By his own admission Alex Maguire tries to keep things simple.
Having secured an unlikely place at the Open through the R&A's Open Amateur Series, he immediately set out travel and accommodation plans rather than day-dreaming of what is to come.
The 22-year-old from Laytown arrived at Royal Liverpool on Monday and reality soon set in.
Walking into the locker-room he searched for his spot in between Matsuyama (Hideki) and MacIntyre (Robert), but it was not there.
His first thought was he had been forgotten. Secondly it was that there’d be an amateur section.
But alas, he was positioned among his countrymen due to their previous successes.
He explained: "My caddie Jack and I came off the boat and came straight here for a walk around to see what the place was about. We went in the locker-room to get my locker.
"We were walking around for about two or three minutes and the attendee in the locker-room said it's here in the corner.
"I assumed all the amateurs would be together, which would have been nice. But he leads me to the champions corner and saw my name beside Shane Lowry, then myself and Rory.
"To be honest I couldn't stop smiling for 15 minutes after, how cool it was to have my name beside those two lads. They are my two favourite golfers. I've looked up to the them the last few years. It's quite, quite surreal."
Still pinching myself ☘️@TheOpen @GolfIreland_ pic.twitter.com/r1pJFv675e
— Alex Maguire (@Alexmaguire13) July 18, 2023
Phil Mickelson is not far away. Furthermore he admitted a practice round on Monday was a moment to pinch himself.
He played with Brandon Grace and Patrick Reed, while Jordan Spieth and Jason Day were beside him leaving the course.
These are moments to treasure but with it comes a confidence that they’ve been earned.
He came through a three-event series comprising the St Andrews Links Trophy, the Amateur Championship, and the European Championship.
The first was held on the historic Old Course at St Andrews.
"I've qualified to be here by own golf. I'm very, very proud of myself to be able to play the Open this year. A lot of the events I've played have been massive for myself but playing the Open is a different calibre.
"I'm not trying to fanboy too much and just want to soak it in. I was at St Andrews last year watching the Open so the kerfuffle of it all doesn't really shock me. But when you're the person everyone else is watching it's a little bit different
"I feel like it would be different if I got an invite to this or an invite to a different event where you could be quite shocked by it and feel like you don't belong. But I've qualified by playing two great links golf courses and one of them being the Old Course.
"Playing really good around there gives me some confidence going into this week. I've shot some good scores around links courses. It doesn't feel too foreign to me. I played here about 10 years ago so seeing the holes again was about refamiliarising myself with it. I've got here on my own merits so I'm really looking forward to seeing what the weeks holds."
Maguire will play with Charl Schwartzel and Rikuya Hoshino just after 7am on Thursday.
He admits that the thought brings butterflies having pictured the situation when on the practice tee this week.
"I'm not sure I'll be able to put the ball on the tee. It's going to be incredible to get that first ball off the tee. I'm really looking forward to it. The first tee amphitheatre will be full of Irish on Thursday morning. It's more excitement that nerves. I'm channelling it in my brain to say it's excitement not nerves.
"I've zero 'outcome goals’. I'd love to win the silver meal. I'd love to lift the Claret Jug, that's obviously a dream of mine. But I don't go into events with an outcome goal. If I control what I can control, that's all I can do. I've learned recently if you go into events trying to chase an outcome goal it rarely happens.
"I'll go out there, focus on every single shot, commit to every shot and we'll see where it takes me at the end of the week. It's obviously a massive week for me and I know how pivotal it could be in my career. I'd love to able to compete and I also want to enjoy the week as much as I can."
It's been a special day for Alex Maguire.
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 1, 2023
The winner of The Open Amateur Series has secured his place at Hoylake.
See you at The 151st Open later this month.@RLGCHoylake @RandA pic.twitter.com/Ynr4h9RwQe
Regardless of what happens this week, Maguire is determined to not let it distract him from his trajectory.
He is in position to be considered for the Walker Cup which is set to be held at St Andrews Old Course in September.
Next year he will then plot going professional, knowing this week is something of a shortcut.
"It remains to be seen what I do. I'll probably stick to the plan I have. This has been a massive bonus in my amateur career. I'm so privileged to be here. This is not professional golf; this is the very, very top of professional golf.
"I understand you have to go through the levels to get here. I've sorted of skipped all the levels for one year. If I thought this is what professional golf would be like for the next 15 years, I'd be very naive to what real professional golf is.
"My plan is to stay in college and maybe turn professional next year. I’m just going to enjoy this week as much as I can."
