What is like going from a professional golfer one week to giving your opinion on the live action as an on-course reporter the next? We asked DP World Tour winner Paul Waring, who will take to the mic at Royal Liverpool this week.
Waring, who has played in The Open on six occasions - most recently in 2021 - isn't in the field this week but will be inside the ropes for BBC Radio 5 Live, giving his opinion from a players' point of view.
It's something that's becoming a more regular thing for the DP World Tour player, who had the same job at the Ryder Cup in Whistling Straits and the Masters Tournament in 2021.
His role is to give insight from the course, and Waring is looking forward to sharing his perspective as he gets a front-seat to the most exciting stages of the final Major of the year.
"I really enjoy it you know," said Waring
"It’s my chance to give my opinion on things. It’s a different thing, it’s a string to the bow, it’s never easy but it is easy to give a players opinion because you’re thinking about how you’d feel in that situation, the shot you’d try and hit. Not saying that I necessarily always pick the correct one but it’s nice seeing a different perspective as well. I quite enjoy it, as opposed to always playing.
"It’s going to be interesting being inside the ropes on a Sunday potentially with the final groups, potentially with the winner of the tournament commentating on what they are doing live in the moment. You know not from a TV screen or watching it from home but walking those holes with them inside the ropes I think it’s going to be a really special experience for me as well. I’ve never really been in contention in a Major, so I can’t honestly say how it feels.
"I know how it feels to play the DP World Tour and winning on that stage, but winning a Major is a different league. It’s creating historical moments, and to actually be a part of that it’s going to be a really special experience."
The 2018 Nordea Masters Champion hails from Wirral in Merseyside, and as a result has played Royal Liverpool numerous times.
There have been multiple changes made to the course players faced in 2014 - including the brand new par three 17 - and although he typically plays the course with the members routing rather than one they have for the Open Championship this week, Waring is hopeful that his course knowledge can help add some insight.
"Over the years I’ve seen it evolve, and it’s a true championship golf course now.
"Since ’14 there’s a new green on the regular second/ the fourth this week. There’s new bunkering on the par five fifth at 330 which will deter some lads hitting driver. I know on the 10th they’ve flattened out the right side of the fairway so it’s playing as a proper par four now, and obviously they’ve got that new hole on 17.
"I’m getting a lot of mixed reaction about it which surprised me because I actually quite like the design, I think I like what it is. It’s treacherous but it’s also a birdie chance, and I think it will provide a bit of a defining moment for the championship. Also you’ve got that 18 tee shot and you’ve got that tighter out of bounds, too."
At the moment, commentating is very much something Waring does on the side of his golfing career.
This year alone he's had three top tens on the DP World that include back-to-back at the Porsche European Open and the Volvo Scandi Mixed, although he was forced to withdraw during the second round of the Genesis Scottish Open last week with a back injury - something he has dealt with on-and-off in his career.
And despite admitting he still has some learning to do, it is something he is hoping will become more of a regular thing in the future.
"I enjoy the media side of things. I need to get a lot better at it, but it’s a learning curve of a new skill, and everyone is a bit rusty when they start at.
"I’ve got some great guidance from the guys working in the studio obviously from the Masters, and the Ryder Cup so I know the team really well and they are some of the best commentators in the world so they help me out with the tricks and all that. You work as a team and they are all trying to make you better so I’m very lucky for that."
