LEE Slattery, who was working in a Southport boutique four years ago, fired an impresive 66 in the first round of the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship of Europe in Hamburg.

And the promise of a big pay cheque at the weekend is helping to compensate for £30,000 worth of flood damage to his Royal Birkdale flat.

"I bought it especially for next year's Open," he said. "A drain overflowed and the water came in through the front door."