Clarke on his & # 039; wow & # 039; moment on first tee at & # 039; homepage & # 039; Open in Royal Portrush

Darren Clarke hits the first shot of the 148th Open at Royal PortrushThe 148th Open Championship, Royal PortrushDates: 18-21 JulyCoverage: live text updates and in-play clips on the BBC Sport website, with live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and daily highlights on BBC Two.Full details

Darren Clarke, Open champion in 2011, said the honor to hit the first shot at this year's tournament & # 39; up there & # 39; was in his career highlights.

The Northern Irishman, 50, produced a fairy-tale start while leading the first birdied and fourth but five, but having to settle for a level par 71.

"I didn't think that I would feel like I did "said Clarke, who lives close to the Royal Portrush tires.

"Just everything about it when I was about to hit my tee … wow."

Everything was great – Clarke

Unlike fellow countryman Rory McIlroy, who started with a terrible quadruple bogey, Clarke played the first hole flawlessly when he found the fairway and delivered an accurate short iron to 14 feet before rolling into the downhill pit.

Clarke went close to a hole in one on the third before tapping an 18-inch birdie-putt and a further win came on the fifth before a wrongly beaten second shot made him score a bogey well on the new par-five seventh hole after a penalty drop.

He stayed behind the corner, but a series of four bogeys in seven holes on his back nine – partially offset by birdies on the 12th and 15th – saw him assign his level – par round.

"I should never have boycotted sixteen because I hit it as if it was good and then at 17 I just hit a poor shot," added Clarke, who now plays most of his golf across the street – 50s Champions Tour in the US

"But it was awkward there, although we probably didn't have he best of the day.

" It was hard to score and Portrush is in this kind of wind a challenge. "

The stands were packed when Darren Clarke opened the Open on Thursday morning

Clarke received the first shot and also on his way to the 18th green, and he admitted it reminded him of his victorious walk the last fairway at Royal St George & # 39; s eight years ago.

"Everyone was roaring. The last time I did that, 2011 was on the 72nd hole. It was great.

" Like I said, I'd be all week enjoy myself. I probably smiled a little more today than I was – than usual.

"I tried to show my appreciation to all the people here today."

Horrorfinish

Graeme McDowell was left behind to make a terrible finish because his triple bogeyman at the end of a lost ball meant he signed for a two-out-par-73.

The 39-year-old Portrush man was three substandard after a spotless opening of 14 holes before bogeys at 15 and 17 were followed by his slumbering hole in the nightmare.

McDowell suggested that he paid for a point of concentration on the final tee after he made the second three-putt in three holes on the 17th.

"I was frustrated when I was on the 18th tee. It was a harmless tee shot. I did not expect that I would lose the ball like that," said the 2010 US Open champion.

Graeme McDowell warns spectators of an erroneous ride during a frustrating opening round

McDowell's ball was found seconds after the limited search time of three minutes was over, but despite his late setback, the home-city player swore not to "miss my week" let it ruin ""

"It's important to regroup alone and get the positive things out today, I played beautifully. "I gave myself so much appearance today [for birdie]. [But] I didn't feel well on the greens."

Like Clarke and Rory McIlroy, McDowell received a compelling reception as he walked to the first tee and the former number four in the world said he had "a tear in the eyes."