WEYMOUTH golfer Jon Bevan is determined to do himself justice when he takes to the tee this afternoon in The Open at Carnoustie in Scotland.

Bevan is scheduled to start his first round at 3.15pm and he admits he is feeling better prepared than last year when he finished 155th at Royal Liverpool.

He said: "I played 18 holes on Saturday and I have been practising over the last few days and everything is good.

"I have been in Scotland since I qualified and mentally I am feeling better prepared compared to last year. I know what is coming and I am not leaving anything to chance.

"I played here eight years ago in The Open and it really is a monster. The weather so far has been generally good so it has been very playable but if it changes it will be a beast.

"The secret is hitting the fairways and being accurate off the tee. The greens are quite big so if you can stay in the short grass anything is possible but that is obviously easier said than done.

"Like I said I am playing okay in practise and I am just looking forward now to getting out there and giving it my best shot, and fingers crossed I can do myself, my family and my friends justice by playing like I am capable of."

Tiger Woods, who teed off at 9.09am this morning, is bidding for his third successive Open title but Bevan is refusing to be distracted by the star names at the competition.

He said: "I do not want to waste time worrying about other people. All the players treat each other with the respect they deserve for getting here because there are a lot of good players that aren't here.

"Everyone has earned the right to play in the competition and although one or two of the big stars have definitely got a certain aura around them in my world it's about me versus the golf course."

American Boo Weekley and Australian Paul Sheehan will be Bevan's playing partners this afternoon.

"On a personal level I would have probably preferred to tee off at 6.30am but 3.15pm is fine," said Bevan. "I know the names of the guys I am playing with but I am not too concerned about what they will be doing.

"In previous years I might have been but I am not thinking about that or numbers. I am just here to play against the golf course and take each hole at a time.

"I am certainly feeling more optimistic this time but at the same time I am very guarded. Last year I did not know what I was doing in terms of preparation and this time my only worry is not letting myself down again.

"I am a little bit older and wiser, and a bit more experienced in playing this competition now and hopefully that will prove to be a big help."