IT is not every day that a Ryder Cup star asks you to be his caddie for the day on the world's most famous golf course.

Nor is it a common occurrence to then join up with Tiger Woods for an educational 18 holes.

But that is the surreal and unexpected situation, The Oaks Golf Club member Tom Parry found himself in during a week's work experience at St Andrew's and a chance meeting with top American player Fred Couples.

Tom, 16, wrote to the Royal and Ancient to see if he could work at the home of golf during last week's Open Championship.

The Eastrington, near Howden, teenager was then delighted to be given a job on the practice ground and even more thrilled when Couples made his surprise request.

"Fred Couples' caddie was not arriving until the evening so he called me over when I was working on the practice ground and asked if I would like to caddie for him," Tom explained.

"We then joined up with Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara and I could not believe how good they were that close up. I didn't speak to Tiger much as I did not want to get in his way but Mark O'Meara talked to me a lot, asking me where I was from and how my golf was going."

The answer to the former Open and US Masters champion's question was probably pretty good.

Tom currently has a handicap of 1.5 and has represented Yorkshire Under-18 and U16 teams.

He also finished joint second in the York Amateur Senior Championships behind Fulford's James Duckett at Pike Hills, following up an excellent three-under par 18-hole morning score with a three-over effort over the front nine in the afternoon.

Tom intends to turn professional himself but will first study for A-levels at Selby College.

Simon Dyson faces his first challenge since The Open in the Deutsche Bank Players' Championships in Hamburg.

The Malton and Norton golfer will be keen to continue the form that earned him a two under par total at St Andrews to finish just outside the top 30.

But the challenge was delayed by at least two hours after heavy overnight rain left parts of the Gut Kaden course under water.

Updated: 11:01 Thursday, July 21, 2005