England’s 12th man gets his chance with BBC commentator as Wolstenholme makes the US Open

The former British Amateur Champion replaced Texan Sean O'Hair, who pulled out with an injured chest muscle last night.

Amateur dramatics: Wolstenholme is bunkered during his practice round at Torrey Pines

He played in a sectional qualifier on 2 June, shooting a 68 and a 71 at Walton Heath to earn the first alternate position.

Wolstenholme, 47, who won the British Amateur in 1991 and 2003, will tee off at 9.03pm tonight with South African Richard Stern and Hunter Mahan.

On Monday the Surrey-born amateur was eating free sandwiches in the locker room and complaining: "I can't afford to eat out. I hugely regret coming over - it's cost me a lot of money."

But when he was told of his late inclusion last night, he immediately embarked on a practice round with a BBC journalist as his caddie.

The two-time British Amateur champion said: "At first I thought it was a joke. I had got it in my mind that I wasn't going to get in. At this late stage it is rare for someone to pull out."

Wolstenholme was left scurrying for a caddie, a vacancy filled by BBC golf commentator Andrew Cotter who said: "I'm going to do it for the experience of it. He has played in other majors before, so he has some experience, but we will have to see if he can handle the course with his length, it is just so long."

Wolstenholme, the last man to beat Tiger Woods as an amateur back in 1995, added: "If I made the cut that would be one of the great achievements of my career. The course is playable if you can hit it decent off the tee and land in the right places with your second shot.

"If I can do that, then I have a chance to make the cut, and that would be key for me.

"I was able to walk the course three times this week but I couldn't hit a shot. That's why I just had to play all 18 holes. It was critical to see what clubs to hit and what different shots you have to make."

There was a chance that he could have been paired with Woods and world No2 Phil Mickelson if Australian Adam Scott had pulled out with his injured finger, but Scott remains in the field, much to the relief of Cotter.

"I was waiting to see if Adam Scott pulled out," Cotter added. "I think I would have stayed in the media centre, I don't think I could have coped as a caddie in the same group as Tiger Woods."