What a difference a year makes

My first Open Championship in 2009 was an incredible experience, I arrived in Turnberry to be greeted by a blue sky and a bright sun high in the sky. Having just arrived here in St Andrews the weather could not be different.

On the train up here as soon as fellow GM boys Michael Weston, Alex Narey and I had left the outer reaches of London the rain and low cloud descended upon us. Conditions got wetter and darker the further North we got and by the time we have reached the sanctuary of the Open media centre the stunning town of St Andrews is more or less under water.

This is my first time to St Andrews and what a different set-up to life at Turnberry,we stayed in Ayr last year and faced a half hour journey there and back each day. Here at St Andrews we are staying in University digs and are but a 10 minute stroll to the course... and what a course.

The first piece of hallowed green grass I saw was the 18th fairway from between two buildings and although framed by dark clouds and well wrapped up spectators the grass seemed to be as bright as anything I had ever seen. You can feel the history all around you, incredible.

My only hope now is that I get to see the course and the town under a bright (and hopefully warm) sky here's to hoping!