OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP: Archer to give his best shot

10:00am Thursday 17th July 2008

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WARRINGTON Sports Personality of the Year Phil Archer says there is no reason why he cannot challenge at the top of the leaderboard when he makes his Open Championship debut today.

Archer has been attempting to qualify for the Open since 1992 but made the breakthrough with two late birdies in international final qualifying at Sunningdale a fortnight ago.

The 36-year-old Birchwood Golf Club professional now wants to make the most of his big chance against the world’s best players at Royal Birkdale near Southport.

Archer, who has impressed on the European Tour in recent years and made his second appearance at the US Open last month, has missed a host of cuts recently but can feel his form returning.

He said: “I’ve started to play a bit better.

“There’s a bit more confidence coming back into my game again, which I’d had lost after missing a few cuts on the trot.

“It’s starting to come back again and hopefully I can prepare well and play a few practice rounds.

“If I can play like I know I can play, there’s no reason why I can’t be up there.

“I’m just looking forward to the start now. I’ve got to give myself the best chance and if I can take the chance, brilliant.

“But I’m just going to go into it like I did with the US Opens I’ve qualified for - no expectations and just go and enjoy it. That’s when I usually play my best golf.

“I’ve played at Birkdale quite a few times and it’s probably one of the championship courses I know best, although I’ve not overplayed it.

“And I like links golf. I’ve always done well in the Dunhill Links in Scotland and, on the links courses on the tour, I’ve usually done quite well.”

Archer, who is currently ranked 161st in the world and says he has gained experience from his two-day appearance on a ‘brutal’ US Open course at Torrey Pines last month, is delighted to have fulfilled an ambition by qualifying for the Open Championship and hopes Warrington golf fans will be at Birkdale to support him.

He said: “There have been plenty already telling me they’re going to go down there.

“Before I went into the qualifier I had a lot of texts saying, ‘Good luck because we want a day out!’ “Hopefully there will be a few people down there to give me some local support.

“To play in the Open is a big thrill. I’m over the moon at the minute to tell the truth.

“I’ve been trying since 1992 to get in it and missed out by one shot on numerous occasions.

“As soon as I turned pro I put my forms in to enter and I’ve been trying every year, so it’s been up there in the priorities.”