The Open 2018: Rhys Enoch using tattoo tributes to tragic late brother Ben as inspiration in bid for Claret Jug
Ben was just 19 when he lost his life in a car crash in 2009 and nearly ten years on Rhys goes from strength to strength in his career knowing his younger brother is looking down on him smiling
RHYS ENOCH knows with a broken heart that the person most proud to see him playing in his second Open is not around to witness it.
Inseparable from brother Ben, Rhys has been without his best mate for almost ten years, since Ben died in a car crash.
Just 19, Ben was driving from their Truro home in Cornwall to Blackpool to play in a tournament when he hit a trailer in Herefordshire in May 2009.
His girlfriend at the time was pregnant.
The devastation rocked a loving family brought together by golf.
Rhys, 30, has two permanent reminders of his brother etched onto his body, with one tattoo close to his heart.
He said: “Of course Ben’s in my thoughts all the time. I actually had a funny dream with him in it on Monday night. He’s always there in my thoughts.
“It was a completely random dream. He just turned up. I was just in a house and he was looking at the house with me, it was the weirdest thing.
“When I played in the Open in 2014 it was big because the only Open he had ever been to was Hoylake and I had never been to an Open. I qualified for the one at Hoylake so that was cool.
“Every now and again you might get a thought like that – like I’m doing this for him. I just do what I can do and know that he’ll be proud.
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“I’ve got two tattoos dedicated to him.
“The first one says, ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure’. That was his favourite quote.
“His nickname was Been, we always called him that, so I got it on my chest.
“It’s nice to be back at the Open now and I just think of those memories.”
Rhys and Ben would kid each other growing up that a putt in practice would be to win the Claret Jug.
Ben saw Tiger Woods hole out a shot for eagle during the 2006 Open, and Rhys practiced next to Woods on the range at Carnoustie this week.
Not that he felt overawed being next to one of the planet’s most famous sportsmen, whose very presence brings up memories of Ben.
Rhys, who was born in Truro and got into the Open through final qualifying at Notts Hollinwell, said: “I hit balls next to Tiger on Sunday. His caddie Joe LaCava was on the range and I didn’t know Joe from behind so I put my stuff down and up comes Tiger.
“I should have asked Tiger for an autograph but I didn’t. I don’t want to interrupt him. I’d rather let him get on with it and I don’t need his autograph.”
With a bit of luck Rhys could play with the three-time Open champion over the weekend.
Dad Steven and mum Tracy will be behind the ropes, and a group of mates are driving through the night from Cornwall to be up here.
Rhys said: “Most of the galleries will be with the big players so I’ll see them round the tees. I can always make out their faces.
“But hopefully I’ll play well enough for the weekend which means I won’t see them too much on Saturday and Sunday.”