Storm builds on hard-won knowledge for Open test

Jul 17 2008 The Journal

GRAEME Storm’s major education may prove the key at this week’s Open Championship.

The 30-year-old Hartlepool golfer arrives at Birkdale as a winner on the European Tour and a serious Ryder Cup contender if he can add to his 2007 French Open win.

That win transformed a chequered early career in which he contemplated abandoning golf and is a tribute to an inner steel that his pleasant and friendly demeanour often masks.

He’s also someone who learns from experience. Missing the cut at Carnoustie in 1999 and last year, and finishing down the field at St Andrews in 2005 makes him very much aware of the special challenge an Open provides.

“This is my fourth Open and my fifth Major and I’ve learned not to overdo things and that there is no need to change your routine,” said Storm, who was debating whether to play just nine holes, the full 18 or none at all in yesterday’s final practice day.

“You can always say it’s just another tournament and it is, but it’s true the Open brings different pressures and challenges. However, you do just need to do what you do every week and try not to tire yourself out which I think I have done in the past at the Open.”

Storm has changed things a little in that he is staying in a house with his wife and new daughter this week rather than in a hotel, which he says makes things easier.

“It’s very nice even if I am having to do some of the feeding and changing when I’m needed, but she’s a good kid and it’s nothing too much.” Storm hasn’t set the tour alight this year but there have been glimpses of the form that saw him lift the French title last year and he said: “I have been working on some changes to my game with Pete Cowan, but I’m always doing that.

“It’s nothing radical but there were changes that needed to be made.

“I’ve worked hard on my short game and to be honest that’s why I have been able to compete this year because I haven’t played that well.

“I’ve also been looking at my fitness and talking to Stuart McGregor who works with Lee Westwood and we can all see what he’s done for Lee. He’s been kind enough to give me some exercises to work on to improve my stability and strength.

“Winning the French Open has made it a lot easier to plan things and I’ve had a couple of meetings with Stuart and it’s a question of just trying to put something together as I want it to be very much on a personal level and that’s proved to be a bit of a sticking point because he is top quality and in demand, but I’m sure we can sort something out. He’s keen and so am I, which is good.”

So what about Birkdale and the Open? “As ever this week it’s about the weather, being patient and just hanging in there and see what happens.”

Storm knows it will be tough as Birkdale has been substantially altered for this year’s Open.

The majority of the changes have been to tighten rather than lengthen the course and at 7,173 yards and given the fact the rough is rough this year, the changes should be sufficient to make it a real test.

The key is the addition of 20 new bunkers – 16 fairway and four greenside – and significant mounding added to seven greens, although there is some controversy surrounding the changes to the 17th.

Other changes are to the lines of play on three, nine, 11, 16 and 17. The ninth fairway has been moved 25 yards to the left and the par-five 17th has an entirely new green, which is both 25 yards further back and raised above the fairway.

It is now a severely sloping tiered green and some reckon it is completely out of character with the usual Birkdale putting surfaces – it will be interesting to see where the R and A put the flag each day.

The biggest factor at the Open will be, as always, the weather. It’s been windy and cold. In fact, typical for July in England at the Open Championship.

Anyone who gets calm conditions on all four days will be quids in and extremely fortunate, but I just don’t see that happening.

Birkdale is notorious for being windy and most of the holes go in different directions – which may sound a bit obvious – but it means that the wind can be against, with you, or coming from the right, or left, all in the space of a half a dozen holes and that makes it tough.