Mark O’Meara was selected to open the 2017 Open Championship, but failed to handle the moment as he walked off the opening hole with a quadruple bogey-8.
The former Royal Birkdale champion rifled his tee shot out of bounds, then found the bunker with his third shot before beginning the day four over par.
‘I just got off to such a poor start and my hand slipped off the club,’ he said after finishing 11 over par.
‘When you’re nine-over par through seven holes it’s very disappointing, but it’s not the end of the world. I realise kind of where I’m at in my life. But you still play for your pride and certainly I’m disappointed that I didn’t do better.
‘For the R&A to give me that privilege of the first tee shot shows the respect they have for their Open champions, the respect to know that this was going to be my last Open Championship.’
The 146th #TheOpen is under way… pic.twitter.com/VjGGYw4aJU
— Compleat Golfer (@CompleatGolfer) July 20, 2017
Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
