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Tommy Fleetwood has been dreaming of a major triumph and believes he has the mental capacity to hit top form in familiar surroundings at The Open this week

Fleetwood returns to his native North-West this week nine years since he nervously strode out to the tee at Royal Liverpool for his first Open start.

The Southport golfer will tee off at 9.47am on Thursday and will partner Scottie Scheffler and Adam Scott as he chases his first major title on home turf.

Rounds of 74 and 76 as a 23-year-old still finding his feet in the professional ranks saw Fleetwood miss the cut in 2014, and he admits his nerves and inexperience got the better of him.

But the 25/1 shot, who has six DP World Tour titles to his name, now believes he has the experience to cope with the pressure that will be under at Hoylake.

"I think when it's an event that is so close to home, obviously it comes with its own mental challenges, with your own expectations, and with everybody else's," saidcFleetwood.

"But it would be silly and daft to look at or try and find negative elements to do with that. It's an amazing feeling playing in front of so much support and having that, and I think it's very special.

"No matter what happens, it's going to be a week that you remember. I still remember the first Open I played that was here; I didn't play very well, and I was so nervous and so inexperienced, if you like, but it was still so special to play in front of a home crowd."

The world No 21 is one of the leading English hopes at the 151st Open and Fleetwood makes no secret of how special it would be to do so in his own back yard.

"I've imagined it about a million times," Fleetwood said. "Winning a major is a huge, huge dream, so no matter where that is it's something I've always visualised and thought about.

"But then again, having the opportunity to do it so close to where you grew up is something unique and special."