Tom McKibbin got the perfect trial run for his 6:46 am tee time on Thursday when he played a practice round with heroes Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke at Royal Troon.

The Newtownabbey native (21) will make his debut in The Open and his second major appearance when he leads off the six-strong Irish challenge alongside Sweden’s Alex Noren and Scottish amateur Calum Scott in the second group of the day.

“We played at about 6:45 this morning, and then I thought it was a bit early to be playing golf, but I thought I could get a tee time around this, and I have, so yeah, this morning was perfect.”

Rory McIlroy will begin his bid for that elusive fifth major at 10:09 am alongside American Max Homa and England’s Tyrrell Hatton, believing he’s ready to challenge after coming to terms with his recent US Open heartache.

The Co Down man revealed he changed his number two days after losing out by a shot to Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst and missed a message from Tiger Woods.

“Tiger has been nothing but incredible to me over the course of my career in the good moments and the bad,” McIlroy said.

"He sent me an incredible message after St Andrews in 2022.  “I met Tiger when I was 15 years old, and I've built up a great relationship with him, his whole family.”

He added: “It means a lot that he reached out. Actually, it means a lot that he waited a few days to reach out, which, if he hadn't waited that long, I probably would have got it.

“But I caught up with him earlier. It's always nice when your hero and the guy that you had on your bedroom wall is reaching out and offering words of encouragement.”

Woods revealed he waited a week to send McIlroy “a nice text” and revealed that getting back into contention for another major as soon as possible is the best way for him to get over Pinehurst.

“Just basically, as you know, I'm your friend,” Woods said of his text. “I know this is a difficult moment. We've all been there as champions. We all lose.

"Unfortunately, it just happened, and the raw emotion of it, it's still there, and it's going to be there for, I'm sure, some time.  

“The faster he's able to get back on a horse and get back into contention like he did last week, the better it is for him.”

Clarke goes off with Dean Burmester and JT Poston at 1:48 pm with two-time Open champion Pádraig Harrington out with American Davis Thompson and England’s Matthew Jordan at 2:15 pm.

Shane Lowry, the 2019 champion, goes off at 2:59 pm with Cameron Smith and Ryder Cup teammate Matthew Fitzpatrick determined to get a second Claret Jug.

Rather than feeling the pressure is off after his win at Royal Portrush, Lowry said: “I think it adds more pressure.

"I feel like when you've tasted success, you just want it even more. That's just the way it is. I feel like I want so bad to win another one.”

Joking, he added: “Just give me one more, and I'll be happy. That's all I want. Is it too much to ask for?”

Galway amateur Liam Nolan is off in the third last group of the day with fellow amateur Jaime Montojo Fernandez of Spain and New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori at 4:05 pm.