DANIEL Brooks is confident he can shine at his first Open Championship today – because he can’t stop hitting the ball left!

The 28-year-old, from Basildon, makes his debut at one of golf’s majors at St Andrews today after earning one of the final qualifying spots at the Scottish Open last weekend.

Brooks is high in confidence after picking up his biggest ever prize cheque for his seventh-placed finish at the Scottish Open.

But despite feeling on top of his game, one shot is still frustrating the former Woodlands School pupil – his driving from the tee.

Brooks watched plenty of his drives pull left during his final two rounds at the Scottish Open.

And though that would not usually be a positive, Brooks believe it might just be this weekend.

He said: “I’ve only played at St Andrews once before but I know if you hit it left then you are OK.

“And that’s where all my shots seem to be heading at the moment, so hopefully it will work out for me!

“You can hit it left and be fine but if you go right then that’s not so good.

"So if I can keep the standard of my short game up, then I should be OK.”

Brooks has had a whirlwind few days which saw him lead the Scottish Open with one round to go before slipping to seventh but securing his Open place in the final three holes.

So he says he hasn’t really had a chance for it all to soak in.

But he has been practising on the famous St Andrews course since Monday and says the enormity of the occasion is beginning to dawn on him.

“I’m buzzing,” he said. “I’ve watched the Open for years on TV so to actually be here now and playing in it is very special.

“And for it to be at St Andrews too makes it even more special. To play the Open at St Andrews is a dream for any British golfer.”

Brooks starts his Open campaign today at 11.01am when he goes out in a group with fellow Englishman Gary Boyd and the Australian Adam Bland.