MATT Southgate will tee off at the Open this morning after enjoying his fifth successful quest to qualify.
Southgate made sure of his place at Royal Troon after a fine display across 36 holes Royal Cinque Ports.
And the Southend born 35-year-old cannot wait to continue his connection to the Open.
Southgate told theopen.com : “I don’t want to sound brash or arrogant, but I have such a big relationship with The Open.
"I have such a heavy connection to The Open because of my dad, who is sadly no longer with us anymore.
"He took me to every Open Championship from 1999 until I played my first Open in 2014.
“It’s always lovely to be a part of."
Southgate will tee off at 7.52am alongside South Korean Sung-Jae Im and former world number one Justin Thomas .
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