Buoyed by having his 15-year-old son Baldomero caddying for him, Seve Ballesteros exceeded his expectations with a two-over 74 in the British Open first round, his first foray in the event for five years.
The five-time major champion and six-time European number one, whose only other serious tournament outing this year produced two rounds of 81 in the French Open three weeks ago, admitted he was nervous at the start.
However, as the Hoylake crowd lifted him, Ballesteros responded with a steady front nine and a swashbuckling back nine as he avoided running up a bigger score with a series of par-saves.
"I felt down in practice because deep down I had no confidence," Ballesteros told Reuters.
"It has been a long time and playing in the Open is a lot of pressure.
"But having my son by my side walking the fairways and the people shouting for me was great encouragement.
"I had some good practice before the round and that raised my confidence."
While he was lifted by the British gallery, who still admire him for his three Open successes, Ballesteros insisted there was no dwelling in the past: "People calling for me helps me a lot but you have to be in the present," said the 500-1 shot to win this week.
The 49-year-old Spaniard even bettered his 30-year-old playing-partner Ian Poulter by a stroke.
Ballesteros could only marvel at the flamboyant Poulter's garb. The 2004 Ryder Cup player appeared in a sequined union flag shirt and red sequined bandsman-striped trousers with claret jug motifs.
"He looked more like a Spanish matador," quipped Ballesteros. "But he shouldn't go for red. Bulls get angry at red."
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