AS the 145th Open tees off at Royal Troon this morning, David Howell will always remember his first time playing for the Claret Jug.

Nineteen years ago, the Broome Manor pro, then a fresh-faced 22-year-old, headed out on to the course in South Ayrshire to make his bow in the most prestigious tournament.

Not only was his first shot at Royal Troon his first-ever in the Open, but it was also the inaugural one of the 1997 running of the event.

While the Swindon ace was the early leader that year, things soon took a turn for the worse.

“I missed the cut,” the 41-year-old recalled. “I started off well but then it didn’t go so well after that.”

The Swindon ace, who would go on to win the Ryder Cup twice with Europe in 2004 and 2006, ended the second round on the Friday six-over par and was heading back south for the weekend.

Howell, whose best-ever showing at the Open was in 2008 when he finished seventh at Royal Birkdale in Southport, returned to Troon seven years later.

In 2004, he endured an even tougher time north of the border as he finished in a tie for 141st after an overall score of 12-over-par.

Yet, for all the testing times he has suffered at Troon, Howell is looking forward to getting started.

“You have to be positive,” he said.

“There is something different about playing in the Open than the tournaments on the rest of the calendar.

“I have come here not in the greatest form after missing cuts in Germany and France.

“Last week, however, in Aberdeen, I felt that I was playing quite well.

“But we need a different kind of skill set for playing Links golf and that is something I’m looking forward too.”

Howell will get his 14th Open championship under way at 11.47am this morning playing alongside American Tony Finua and South Korean Seungyul Noh, with the second round on Friday morning starting at 6.46am.