Taking the pins in: The view from the graveyard shift

The three men who will go out in Game 52 on the first day of The 150th Open are all on the putting green, ready to finally get their first major championship underway. On a day when balls were in the air at 6.35am, this unlucky trio have the tee reserved from 4.16pm, and it can’t come soon enough.

As they wait on the first tee, the marquee group of Will Zalatoris, Tony Finau and Hideki Matsuyama are finishing up on the 18th, signalling a mass exodus of fans. By the time they’ve made it to the scoring hut, Game 52 is ready to get under way.

In truth, they had been ready for hours.

As they walk down the first fairway, it’s clear that a small, but dedicated bunch of spectators will be following these golfers, going against the flow of spectators heading back towards the clubhouse.

• Lee Westwood takes swipe at Tiger Woods

• Rory McIlroy poised for Open charge

At a time when Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm are all competing on the same course, the ranks of support for these three extends to family, friends, and not much more.

The group all begin with regulation pars. “Two better than Woods already,” an excited Irish voice exclaims, clearly aware of the former world No.1’s double-bogey start.

That voice was one of many who had made the journey from Galway to follow Mullarney, the 27-year-old pro who is ranked 1,806th on the Official World Golf Rankings. For him, and his fans, today is a special day.

While Mullarney’s fans are pleased to see him, some of the marshals around the links might be even happier.

…