Golf: Unsung Kiwi shares round with Tiger

Kiwi Doug Batty eased his US Open nerves by playing a practice round with Tiger Woods. Photo / AP

Unheralded New Zealand golfer Doug Batty got rid of his US Open nerves early, by playing a practice round with world No 1 Tiger Woods today.

Batty, 29, who qualified from nowhere, has found himself lining up shots alongside the world's greats ahead of the Open, which starts at Bethpage Black on Friday morning (NZT).

Batty writes a column for The Cut golf magazine, as does caddy Steve Williams, so he emailed Williams to see if he could play a few holes alongside the world No 1.

He does not even know Williams, but thought he'd take a chance. Sure enough, back came a positive reply resulting in Batty and Woods striding down the New York championship course together.

Batty is in the last group away on opening day, so the crowd that watched him today is likely to be bigger than the one he will encounter when he fires his first shot in anger.

It didn't start well today, with Batty hitting the worst slice of his life to open the session, he told NewstalkZB.

He played nine practice holes at Bethpage - rated one of the world's longest 6790m and most difficult courses - with Woods.

Blessed with a dry Kiwi wit, Batty told his radio interviewer he fixed up defending champion Woods' grip and got him ready to go.

Batty said there were no friendly wagers, adding "I didn't want to bring the mortgage out today."

A journeyman who lost his card on the Canadian Tour by a mere $15 last year made an unlikely run through qualifying last week.

Now he wants to enjoy the experience and to be competitive.

Long narrow fairways should suit his straight-driving game, he reckons. Whether his mind can cope with the tension and fairway fanfare is another matter.

He has received waves of support from New Zealand, which also has 2005 champion Michael Campbell and Japan-based David Smail in action.

Batty will play with Matt Nagy and Shawn Stefani, two other players who rarely play among elite company. Batty finished second in a four-way playoff for three spots at the Saticoy Country Club in Somis, California, to book his place in the year's second major.

Los Angeles-based Batty carded rounds of 74 and 70 at the par-72 course to make the playoff, which was held on the par-five 18th hole.

Batty, who hails from Whangarei and went to Auckland Grammar School, moved to the United States in 2001 on a scholarship.

He attended the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Toledo.

In the last two years, he has plied his trade on the Canadian Tour, along with compatriots Josh Geary and Brad Heaven.

His parents Mike and Judith Batty have found a manager for their Tauranga motel and flown to New York for the big occasion.

- NZPA