Four hours later, after matching his great friend and playing partner Barry Lane shot for shot – and then going one better, Paul has found himself leading the British Master from Lane and Eduardo Romero. It’s a trio of forty somethings which will be chased by youngsters and past major winners, as you can read in our full feature on the Daily Telegraph Damovo British Masters. This editorial is all about ‘Broadie’ who has not been in the position of leading a Tour event for 6 years (The 1998 TPC of Europe) and without a win since 1994, a time when he was part of the Ryder Cup.

How did he manage his round?

‘You have got to drive it well round here. If you drive it in the rough you are not going to score. I putted better today that I have all week and I think the greens putted better today because of the wet. I was a bit aggressive coming in and knocked one or two three foot by.’

What is Paul’s game like now compared with the 90’s?

I felt last year I didn’t play that badly. I finished 89th in the OoM but the putting was poor. That’s the big difference to when I was doing well. I have been in the top 15 in the stats and last year I was about 100. This year I am back in the top 25.

‘I need to put together four round together – I have been struggling to put three rounds together.

‘I have had two low ones and two 73s and you can’t do that. The last six rounds have all been under par by at least two shots so I am on a decent run.’

What about local support?

‘There were a few (friends) out there and I hope to get a few more tomorrow. A lot of my mates play on a Saturday morning and they wouldn’t give up a round of golf to watch me.’

What is Paul going to do tonight to relax?

‘I am going to the cinema with the kids. My kids don’t remember me winning – my little lad turned round to a man who had recognised me in the supermarket and said to the man “My Daddy used to be a good golfer” – he can’t remember me playing well.’

If you are not already going to the British Masters tomorrow (Sunday), make sure you change you plans. Warwickshire amateurs remember even before the Tour wins when Paul was part of a squad of players that was the envy of the rest of England. Paul is just a ‘class act’ and another win would be richly deserved.