The 31-year-old Sydneysider, who sank a hole-in-one the first time he made the Open at Royal Liverpool in 2023, was back on the big stage which he'd continued to covet on Thursday, but wasn't about to hide just how racked with nerves he was to be back at Royal Birkdale.

"I have only played three majors. I still shit myself on the first tee! It is still not easy yet. It is never going to be easy," sighed Smyth, who reckoned he had a lot of prove after booking his place again as the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner.

"I don't know how many fairways I hit, but I made it so hard for myself out there. I was extremely nervous, didn't feel like I was playing that well. I just struggled off the tee a little bit and made it hard work for myself.

"But I was really proud of the way I hung in there. It could have got pretty messy, pretty easily. I didn't hit many greens, but sort of grinded out a lot of pars. I shot a one-over par 71 in the end - and now I can go out tomorrow and have a great round."

This time around, Smyth believes he's better equipped to deal with all the hoopla surrounding major fare, having won at the Japan-Australasia Championship and International Series Japan this season.

"I think I'm ready to compete this time," he said. "Last time, I was just like a deer in headlights; didn't really know what was going on. Everything was a completely new experience.

"It is just great. Majors are where you want to play, and it's awesome. Pretty much every hole, apart from 16, was filled with people who are just parked up there for the day, plus people walking around. The atmosphere was incredible."

He also felt he had struck lucky in his build-up this week, hardly able to credit he'd had nine holes of practice on Wednesday with world No.1 Scottie Scheffler.

"Watching the precision of his iron play was amazing. It was kind of demoralising a little bit, too. It was like, 'Damn, when I play good, I don't think I have that in me'," smiled Smyth.

"But it was good. It lights a fire in my stomach and makes me want to work hard. Now that I've seen what No.1 in the world looks like, a little bit of a taste - it was only nine holes, but it was a great experience watching him play.

"He is a lovely guy, really down to earth, which I'm happy about, too. He is not like a dickhead or anything! So it was good."