Faldo, a three-time Open champion (1987, '90, '92), hurt his elbow before last week's Standard Life Loch Lomond World Invitational in Scotland and withdrew from that event to have treatment.

However, he played a 18 holes today, hitting a few shots early on off a tee before striking his shots from where they lay.

"My elbow is feeling great. I'm pleased and quite surprised," he said afterwards. "It was a little achy this morning, but on the last six holes I was hitting proper divots and I did not feel a thing.

"I hit most of the balls out of the rough. But I shall be trying to hit all the fairways when Thursday comes."