COLIN MONTGOMERIE will hit the opening tee shot at this year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon. The Scot, whose father was a secretary at the club for many years, will begin his round at 6:35am on Thursday alongside Australian Marc Leishman, who lost in a play-off last year, and England’s Luke Donald. Montgomerie admitted it would be “an honour” to open the tournament on his home course.

“I’ve just heard the news myself and it’s a great honour at my age – a senior player now – and coming from Troon,” he told Sky Sports, who are broadcasting The Open live for the first time. “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve stood on this [first] tee many times before so it should be no problem. It’s at 6:30 so will there be people here? I hope so. And I’ve got two good people to play with in Marc Leishman and Luke Donald so there will be people watching them as well as me. So it will be an exciting three-ball.”

Reigning champion Zach Johnson begins his defence at 2:15pm in a group that includes Australian Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson of Sweden, while world number one Jason Day is out with Masters champion Danny Willett and American Rickie Fowler at 9:25am.

Elsewhere in the draw, Rory McIlroy – the 2014 champion who missed last year’s Open at St Andrews through injury – has been partnered with Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Bubba Watson of the USA at 9:36am, while Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry go out together at 9:03am.