Owen taking things one shot at a time

If Greg Owen resorts to playing safety shots here today then do not be surprised. The 29-year-old from Mansfield, who at one stage yesterday held the outright lead at the Open, is a stablemate of Steve Davis after all.

A three-putt on the 18th might have been a sorry end to a tumultuous afternoon for the Nottinghamshire lad, but for Owen's manager, Barry Hearn, and the rest of the Matchroom family it was yet another day to remember – even if it was in a slightly unfamiliar sport.

Davis, for one, was keen to keep apace with events at Lytham. "I had a text message from Steve this morning. He's good friends with Barry. He texted me and just said: 'One shot at a time.' That's basically all you can do. You look at your shot and you try and play the best you can. I got a few good breaks today."

It was advice from the former snooker world champion that Owen heeded well, and he is looking forward to hearing some more.

"I had a game of golf with him at The Belfry. I went to see him play snooker in the World Championships last year at the Crucible and we played the Belfry just as a friendly game. I must say, you can see why he was world champion. He takes everything so seriously. He analyses everything and I could actually do with seeing him a bit more and talking to him about it, because his mental side of sport is just fantastic."

For the time being, though, Owen is more than happy with his mental side after a 68 sent him to five under, although when told that his odds had plummeted to 40-1 he said incredulously: "Me, 40-1 for the Open? I wouldn't have a quid on it.''

Being a member of the European Tours school of hard knocks, Owen can remember the times when he did not have a "quid'' to spare.

"I don't think I'll ever have a feeling like I did in tour school in 1995, where I got my card. I could hardly hold the pencil to sign my card. It was unbelievable. Another unbelievable feeling was at Woburn a couple of years ago where I pitched in on the last to keep my card. They were both important times for different reasons. This is fun. This is great.''

Owen was married a week before that day at Woburn, but admits he has another dominant influence apart from his wife. He joined Hearn's golf offshoot, which includes half-a-dozen professionals, last year.

"Barry phones me up and tells me what to do. If I'm not doing it he gives me a good shouting to. He's a great businessman. He's a good motivator and that's what you need; you've got to be there in your mind, going out there and playing as best as you can.''

Which he intends to do today. Before that, though, Owen was hoping to speak to Davis last night. "From what I gather he's been texting Eddie (Hearn, Barry's son) all day. So he'll probably phone me or I'll phone him and we'll have a chat and see what he says. It will be a good idea if I can get to speak to him.''