Tassie’s Open chance is in the White hands

WHEN Ryan McCarthy tees off at the British Open tomorrow, his Hobartbased coach Nick White will have his eagle eyes trained on the TV, cheering and assessing in equal measure.

Ranked outside the world’s top 1000 players, McCarthy, of Burnie, qualified for his first major championship earlier this month by winning a playoff for the last of three qualifying spots at an event in Scotland. The 27-year-old credits White (pictured right) — his coach of 15 years — with mouldingg his game.game

He says he would not be where he is today without White’s mentoring on and off the golf course.

McCarthy left Tasmania before turning professional in 2012, and has since competed on circuits in Asia, the US and Europe, with White one of the few constants in the journeyman’s life.

“Not a chance at all [I would be where I am without White],” McCarthy said.

“He has a very good ability to understand when to talk on certain areas.

“Sometimes you might be able to see a fault, but if you mention it you know it’s going to send the golfer completely sideways, and I think he’s got a very good understanding of people’s personalities and how his information affects them.”

White started coaching McCarthy when McCarthy was 12 at Seabrook Golf Club in the state’s North-West, and the pair continue to speak via telephone almost every day.

He will be in contact with McCarthy at the end of each day’s play at the British Open.

Now coaching at Tasmania Golf Club, White believes McCarthy simply needs to manage his nerves, because he has the talent to do well at Royal Birkdale.

“He’s played a lot of those style of golf courses because he’s playing on the European Challenge Tour, so he knows how to shoot good scores on that style of golf course,” White said.

While White offers technical advice by examining video footage, McCarthy believes his coach is just as influential on the mental side of his game.

“Sometimes coaching golf is not just telling you how to hit a golf ball, there’s a lot more stuff that goes into it,” McCarthy said.

“Nick always seems to be able to step in at the right moment and just stop that bad flow and turn it around for me.”

White said the first six holes will be crucial for McCarthy, and believes he can make the cut or even shoot for a top 20 finish if he starts the tournament strongly.