Bland savours hitting ‘very special’ opening tee shot at Sandwich

Richard Bland said it was “very special” but also “very nerve-wracking” to hit the opening tee shot in the rescheduled 149th Open at Royal St George’s.

On a glorious but breezy morning on the Kent coast, the Englishman received a warm welcome as he stepped on to the first tee ahead of the 6.35am start.

Rising to the occasion, the British Masters champion hit a cracking drive, as did playing partners Andy Sullivan and Marcus Armitage.

“Very special, very nervewracking,” said Bland afterwards, having signed for a level-par 70 as Sullivan and Armitage carded 67 and 69 respectively.

“I was all right when I got on the tee, but when he (the man announcing the players) started, it kind of ramped it up a bit. But I managed to get it down there somehow. It went straight and that was all I was worried about.”

The 48-year-old, who had set his alarm for 4am, was handed the honour on the back of landing his breakthrough success on the European Tour at the 478th attempt in the British Masters at The Belfry in May.

“Martin [Slumbers, the R&A chief executive] called me on Sunday,” said Bland. “I'd just got to Renaissance (where he was playing in the final round of the Scottish Open).

“It's something you don't expect. I was hoping I might get a good draw but that was something else. Very grateful to the R&A for considering me for doing it.”

In fact, before the group headed down the first fairway Bland made a point of heading over to the side of the tee to make that known publicly to Slumbers.

“Once I got away and I hit a nice wedge shot in, you're fine and settled down and it was playing golf as normal. A special moment,” he added.

Not since Nick Faldo did the trick in 1992 has the Claret Jug been in English hands, but it was an encouraging day for the home contingent.

Sullivan’s effort was matched by major winners Danny Willett and Justin Rose, as well as Jack Senior as he took up where he had left off when giving a great account of himself in the Scottish Open.

“It's obviously a great start for me,” said Senior, who secured his spot through the Scottish Open, after signing for a bogeyfree effort.

“I just continued my form from last week really to be honest. I drove the golf ball brilliantly last week and I've just gained so much confidence with my driver.”

Willett has had various ailments this year and admitted: “Playing for the first time pain-free was delightful. The hernia healed up all right, but they go in in three places and tore my obliques with one and that’s really been hurting.

“It was joyous sneezing without it hurting for the first time on Saturday. That sounds stupid, but that’s where I’ve been. It was a good job we caught it so soon. I saw the doctor on the Sunday of Memorial. If we had left it, who knows?”

Sullivan, a former Scottish Open Stroke Play champion, carded six birdies, including one to start and another to finish.

“I love links golf and it is a fantastic game to play,” he said. “It is something that appeals to my personality trying to be creative.”