Big Cat Gary Murphy proudly prepared for the biggest championship in the world and roared: Now I know I belong out here.

The six-foot Kilkenny man will rub shoulders with Tiger Woods and the rest of the game's elite in the 132nd Open.

And he's determined to take full advantage of his chance after struggling for eight years to make it as a pro.

Murphy, 30, pocketed nearly ¤160,000 when he got in as a reserve and finished fourth at Loch Lomond last weekend to earn his exemption for Sandwich.

Now he's after another massive payday with over ¤5 million on offer this week.

He said: "The big thing for me is the fact that I can stand up here knowing that I have earned my right to be here.

"That's the confidence boost more than anything. Even in Irish Opens in the past I have gotten in on invites.

"People are just waiting for you to fall flat on your face so it's a great feeling now to be here on merit.

"All I want now is to play well and earn enough money to get into the Volvo Masters at the end of the season."

Unlike Irish stars Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, Murphy has had to fight hard to establish himself.

He spent two years in Asia, won and lost his card in Europe and had a spell on the morale sapping Challenge Tour before winning his Tour Card on his eighth visit to the Qualifying School last year.

Now with ¤262, 000 in the bank this season, he has earned enough to guarantee his card for next year and can concentrate on golf instead of finance.

He explained: "Obviously the rewards are immense. You can earn as much in a week as other people can earn in ten years but you can also lose two grand a week for ten weeks.

"Having a card is fantastic but it isn't always as glamorous as it looks. I have to be up at four o'clock on Friday morning to get ready to play my second round at 6.30, so there is nothing too glamorous about that. If I can get out of bed I'll be alright.

Murphy played a practice round with Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley on Tuesday and partnered McGinley again yesterday as he tried to come to grips with a rock-hard links after the target golf of Loch Lomond.

He said: "It was cool to be out there with Darren and Paul in practice but I'm here to do the business and not to bask in the glory of Loch Lomond.

"This week is a huge week money wise and if I have a big week this week I could nearly wrap it up my place in the top-60 on the money list.

"That's my goal for the rest of the year and it will get me into the Volvo Masters at the end of the year."

Soccer mad Murphy will be playing with a new type of golf ball which looks exactly like an old fashioned panelled football.

"It's got lots of dots on it and I really like it. The problem is keeping it on the fairways here.

"I've only played two practice round but it's the kind of course where you have to take one hole at a time. You can't get ahead of yourself, which is a good thing it should help.

"The course is a totally different animal to Loch Lomond. You need to hit a lot of good shots and have a slice of luck but judging by the way the weather has been I've been given a very good draw."

Murphy has also got a glass putter in the bag and appears to have regained his sometimes-brittle putting touch.

He said: "When I turned pro but I wasn't quite ready really. I missed out on Walker Cup but I didn't feel like staying on as an amateur for another two years .

"I was the thing to do I don't think my game was quite ready. I did it the hard way I went to Asia and won the Tour School. Kept my card for two years and finished third in tour school in Canada.

"I played the Challenge tour and that's so tough but I've been very fortunate with sponsors. Finn O'Sullivan with Irish Express Cargo, the Golf trust and now ACC Bank have helped me. But I've managed to keep my head above water."

A special anti stress QLink pendant he picked up from Wayne Westner in Celbridge seems to have worked miracles for his confidence.

He admitted: "I'm certainly a lot more relaxed about my game on and off the course and that's partly to do with the pendant and partly because I have improved my short game

"I'll need it round here because this is going to be one tough test."

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© Brian Keogh 2003

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