Tommy Fleetwood: 'I will try my hardest tomorrow'

Tommy Fleetwood feared he had let his supporters down after making a disappointing start in his hometown Open at Royal Birkdale.

Southport-born Fleetwood, who used to sneak on to the championship course to play as a child, was given a hero's welcome on Thursday but shot a disappointing six-over-par 76.

After rising to number 14 in the world and finishing fourth in last month's US Open, Fleetwood had been tipped as a contender but he hopes he can still give the locals something to cheer.

Fleetwood had large numbers following him throughout while playing partner and world number two Hideki Matsuyama, who finished tied-second at the US Open, commanded huge Japanese media attention.

Remarkably the third member of the group, Brooks Koepka, who actually won at Erin Hills, had the smallest following of the three - but it was the American who shone, shooting 65.

Fleetwood said: "He's one of the best players in the world and he played fantastic golf. He was brilliant."

Fleetwood did not feel he played badly but was punished heavily for slight errors, such as when he had to play from a bank in rough on the sixth and from under a bush on the ninth.