Royal Liverpool Golf Club member and Hoylake resident Matthew Jordan is to play the first shot at The Open.
The 27-year-old will tee off at 6.35am this Thursday after being chosen to get play underway at the 151st Open, following his recent qualification for the tournament.
Speaking to The Open website, he has revealed he cannot recall the number of times he has stared down the fairway of the first hole, dreaming of playing The Open at his home course.
He has been a member at Royal Liverpool since the age of seven, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. It is his second time playing at The Open, having qualified for St Andrews last year.
“It’s an amazing honour,” he said. “I’m sure the first tee, no matter what, was going to be special, but obviously to have this as a kid growing up, I used to wake up early, 6:30, and that was The Open commencing. I’ve got fond memories so to have this honour is brilliant.”
He has also recalled seeing his hero, Tiger Woods, at the 2006 and 2014 tournaments at Hoylake: “I remember seeing Tiger [Woods] in ’06 on the putting green, and I just could not approach him.”
“I think I saw him actually when it was here in 2014, as well, and I still couldn’t approach him then.
“He walked through the clubhouse on a Sunday trying to register and I just froze. And then again, as I say, in ’06 he was on the putting green and I don’t think I moved for 20 minutes.
“He was my hero, and being able to see him in the flesh and watching him do what he did, especially around your home course, was immense.
“A couple of players have approached me so far but I’ve only just arrived. I might pick and choose what I tell people.”
Matthew says his family and friends will be on hand to cheer him on: “They’re going to be here, they’re going to be loud, they’re going to offer me support.” he said.
“Ultimately I want to perform. That is my main goal.” he said.
“I just want to play the golf course like I know I can, like I do in practice, like I normally will if I’m here preparing for any other events. And if I feel like I can do that, then I know that I can do well around here.
“For me it’s not letting the occasion dictate what I exactly do. It’s just me playing the golf course.”
Top photo credit: The Open
