Ashley Chesters' diary for the Open week
It's been a long time coming but I'm delighted that the week I have been waiting so long for has finally arrived.
I arrived in Liverpool late yesterday and myself, my caddie Ricky Pharo and coach Michael Welch settled into our apartment just a couple of miles from the course.
It's great to be sharing this special week with people who have played significant parts in my golfing achievements so far.
They have strong links with my home course, Hawkstone Park, and Shropshire golf in general.
Yesterday was a bit of a whirlwind day which took me from Finland to Liverpool via Manchester, Wem and Hawkstone Park!
I have spent the last week with the England team at the European Team Championships in Finland.
We finished third overall and I was pretty pleased with the way I played, putting in two solid rounds of strokeplay and winning two of my three matchplay games.
We had to be up at 4am for our flight home yesterday and, when we landed at Manchester Airport, my magical mystery tour was only just beginning.
I raced home to pick up some clothes before popping into Hawkstone Park where my father Nigel is captain this year and my mother Gina is lady captain.
It was Captain's Day yesterday and it was disappointing not to be able to spend more than five or 10 minutes at the club. There is a coach-load of members from Hawkstone heading up to The Open on Thursday.
I went to Hoylake last night. It was interesting trying to get into the practice area – the steward wasn't convinced I was a player even after I showed him my accreditation!
