Ryan Peake shoots opening 6-over at The Open but had some Phil Mickelson moments he won’t forget

An Australian who has taken a trouble-filled journey to The Open was keen to get some memorabilia from his famous playing partner.

West Australia Ryan Peake did everything he could to stay cool during his major debut at Royal Portrush, having been the subject of much attention before The Open given his colourful past.

But playing in the first round with one of his heroes, Phil Mickelson, the reformed bikie and one-time prisoner couldn’t help but turn fanboy come the end of their 18-hole adventure.

Peake, a left-hander like Mickelson, shot a six-over 77, a steady start to his major career in tough Northern Ireland conditions.

He said Mickelson, the 2013 Open winner, was “very friendly” and up for a chat but raised his eyebrows at a request as they neared the end.

“His caddie gave away golf balls as we were walking off the tee, and I yelled out, ‘What about me?’ and he had a laugh,” Peake said.

“Thought I was being sarcastic, and he said, ‘Are you serious?’ and I said, ‘No, I’m deadly serious’. I said, ‘Can you sign a glove as well’.

“He’s your hero growing up. My own boy is out here this week and he loves him as well.”

Former bikie Ryan Peake couldn’t resist his own fanboy moment with Phil Mickelson. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Peake conceded he was nervous when he met Mickelson on the first tee, something, as a pro, he shouldn’t be.

“He just introduced himself, which I don’t think he needs to introduce himself; I was well aware of who he was,” Peake said

“But obviously I was nervous. I wouldn’t say nervous because I was playing next to Phil. It’s just, I guess, your first major and things like that. But I’ve just got to get better at that, and I’ve got to be better at that.”

As they warmed up next to each other, Peake also got to touch something he never thought he would ever get near.

“Yeah, I grabbed his putter off him a few times and had a little feel of it,” he said.

“That’s the OG; that’s the one from the Masters. There was a couple cool things.”

But while there were highlights, Peake said the overriding feeling after his round was disappointment at not going lower as he finished 10 shots off the lead and with work to do to make the cut.

“I know everyone is going to look at it and say you take the experience in and stuff like that, but obviously very disappointed with the round. Not what I want,” he said.

“So pretty flat at the moment. Was pretty flat out there as well. I just got beat up out there.

Peake had his battles at Royal Portrush. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

“I felt like I did a couple things all right and kind of didn’t get rewarded for them. But I was like Father Christmas out there; I was just handing out presents to the golf course. I just kept throwing them away, and it was just very frustrating.

“Obviously, I’ve still got tomorrow and try and do something to make this cut.

“But the whole experience sort of thing, that’s something that I’ll look on further down the track. I’m not trying to ... I’m here to compete. I’m in a competitive mode.”