice golfing in the rain
He played three practice rounds before the tournament began, bravely one of the few who weathered the course during Wednesday’s afternoon downpour. Since the course was virtually cleared when it started to rain, Streeter thought he would take advantage of the lonely greens and get used to playing in “c**p weather” since that might actually be the case come tournament time. He managed to get in three holes without rain, but the winds were strong and Streeter admitted he could just barely reach the fairways on some of his tees.
Streeter’s caddie Martin Orley was also his best man, and is happy to see his friend taking a shot at the Open title:
"I'm sure he's [excited] — he got a few autographs in the players' lounge. He has a handicap of five so knows his stuff.
Streeter teed off with Texan Brian g*y and North Ireland’s Gareth Maybin. The trio weren’t as lucky as early starters; the windless morning weather progressed into a windy afternoon and Streeter made it to the turn with a notable one-under, but finished four-over at 76.
Can he qualify?
"Definitely, yeah. I know if I can play well I can do well. I won the qualifier by two shots and there were some good players in that. I'd like to feel I can finish top 25."
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