Playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship for a club golfer like me produces two main emotions – terror and delight – in almost equal measure. This is my second year of playing in this tournament and it was only during Saturday’s round on the Old Course at St Andrews that I could truly enjoy the experience as it happened.

I am a five-handicapper and as such I should be able to play a decent round of golf, even on three courses as tough as Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and the Old Course. But for most of the time I struggled with my game because I was a continent away from my comfort zone.

You are playing in front of a crowd for a start. Think of a busy first tee at your club multiplied by 20, with all eyes on you as you take your shot. And you are playing with some of the best golfers in the world. My partner, Zane Scotland, had finished fourth in the British Masters two weeks previously and after 11 holes at Kingsbarns on day one, he was five under par. It was fantastic to watch and completely intimidating at the same time.

After that sensational start, Zane suddenly began losing shots, not helped by two visits to the North Sea. He is 25 and trying to make his way, but the control he had over his emotions was exemplary. There were no tantrums, no club throwing, no swearing. He simply battled through, finished the day on level par and said at the end “there is a long way to go yet”. There was: he made the cut and finished tied for 23rd.

— Craig Tregurtha is Assistant Sports Editor of The Times