Golf: Geary warms up for Open

Josh Geary. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

New Zealand golfer Josh Geary has spent the past week playing some of Scotland's best links courses to prepare himself for the British Open starting at Turnberry on Thursday.

Geary warmed up for his maiden appearance in a major by playing three regular British Open venues of Carnoustie, the Old Course at St Andrews and Muirfield.

He also enjoyed rounds on the Kings Course at Gleneagles and North Berwick course, east of Edinburgh.

Joining the 24-year-old was his coach James Kupa, of Auckland. Kupa coached the New Zealand Eisenhower Trophy side last year.

"This is my first ever visit to Europe and we played some fabulous courses last week here in Scotland and that was great preparation for this week," Geary said.

"We could not have asked for a better choice of golf courses - Carnoustie, St Andrews and Muirfield are famous and just so British Open.

"We played those courses purely to get ready for this week so I've come here to Turnberry with a whole week practising already on links courses.

"Also the courses are just so different to back home in New Zealand and there is nothing to compare.

"I've had to change a lot of my shot variations like approach shots and short game shots, and really just being aware what the golf ball is going to do on these links courses.

"There's a lot of guesswork involved but also at the same time it's a lot of fun."

If Geary is staring at any drawback this week it is his lack of tournament competition.

He has played just one four-round event since the New Zealand Open in March and that was a fortnight ago when he finished sixth in a Canadian Tour event in Calgary.

Geary also competed in a Nationwide Tour event on the secondary circuit in the United States but missed the halfway cut.

However, it's not the lack of competition that worries Geary but more the potential pitfalls of the euphoria he feels about contesting a British Open.

"Not being overwhelmed by the whole occasion is going to be the biggest challenge," he said.

"There are so many great players here this week and none bigger than Tiger Woods.

"I was walking past the clubhouse yesterday and he walked past but there was such a swarm of people around him along with police and security personnel.

"So there is a lot of atmosphere here this week but I will just stick to my own thing and continue working on my own routine.

"I know it's going to be hard to do but I really have to try and treat this week like any other tournament.

"But also to be playing in a major championship this young into my career is just great and hopefully there is a lot more majors to come."

After playing a practise round with compatriot Mark Brown that he will tee off in the fourth to last group on Thursday, more than nine hours after another New Zealander, Michael Campbell, tees it up in the first group away.

Brown is also is making his debut in the British Open, a privilege earned by his topping the 2008-09 Australasian order of merit.

Japan-based David Smail is the fourth member of the New Zealand contingent at Turnberry.

- NZPA