Young fan has the winning touch

A YOUNG fan was overjoyed after the winner of The Open handed him the Claret Jug.

Eight-year-old Zach Bate was picked out of the crowd by Jordan Spieth and photographed touching the trophy.

The picture has since been seen by millions after featuring in the Daily Mirror and on the social media of The Open, the R&A and the European Tour.

According to dad Andy, St Patrick’s pupil Zach is a huge sports fan and now loves golf more than ever.

Andy said: “He’s obsessed with golf. He plays two or three times a week at the Southport Golf Academy at Leisure Lakes and we’ve been every day since!

“We’d been watching the final round all day and I said to Zach that we may as well stay because there’s no point watching all weekend and not staying for the presentation.

“Once they’d given the trophy everyone started to get closer and then it was like he made a beeline for him and he said, ‘Here you go buddy’ and let him have a touch. At first he was like, ‘what have I done’ but he’s not stopped talking about it since.

“I was really proud. I took him there to see the world’s best golfers and that topped off the experience and made it special.’’

Andy added: “I was made up for Zach and people around seemed gobsmacked. I think a few adults were even asking ‘why wasn’t that me?’”