91Èȱ¬

Devon amateur Jimmy Mullen labelled some of the first round Open pin positions as "silly" despite taming Muirfield with a level-par 71.

"They want to watch where they are putting them," the Bideford debutant told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Devon.

"There are a couple of really tricky pin placements that were, in my opinion unplayable, given how fast the greens are playing.

"The fourth was silly, so was the eighth and 18 was silly too."

Mullen got off to a dream start, birdieing two of his first three holes and, although he dropped shots as the fourth and the seventh, he made birdies at the fifth and the eighth to go out 34, two-under par.

He then started the back nine by dropping three shots in two holes, starting with a double-bogey six at 10, but birdies at 12 and 17 got him back in red figures before a final-hole bogey.

"I was a bit nervous on the first tee," said the 19-year-old, who plays at Royal North Devon. "It is so different to the practice rounds and still can't believe I'm here really.

"But, if I'm honest, I'm more disappointed than anything to come off with a 71.

"The greens were so fast. And, if they cut or roll them, they'll get even harder and faster.

"They should put a bit more water on them, but then they want to make as hard for us as possible

"I don't want to jinx myself but, if I play similarly tomorrow, I've got a good chance.

"I felt good out there. I feel surprisingly comfortable even with all those people watching.

"And it was great to see so many friendly faces from Royal North Devon.

"It's 700 miles up here and it was really nice of them to travel all that way.

"Seeing them made me feel that it was just like I was playing back home.

"They're certainly making themselves known every time a putt goes in," added the Devonian. "I'm just glad they didn't get out the ginger wings they've brought with them."