The next tow tee shots were almost as bad. Nothing but pars however went on the scorecard and from Paul's 4th hole of the day, his driving was one part of his game he was relatively happy with.

'I'm not happy with my putting stroke', said Paul, 'Its a tough course out there. I am never happy on quick and bumpy greens and the greenkeeper here must have been very disappointed with all the rain we had on Monday. They were hard and fast, perfect before that.'

Playing in the company of the early first round leader, Paul Casey (who shot a 67), it was a case of frustration mixed with some very good golf, notably on the par fives.

'If I am playing with someone who is doing really well, and I am playing awful, then it can make it worse.'

Paul made his first birdie on the 15th, his sixth hole of the day. He hit a three wood to 20ft on the par five and repeated that birdie with a two iron into the 3rd. A near perfect approach to the par four fourth was inches from being very close. The actual result was the ball rolling back from 10ft away to off the green and three putts followed.

Paul hit back with a wedge to 10ft at the next and then rued three missed chances on 6th through to the 8th. He found the fairway bunker at the last, could not make a proper stance so duffed his recovery onto the fairway from where he conjured up a superb wedge to save his par. It all added up to a 70 and a part contented father.

'If the little one doesn't wake up early tomorrow it would be good. Give me three more of those and it might not win but it would be a good week.'

There was some disappointment for Steve Webster with a 73, the highlight just one birdie a two putt from just 10ft at the par five third.

'II just didn't get it going at all', said Steve, 'I never hit it close.

'I felt good over the ball with the putter but today wasn't one of those where I ripped it from the tee then went cold on the greens. There were loads of pars out there but to be honest, I would rather have seven birdies and six bogies'

Playing as the home course professional has its drawbacks as Tom Whitehouse had to turn his mobile phone off for a while yesterday because of requests for information from people coming along to support him, where to eat and places to stay

The highlight of Tom's 70 was an eagle on the 17th, the results of two good shots into the wind and then holing a real slider of a downhill putt which took an age to get to the hole.

'I played quite nicely', said Tom, looking very relaxed, 'I didn't miss much but I left myself lots of really tricky putts. I really couldn't have a go at anything.'

Tom has been working with John Pates, the same psychologist who works with Paul Broadhurst. It can be on the range, over the phone, or by playing a round with a man who is over 6ft 6 tall and whose technique is something to see -

'John has no technique but he holes from 30ft all the time. Just shows the benefits of getting a mental picture', said Tom.

Its difficult for Tom to get to see Pates when he is not on tour as Pates follows the players for most of the year but the benefits of both that help and getting used to the life as a Tour professional, two things which have made Tom much more at ease.

'The first few years were really difficult. On then off then back on the Tour. I am getting used to everything and doing my own routines - and not caring about whatever anyone else thinks.'