LOCAL HOYLAKE HERO

PROLOGUE

“I remember watching a recording my dad made of me when I was about three years old over at the old short game area, where I was just trying to hit balls from about 80 yards into a bunker - like a machine gun, just hitting ball after ball. And I recall going out on my own when I was older but still really young and I hit drive on the second - championship fourth - and then a three wood just short of the green. Then I tried to play a bump and run seven iron, and I semi-duffed it, thinned it, and it rolled over a couple of humps and went in the hole. And I just remember running round my bag, celebrating, I’d made a proper birdie and it was a massive thing for me back then.

“When The Open came back to Hoylake in 2006 I was just 10 and all I was bothered about was getting autographs. I got Phil Mickelson’s, but not Tiger’s. He was sitting in the clubhouse with Steve Williams just taking a break and mum and dad were saying, ‘Go on! Ask him!’ But I just froze. 

“In 2014 I remember being in the stands watching Sergio and Rickie Fowler, and maybe you start to think one day you might be an Open competitor, and maybe even on your home course, but I parked all that because there was a lot of work to do making myself a good amateur and then a professional. I made it to the 150th Open at St Andrews, which was such an experience, and then I had to do it all over again to qualify for Hoylake.

ACT I - QUALIFYING

“My rounds at West Lancs were crucial. What happened there was characterised by pressure, not unlike the pressure of The Open itself. I remember turning a corner and Chris, my caddy, was surprised by how many spectators had turned up. And well before that it had ramped up when people here would ask me, ‘When are you qualifying? Where? Where are you up to?’ I tried to put it all to one side and stay in the present and concentrate on the events I was playing beforehand, but, a month or so before, obviously it became my sole focus for the whole year. 

“At West Lancs I was with Sergio Garcia and Jamie Donaldson, and obviously Sergio was going to bring a crowd to add to people who’d come to encourage me, but that was pressure too, being alongside a great player, a Masters champion. It all built up, and it was pretty much my last chance, but for some reason I’ve always done pretty well around West Lancs. As a junior and after I’ve always fancied my chances there. 

“It was hard, but I kind of enjoyed it, but you’re so in the moment, and because I knew what was at stake, well, probably when people were looking at me they didn’t think I was having a great time. Still, I came good, though there wasn’t any time to rest on laurels because I went, on a massive high of course, to Denmark on the Wednesday morning. I didn’t play a practice round there and got on to the first tee to find my driver had cracked, so that was hectic. 

“However, it was good I played Denmark and then the Scottish Open, because it took my mind off what lay ahead at Hoylake. I knew it was going to be great, but if I’d thought about it for two and half weeks straight I’m not sure that would have helped me.

ACT II - THE OPEN

“I suppose I was surprised by how much attention I got, and then I did well and everything snowballed into an amazing experience. I did a lot of media work on the Monday. Who doesn’t like to feel wanted? But we had to manage it at the same time, not least because I was hitting the first shot of the 151st Open, obviously a standout memory, along with the 72nd hole walk down. 

“But the whole thing was amazing, walking on to every tee, in particular because I was playing well, and often there was a buzz. The stands were packed coming down 18 and even holes before that. People were shouting my name, wishing me the best, following me, it was all once-in-a-lifetime stuff I will never forget. 

“It wasn’t that easy to identify particular people I knew, apart from my dad’s friend Stu who’s six foot six and towered above almost everyone. So at least I knew my dad was - next to a walking telegraph pole. 

“In the build up I’d heard a rumour I was going to be asked to hit the first shot. Even before I’d qualified, there was talk that if I made it I’d get the invitation, that it was nailed on, because it was thought a home course competitor would be an obvious choice. When I was in Denmark, Martin Slumbers from The R&A called me and said he’d like me to start the tournament. When it was just a rumour I hadn’t been too sure about it all, but when Martim explained the reasoning and asked me very convincingly - to be honest I was glad I was kind of told it was going to happen - I didn’t think twice. It meant a 6.30 start, but it is so very special, and once it had happened, and then when I completed the round, I understood how great it all was.

“I slept surprisingly well the night before, but it’s tough trying to sleep at half eight. My warm up started at quarter past five, it was just about light. I’d made sure I’d played off that championship tee a lot, even before I’d qualified. One for motivation, this is what I want to do, and second to get used to it. And that night I imagined from the moment Chris my caddy would say ‘it’s time to go’, to walk up the bridge and through, and I just sequenced in my brain everything that would happen: people clapping, shaking hands with partners, looking down the fairway, taking everything in - I visualised it so when the moment came there was nothing I didn’t expect. It’s like a comfort thing, so when the Starter says, ‘Are you ready, gentlemen?’ then it didn’t all of a sudden dawn on me what was going on and what was at stake.

“That said, I think I underestimated that first tee. I knew I’d be nervous, but this was something a little different. Your whole body goes a bit numb and you have no sensation, you’re just going to hit the ball and rely on natural ability. Everything had built up to that one moment. I’d hit three wood in the practice round to take out the bunkers, but once you arrive on the tee, three wood would have left me too far in, and you want to take driver and get away. I just wanted to hit it well and make sure I missed that left bunker. 

“Four days later I got to the 72nd tee not knowing what I needed to make it to Royal Troon, but regardless of what was available to me, when I knocked that final putt in for a birdie all I was trying to do was give myself the best chance and round off what was an incredible experience. I went into the Recorder and asked what the form was and was told, ‘Top ten,’ looked at the leaderboard on a computer and saw I was 11th. It was like, ‘Damn!’ I didn’t know who was behind me, but I knew there were a few in front, so I thought maybe there’s still a chance.

“Then I was walking past a TV screen and saw Tommy Fleetwood hit at 17, land at the back and his ball scooted into the reeds. I realised he was two ahead of me, and within a couple of minutes he was chipping out sideways, and in the end we both finished on four under and he’d done me a big favour and I got in. 

ACT III - ROYAL TROON

“Right now I’m not sure what to expect at Troon. I’ve never been. I’ve obviously played a few Open courses but never there. I can remember some of it, but I’ll try my best to get there beforehand. It’s hard to find the time in the schedule. With the tour there’s so much travelling, when you get home you just want to be at home. But Troon’s a links golf course so I’m sure it will suit me to some degree. On top of that, having played the 150th Open, the 151st here, both of them incredibly special, at Troon there’ll be less emphasis on me so I should be able to go about my business a little more easily.

As ever, Royal Liverpool wishes Matt Jordan all the very best. He’s a credit to Hoylake and to golf.