Inside the ropes

Struggling to see through the crowds, Alex Narey ducks under the ropes to get up close and personal to the players. It's access all areas

After following the calm three-ball of Greg Norman, Robert Karlsson and Woody Austin yesterday, matters were more restricted for members of the media today. It's slightly more hustle and bustle out there, with an army of stewards keeping the hacks and scribes in check.

Choosing to take in the sights of Sergio Garcia's party with deputy editor Neil Tappin, it seemed we were constantly being man-marked by one media

liaison officer who had probably clocked us for a couple of cowboys. To be fair, the old boy was fairly helpful and understanding. Come to think of it,

the jobsworth count is pretty minimal around the fairways and most of the boys in blue (you can't miss them on the box with their fetching jackets)

let you get on with your job with little or no fuss.

Yesterday, as the buzz around Norman gathered pace with the Shark's relentless surge through the front nine, I shared the paths and rough with a

few guys from ABC as well as a couple of Australian print reporters. We were like a little family, sharing biscuits and everything. Today, the Sun's

hardened hack Steve Howard strutted with us. He made the rather sloppy move of not packing any waterproofs and when a filthy downpour hit us on the 13th green I was keen to catch his eye and flash the Galvin Green Gore-Tex in his direction.

It is interesting to watch how other reporters operate. Some of the young breed (I'd like to include myself in that) play it more by memory; noting

personal touches about the players. Many old school reporters jot down the action as they go along, while others simply lock themselves in the media

tent all day and watch it unfold on the big screen.

As an Open rookie, that's not for me. In fact, with a certain Colin Montgomerie teeing off in half and hour, it's time to get out there and follow the big man. Better leave the mobile indoors...

Alex Narey
Content Editor

Alex began his journalism career in regional newspapers in 2001 and moved to the Press Association four years later. He spent three years working at Dennis Publishing before first joining Golf Monthly, where he was on the staff from 2008 to 2015 as the brand's managing editor, overseeing the day-to-day running of our award-winning magazine while also contributing across various digital platforms. A specialist in news and feature content, he has interviewed many of the world's top golfers and returns to Golf Monthly after a three-year stint working on the Daily Telegraph's sports desk. His current role is diverse as he undertakes a number of duties, from managing creative solutions campaigns in both digital and print to writing long-form features for the magazine. Alex has enjoyed a life-long passion for golf and currently plays to a handicap of 13 at Tylney Park Golf Club in Hampshire.