Dubliner John Mulrooney checks his text messages after helping Darren Clarke win the Open in Sandwich last year. Now he’s trying to steer Alan Dunbar through his first major at Royal Lytham & St Annes.Amateur champion Alan Dunbar has a Major advantage this week - the caddie that helped Darren Clarke win the Open.

Dubliner John Mulrooney played a massive role in Clarke’s emotional win at Sandwich last year.Now Dunbar, 22, is hoping he’ll be his lucky charm at Lytham.

After a practice round with Clarke and Graeme McDowell, the Rathmore ace said: “Having the defending champion’s caddie has been great and we’ve got on well.

“I know the course but it’s still good to have him because I don’t think I’ve ever broken par here in the Lytham Trophy.”

Dunbar wants to win the Silver Medal awarded to the leading amateur and follow in the footsteps of 2007 winner Rory McIlroy.

He said: “It’s just me and the Austrian Manuel Trappel. So it’s something to aim for.

“Obviously I have to make the cut to win it but Graeme and Darren have just told me to go out and enjoy it and play golf.”