THE 149TH OPEN

July 15, 2021

Richard Mansell

Mixed Zone

STUART MOFFATT: Joined by Richard Mansell. How did it you feel to be out there playing In the Championship for the first time?

RICHARD MANSELL: Yeah, obviously something I've always dreamed of since I took up the game. Surprisingly I felt really calm on the first tee. I was excited. I know a few people came to watch, and felt like I played quite well today.

It's not easy out there. You've got to knock some putts in because it's hard to hit shots close. I gave myself -- hit a lot of greens but just didn't quite hole the putts. I think one bad tee shot.

Apart from that, it was quite solid round, to be honest, so, yeah.

Q. And going into round two, what are you thinking about in terms of your performance tomorrow? What's going through your mind?

RICHARD MANSELL: Not a lot, really. I know my game is in a good place. It's my first round in a major, so it wasn't disastrous, which is a good thing.

I've just got to play the same way. Cut out the one mistake and hopefully make a couple, and I'm sure I'll be here for the weekend and then you never know what's going to happen.

Q. And in terms of the the fans out there, there is obviously lots of fans following the games. What's the atmosphere like?

RICHARD MANSELL: It's brilliant. I said to my caddie, because I hadn't really made birdies and I made good two-putt birdie on the 14, the par-5.

On 15 there was quite a few people around and I had about 14, 15 feet. I'd heard other people kind of get some roars and stuff, but I hadn't had any. I just -- I had putts I knew I was going to hole, and really wanted to experience that and was it really cool.

Like you say, that's what you dream of. It's nice to have that support of people.

Q. It's obviously a really special moment to make your Open debut. You've grown up watching it on the TV. What's it been like playing there, particularly walking up 18 and you saw the massive scoreboards which are synonomous with The Open.

RICHARD MANSELL: Yeah, I mean, I think 18 obviously I wasn't too many people about, which was a little bit disappointing obviously. It's early on in the day still.

But the first tee for me was a special experience. You walk out from the tunnel and everyone claps you, and it's like it feels like it's an achievement to be here, which it definitely is, but that's not in my mindset.

So, yeah, just kind of like you say, it's been a tough 18 months for everyone, us golfers but also golf fans, and people haven't been able believe to come.

To have thirty odd thousand here every day, it's special. It's something kind of I'm going to remember for the rest of my life. First major, so, yeah, definitely didn't disappoint.

Q. You've been posting a few pictures on social media over the last few days. Who has come up from the West Midlands to cheer you on? Any club members?

RICHARD MANSELL: Yeah, there are a few members here. My phone has been bombarded so I haven't sat there reading three everything. I've kind of not rudely, but not replied to people because I didn't want to make it bigger than it needed to be.

But I've kind of seen familiar faces throughout the day. Obviously my family is up here as well. My team as well. So, yeah, there is a good group around me. It's just great to have the support.

And like you say, it's five hours from us really, which is not exactly around the corner, so to have people come down is a special feeling.

Q. What's the plan for the rest of the day now?

RICHARD MANSELL: Go and get some food. Yeah, go and get some food, chill out for half hour, do some speed work on the greens. Probably see my coach for 20 minutes this afternoon on the range.

Rest up really. I mean, I'll go in the gym and do some light work and then get home and have a good dinner. So I'll see when my fiancée is going to cook.

Q. Anything you requested?

RICHARD MANSELL: No. I think we've got salmon. (Indiscernible) Have to keep it healthy tonight.