BEN Stow has enlisted the help of some of the biggest names in golf as he prepares for his assault on the Open Championship next week.

The 22-year-old amateur, from East Knoyle, near Warminster, earned a place alongside the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose at Muirfield (July 18-21) after winning a local qualifying event in Scotland last week.

And Stow’s preparations have been given a boost after he secured practice rounds with six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo and former world number one Luke Donald ahead of his Open adventure.

“I played in the Faldo Series a couple of times and when I got into the Open, his assistant emailed me and asked if I’d like to have a (practice) round with him,” said Stow. “Apart from it being Nick Faldo, he’s won the Open there twice, so I wasn’t going to turn that opportunity down! I’m playing with him and Shiv Kapur (from India) on Monday.

“I know people in Luke Donald’s management company so we arranged a practice round with him on Tuesday.’ “I don’t want to get too overwhelmed, so I’m trying my best to treat it like any other competition. But obviously, it’s not any other competition – it’s the Open.

“People have asked me ‘are you nervous?’ but I really don’t feel nervous yet. I know that if I play my game, then I can do something there.

“It’s called the Open for a reason. Every year, there’s someone that comes out of the woodwork to do well and hopefully that can be me.

“Those four days can change your life, so who knows what’s going to happen.”

Stow’s family have rented a house in North Berwick for his time at the Open, just four miles from Muirfield.

Wiltshire player Stow began a sports scholarship at the University of Kentucky earlier this year.

US-based girlfriend Maddi will also be at Muirfield after jetting over for a trip scheduled before Stow earned his Open place.

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