HOYLAKE, England —Â On the first tee, it looked like John Singleton, the local factory worker who made it into the British Open field via local qualifying, had a case of nerves in one of the biggest moments of his life.
He backed off the shot, possibly distracted by the enormity of the moment.
Once Singleton reset, however, he striped his tee shot to the middle of the fairway.
“Of course I was nervous,’’ Singleton said Thursday after shooting an opening-round 78. “I just went blank, really. Obviously I was just more focused on the unbelievably shaky hands. I was just trying to control that and just hit it down the middle would be great. It’s probably the best shot I’ve ever hit under pressure.’’
When he was told his name appeared on the scoreboard at one point, he said, “I didn’t know that. I’ll get me a picture of the scoreboard and I’ll keep that with me for the rest of me life, as well.’’
Singleton’s goal was to make the cut, which now seems like a longshot considering he was 6-over on a perfect scoring day with no wind.
“I don’t know what the rest of my life is going to hold after tomorrow,’’ Singleton said. “I play well, I make the cut and who knows? If I don’t play well and I don’t make the cut, who knows? I just don’t know. Just go and enjoy it and not think about what could happen or what will happen.
“It’s the Open, isn’t it? And it’s home as well, so it’s something special and I can keep that one with me for the rest of my life.’’
Singleton’s boss at the factory, which makes resin for electrical heating wire, closed the place for the day so everyone could come and watch Singelton’s first round. There were scores of friends and family, including his pregnant fiancée, Lucy Johnson, who never had been to a sporting event of any kind in her life.
The atmosphere around the first tee when Singleton teed off was electric with all of the love in support of the local hero.
“On the first tee, Marc [Warren, one of his playing partners] said to me the hairs on the back of his neck stood up,’’ Singleton said. “It gave him a good buzz, as well. And Peter [Uilein] was that way, as well. For those guys, they’re here to do well. And for them to enjoy it, it means a lot to me, as well. I’m not some Big Time Charlie who’s going to win. Obviously I want to win, but I’m just there to enjoy myself and soak it all up.
“It was one of the best times of my life.’’
With that, he was off to the practice putting green to prepare for what he hopes will be a miracle round Friday to extend this dream week. And later?
“I’m certainly gonna have a few [pints], to say the least,’’ Singleton said.