Franny McGuirk admitted his first taste of The Open had more than lived up to expectations, describing his day at Royal St George’s as simply “fantastic.”

The 37-year-old Princes GC professional overcame early nerves to card a seven-over par 77 – the highlight of which was a birdie two at the 16.

McGuirk almost snatched another on the 18 when the ball just broke across the hole, but afterwards he admitted nothing could spoil his day.

He said: “The whole day has just been fantastic. I’m sure I’m going to struggle to sleep tonight purely and simply because of the excitement.

“I was nervous, apprehensive and delighted all at the same time on the first tee but I played with a smile on my face. I can’t change the shots I played so there is no point getting grumpy about it.”

McGuirk, from Sandwich Bay, went out in the 24 group at 10.48am and had the support of a large contingent of family and friends, led by mum Ann, dad Michael, wife Sarah and his three brothers and two sisters.

He explained: “It was very strange on the first tee when I got a big round of applause and cheers. It kind of startled me a bit but it was nice to have good support, and it was enjoyable all the way round.”

McGuirk made an inauspicious start to his round dropping four shots in the opening four holes but three successive pars helped him consolidate before another dropped shot at the eighth saw him to the turn in a five-over total of 40.

Three further bogeys followed at holes 11, 12 and 13 but then came his birdie at the 16, followed by two pars for an inward half of 37.

He said: “I did not hit the ball as well as I’d like. I made a few nice up and downs early on but I had a couple of real bad mistakes as well - a three-putt and a four-putt which kind of kill you but I got off to a nervy start which is just the way it was and I kind of ground out a score which was better than it could have been.”

McGuirk admitted “one birdie was better than none” and he feels the way he played over the back nine gives him optimism for day two.

He explained: “Sixty seven is my aim tomorrow. I got a lot more settled on the back nine. Whether I can shoot it I don’t know but that’s what I’d like to shoot so let’s see what happens.”

McGuirk’s playing partners were fellow Open debutant Australian Matt Millar, who finished one over, and American Kevin Streelman, who carded 76, and he said the duo had helped put him at ease.

He explained: “They were fantastic. They just chatted to me like a regular person. They couldn’t have been nicer. We had a laugh on the tee, just really relaxed. It was good.”

McGuirk will tee-off at 3.49pm tomorrow.

Picture: Barry Goodwin