Open Qualifier: "I’m just a production person on a shop floor."

Mark Johnson of the Liverpool Echo files a superb story on shock Open Championship qualifier John Singleton, a 30-year-old factory worker making resin who borrowed a friends wedges and made it to Royal Liverpool.

Tip of the cap to John Strege for catching this in his thrice-daily perusing of the Echo.

The 30-year-old said: “I’m overwhelmed by it all. It’s a great achievement. I never thought that I would play in The Open. It’s not sunk in that I’m going to play in The Open in Hoylake. At a local course to me. I can’t believe it.

“It’s every golfers dream to play in The Open and I thought that it would never happen to me.

“I have Mizuno Irons. I had to borrow two wedges to play at Hillside. I was given them by a friend of mine. That’s crazy in itself to borrow two wedges to qualify for The Open. I have a Taylor Made putter – that’s one of the things that I do own.
“My form just peaked at the right time.”

Singleton will learn tomorrow if his bosses will allow him the two weeks off to play in the major tournament.

He said: “I’m just a production person on a shop floor. I start at 8am and finish at 4.30pm. I make batches of thick resin and I made five batches of it last week. It’s three and a half tonnes per batch. I made five batches last week. It’s a resin that goes over wires and it’s used for water proofing. I was just lucky to get the job and I’ve worked there for over a year.