Holly Clyburn aiming for British Open glory

HOLLY Clyburn tees-off at the Ricoh Women's British Open today insisting she is in better form than last year.

The Cleethorpes golf star was the highest-placed English player at Hoylake 12 months ago – despite still being an amateur.

Having turned pro soon after that success, the 22-year-old, pictured, heads to the Old Course at St Andrews full of confidence and ready to improve on that 26th-place result.

"I've done all my practicing and preparation this week and today the tournament starts," she told the Telegraph.

"I practiced on the Old Course itself on Monday and yesterday – I've played it before though so know my way around.

"It's very different this year going to the Open as a pro. As much as it meant last year, going back in my first year as a pro really is a dream come true.

"Last year showed me that I can compete with the top players, and shows me I can do that again.

"I think I'm in slightly better form. I'm definitely a better player than this time last year – not just in terms of my game but also physically and mentally.

"My game has grown and matured a lot since then."

Clyburn begins at the first tee at 12.21pm, playing in a group with Momoko Ueda and Azahara Nunoz.

The former Curtis Cup winner, who holed her first Ladies Europen Tour event in May, hopes the weather conditions are on her side.

"If the wind blows, that's a massive factor because there are plenty of things to catch you out," she said.

"The bunkers are the biggest threat and the greens are so big that you can have a 50-yard putt on some of them, so you've got to get your numbers right on this course."