EDDIE Pepperell will tee off at The Open Championship this morning knowing he has the game to challenge the world’s best.

The Abingdon golfer was in the final group of players to qualify for Carnoustie, getting in thanks to a terrific second place at the Scottish Open last weekend.

His begins at 7.19am, alongside compatriot Oliver Wilson and American Kevin Chappell.

Pepperell was always planning to be at the event in Angus, but his late entry meant shelving plans to work for BBC Radio 5Live as an on-course summariser.

And instead of reporting on the action, the 27-year-old knows he can get into the spotlight over the next four days, if he replicates the form which took him to the brink of a second European Tour title of the season.

He said: “I will certainly be confident on Thursday morning.

“I’d hope my game is somewhere near where it was last weekend.

“Of all the majors I’m likely to do well in, The Open is probably the one with my style of game and the links courses it’s played on.

“Now would be a good time to start.”

Pepperell, who won the Qatar Masters in February, knows what to expect – both from the course and the event.

The European Tour visits Carnoustie annually as part of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, while the Frilford Heath member shot to prominence on his only other appearance at The Open.

Pepperell shared the lead late in his third round at St Andrews in 2015, before fading away to finish in a share of 49th place.

“I remember doing quite a lot of interviews after that,” he said.

“Majors carry a different level of media attention and the US Open last year (where he finished joint 16th) was bigger and I did better.

“I have played Carnoustie in about five Dunhills, so I know the course really well.

“It will be different to how we play in October, but the pictures I’ve seen look incredible.”

The new world No 72’s knowledge of the tough course meant he was not planning to play a practice round, preferring to rest up.

Pepperell has been troubled by a wrist injury in recent weeks, which is being managed by pain-killing injections.

He is confident it will not be an issue this weekend, but is planning to delve deeper once the tournament is over.

He said: “It’s not sorted. I can play, but there’s a fair bit of discomfort.

“I’m going to play The Open and then may look to have treatment.

“There’s nothing structurally wrong with it, but if I keep playing it could become an issue.”