Dunne mixing it with the greats

As introductions to Major championship golf go, Paul Dunne could not have asked for better than have the world No 1 stroll up to the first tee and join him for a practice round.

Having raced hot-foot from representing Ireland at the European Amateur Team Championships in Slovenia, Open Championship qualifier Dunne was settling in for a round with compatriot Shane Lowry and Scotland’s reigning British Amateur champion Bradley Neil at Royal Liverpool, when Adam Scott turned the three-ball into four, to complete the shock of the new.

The 21-year-old from Greystones said: “Playing with Adam was probably the best thing that could have happened, dropped me in at the deep end. I didn’t know he was going to be there, he just walked up to the first tee. Obviously he put his name down after we had. Get down to playing golf now and get some practice in over the next few days.”