Paul Kinnear had put his golf clubs in the boot of the car. Rather than set off on the four-hour drive back to Merseyside, the 21-year-old and his caddy retired to the clubhouse for a drink and to see who would land a place at The Open.

It had been a draining day for the former Tranmere Rovers academy midfielder during the final qualifier at Gailes Links in Ayrshire. The amateur — whose mother tried to get him a job as a van driver a few weeks earlier — had carded a respectable two-under par but was still a couple of shots shy of the frontrunners.

‘The clubs were away and so were we, very nearly,’ Kinnear tells Sportsmail. ‘I didn’t think my score would be enough. I needed a beer. Thankfully, I only got a Coke.

Paul Kinnear practises at St Andrews on Monday ahead of his Open debut, which begins on Thursday

Kinnear was a trainee footballer at Tranmere Rovers, but gave it up to try his luck at becoming a golfer

A month ago, his mother was trying to find him a job as a van driver, and now he has qualified for The Open

‘We were sat there and I checked the scoring. I was second! I thought, “Bloody hell, what’s going on here?” We were jumping about the clubhouse.’

Kinnear ended up in a three-way play-off for two places at St Andrews. ‘I could tell the other lads were nervous and took that as a boost,’ he says.

‘I hit a five iron straight down the middle of the fairway. A lot of the practising we do with England Golf is 100 yards and in, and that’s the shot I had. I hit it to within two feet of the flag.

‘When you’re a kid you practise and say to yourself, “This, for Kinnear, is to win The Open”. Here I was with a tap-in to qualify. It was the most nerve-wracking two-footer of my life.’

The Scouser holed it to become one of only nine amateurs who will tee off at the Home of Golf on Thursday, where he is a 2000-1 shot to emerge victorious.

‘It was surreal. Everything went still and then my caddy (Mark Duncalf) threw me in the air,’ says Kinnear, who had earlier won his regional qualifier at West Lancashire.

Kinnear will tee off at St Andrews - the Home of Golf - on Thursday as a 2000-1 shot to win the tournament

The former footballer was one of 3,000 amateurs trying to qualify for The Open - and only 12 made it in

‘I rang my mum and dad (Pamela and Ian) and they were screaming. I burst out crying when I told them. It’s the equivalent of Tranmere making it to the FA Cup final. There were 3,000 trying to qualify and 12 made it.

'Four weeks ago my mum was looking for a job for me as a van driver - now I’m going to St Andrews.

‘My mum and dad had already booked up to stay on a campsite just to go and watch The Open as golf fans. They never dreamt they’d be watching me. My sister (Jodie) obviously didn’t have much confidence. She’s in Las Vegas this week!

‘It just shows you can’t give up. They just thought I was playing poorly and not improving. I was telling everyone that something was going to happen soon.’

Kinnear plays a tee shot on the 14th hole on Tuesday as Justin Rose (second left) watches on from behind

The amateur plays a shot out of a bunker on the 17th hole on The Old Course during a practice round

Kinnear was in a three-way play-off for two places at The Open and his caddy threw him in the air when he won

Kinnear’s confidence was not misplaced. That belief was also the motivation behind his decision to quit Tranmere as a 16-year-old. He had been on their books since the age of eight. Opponents included the likes of Ross Barkley and he was set for talks over a two-year scholarship.

‘I always wanted to be a footballer and still think I could be playing professionally now if I’d stuck at it,’ says Kinnear, who lives with his family in Melling. ‘But I started playing a little bit of golf with my dad when I was 12. It all took off and I fell in love with it.

‘I won the Lancashire Boys Championship in 2009 and that was when I realised I wanted to play golf ahead of football. I started to concentrate on that and I actually thought, “Hold on, I’m getting worse at football”. That was when I told Tranmere of my decision.’

Kinnear was ‘gutted’ when he learnt of the ankle injury suffered by Rory McIlroy during a kickabout with friends, torn ligaments ruling the defending champion out of The Open.

Kinnear cites his win in the Lancashire Boys Championship in 2009 as the moment he chose golf over football

After hearing of Rory McIlroy's injury, Kinnear jokes there is 'no chance' he'll play football this week

‘There is no chance I’ll be playing football this week,’ says Kinnear, laughing. ‘Last week was the longest of my life. You’re watching your step everywhere you go. I just wanted to get here in one piece.’

McIlroy’s absence means that Jordan Spieth – like Kinnear, just 21 years old - is the clear favourite to make it a third major of 2015.

‘Jordan is phenomenal,’ says Kinnear. ‘I thought about him in the play-off. He’s 21 as well but is winning majors and never looks flustered – he’s an inspiration.

‘I thought, “If he can do it then I should be able to as well”. He gives me more drive to succeed.’

Success for Kinnear would be making it beyond the opening two days at St Andrews before setting his sights on the European Tour. ‘I’m going to Qualifying School in September and I think I’ve got the game to do it and get a tour card,’ he says.

‘I’ve already shown one dream can come true by qualifying for The Open. The next is to turn pro. I believe I’m good enough.’

Perhaps then Kinnear can enjoy that beer.