Golf: Michael Hendry open to going for relaxed approach

Michael Hendry will play it cool at the Open. Photo / AP

Michael Hendry is taking a more relaxed approach into the second major championship of his career.

The Kiwi golfer is in the field for the Open Championship starting this afternoon, his second straight appearance after missing the cut by five strokes in his debut last year.

The 38-year-old has played just one tournament in the last six weeks after he and his wife welcomed their second child back home in Auckland, but the Japan Tour veteran believes a change in approach could lead to a different result this time around.

"I probably put a little too much pressure on myself trying to get that really good performance on the board.

"This year I'm trying to take it a little more in my stride and just hope I can stand on the first tee come Thursday and just let things flow rather than trying to make things happen."

Hendry will also be using a different strategy off the tee at the difficult Carnoustie course, one which is likely to see him keep his driver in the bag.

"I don't have the length to carry some of the bunkers so it's more about position of the tee. I can only see two holes in which I'd feasibly hit the driver on.

"It's really hard, really firm — the ball is going miles, if you hit the fairway it doesn't want to stop.

"It puts a real premium on making sure you're hitting the right lines — if the ball keeps running it just goes straight into a bunker eventually."

Hendry tees off at 11.20pm tonight, while fellow Kiwi Ryan Fox will be hoping to continue his recent hot form when he gets underway at 2.32am tomorrow.