Five-time champion Tom Watson started his return to the Open on Monday with an apology.
The 58-year-old American, who missed last year's event at Carnoustie because his daughter was getting married, was three hours late for his press conference at Royal Birkdale.
"We got in this morning, unpacked, hit the bed and three hours later woke up," said Watson.
"At my age you need naps."
It was at Birkdale in 1983 that he won the last of his titles - and a year later at St Andrews that he missed his best chance of equalling Harry Vardon's record number of victories.
A two-iron second shot up against the wall over the green on the 17th is the shot blamed for his defeat to Seve Ballesteros then and 24 years on he admits: "I just tried to hit an heroic shot. It wasn't the right shot to play."
It will be back on the Old Course in 2010 that Watson bids his farewell to the event following a change to the exemption for past champions. From then on they need to be 60 or under rather than 65.
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