Adam Wootton has got over the shock of being paired with a former champion – and is fully focused on the biggest day of his life.

The 23-year-old professional, from Oxford, will today tee-off with Tom Lehman and Ryan Palmer in the 140th Open Championship at Royal St George’s, Sandwich.

He will be joined in the field by two other Oxfordshire golfers, Craig Hinton, from Thame, and Banbury’s Gary Boyd.

But Wootton, who is guaranteed his biggest-ever pay day, is determined to revel in the experience.

The Oxford City member, who works at Oxford Golf Centre has never even been to the Open, and is caddied by his boss, Mark Walker.

“It’s a great draw,” said Wootton, who tees off at 3.38pm. “I was a little bit in awe at first, but I feel at home now.

“ I am thinking about making the cut as a first aim.”

And should he achieve that, Wootton would help to recoup some of the money he will lose.

“I am losing a week’s wages by playing here,” he said.

Wootton is assured of at least £2,250 even if he finishes last, but making the cut will guarantee him £11,000.

The biggest pay cheque has has won before is just £900.

Wootton has already mixed it with the big boys this week, playing a practice round with another former champion Ernie Els, and then nine holes with world No 1 Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia.

“I’ve tweaked a couple of my shafts to try and keep the ball low into the wind, and am now raring to go,” he said.

Amateur Hinton, like Wootton, came through qualifying to book his place in the line-up.

And just being involved is an achievement in itself, having suffered a short spell of blindness and a period in intensive care due to inflammation of the heart.

“It took eight months to get properly well again. The doctors said it would take six months to a year to get over it fully, but after three months I started playing again.

“After everything I have been through, it is unbelievable to be in The Open.”

Hinton will play alongside American Jason Dufner and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, the trio teeing off at 10.04.

European Tour regular Boyd partners Jung-Gon Hwang, from Korea, and American Robert Garrigus in the group after Wootton, which start at 3.49.