A YOUNG Cheshire golfer aiming for stardom on the international circuit is to spend 10 days with Nick Faldo at his exclusive new Californian golf institute.

Winsford prodigy Paul Grannell, 16, will escape Britain's soggy links on February 1 and meet 10 other hopefuls in sun-drenched Palm Springs.

Once there the group will work on their golf under the watchful eye of the three-times Open champion. Paul, who plays off a handicap of 1.6 at his home course of Sandiway, Cheshire, took up golf only four years ago after showing childhood promise as a footballer.

He hopes the trip will help him win a place in the England under-18 squad after a triumphant summer, when he finished as runner-up in Faldo's prestigious Junior Series under-16 tournament and made his debut in the England under-16 team.

''Last season I wanted a top 10 finish in the England under-16s,'' said Paul. ''But my main aim was to go to the US on this trip.

''People asked me what I got for Christmas and I said the chance to play golf with Nick Faldo in America. It's a fantastic opportunity because he's really my British idol.''

Paul's father, Barry Grannell, was full of praise for Faldo: ''A lot of people only see him playing golf on television, not all the good work he does behind the scenes. I'm over the moon for Paul.''

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