Having only sealed his place at Royal Birkdale a couple of weeks ago in final qualifying, Jack McDonald has been forced into some last-minute tweaks to his schedule.
He went on holiday to Rome but found it difficult to switch off knowing that he was about to tee it up in the Open Championship for the second time.
The 33-year-old Scot was also supposed to be playing in a Tartan Tour event at Bothwell Castle this weekend, but had to pull out due to the small matter of trying to win the Claret Jug.
From Bothwell to Birkdale, it is quite a story for a man who effectively stepped away from playing full-time competitive golf last year.
McDonald is one of only two Scots in the field this week, along with Bob MacIntyre, and he admitted it has been a whirlwind period after clinching his place in final qualifying at Dundonald.
‘I was actually down to play at the Bothwell Castle Pro-Am on Sunday,’ he explained. ‘This is a nice addition to the diary instead.
Jack McDonald is one of only two Scots in the Open field at Birkdale, alongside Bob MacIntyre
‘I had a holiday in Rome just after I qualified. It’s so hard to not think about what’s coming up.
‘I’m not playing European or HotelPlanner Tour this year — and suddenly I’m going to be in the biggest event there is.
‘All I can control is my golf, how I hit the shots. That’s all I can think about. I’ve got to try and feel like I belong here.
‘I’ve played tournament golf all my life, coming up through the ranks, and that feeling of belonging there is the same at every level you get to.
‘It’s like going from a amateur golf to the Challenge Tour (HotelPlanner Tour). It’s the next level.
‘The Open is the highest level and you just have to play golf. You are always trying to climb the ladder in this game. It just so happens I’m now playing in the biggest tournament in the world.’
McDonald has been working at Whitecraigs Golf Club doing his PGA Professional training, with a view to still working in the golf industry beyond his playing career.
The former Walker Cup player, who came through the ranks at Kilmarnock Barassie in Ayrshire, also played in The Open at Royal Troon in 2024.
McDonald plays a tricky bunker shot at Royal Troon in 2024 on is way to a missed cut
He was the local hero on that occasion, whereas now he is enjoying relative anonymity and flying under the radar at Birkdale. But McDonald believes his experience of playing at Troon, where he only missed the cut by a shot, can stand him in good stead for the week ahead at a baked-out Birkdale.
‘It obviously feels a bit different this time,’ he said. ‘I’m not as familiar with the golf course, but The Open is amazing obviously and everything that comes with it is very similar.
‘As a junior, you dream of holing putts to win an Open. To be able to play in this event twice now is special.
‘I played here once before during the Walker Cup week at Lytham. It’s a lot different, though, and I can’t really remember too much about it as it was that long ago.
‘But, with the changes they’ve made, it’s a proper test of golf. It’s running fast out there and I don’t think there is any rain in the forecast.
‘I would imagine that it is going to be very firm over all four days. The firmer it gets, the more premium there will be on hitting fairways.
‘Troon was just playing almost overly difficult with the conditions — I’ve never seen it play like that.
‘I’m just here to enjoy it. What will be will be. Yeah, it is going to be such a great week, no matter what.’
