'I THINK I DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB FIGURING IT OUT FOR MY FIRST TRY'

Collin Morikawa on changing irons, watching videos of Tiger, and why he owes his victory at Royal St George's to the Scottish Open...

- MICHAEL CATLING

Collin Morikawa won The Open at his first attempt C last year and will defend his title at St Andrews. "Being defending champion at the 150th Open at St Andrew's, you can't script it any better," he smiles. "Other than being the defending champion at the 151st!" Hopefully, I can pull it off with the energy of all those 290,000 fans."

A keen student of the game, Morikawa understands he'll be walking on hallowed turf around the Old Course, and around the town itself, especially now his name is on the Claret Jug. "When I take it out, people realise what they're holding and the history of it," he says. "They read the names that came before me. That reaction of people, that will never get old. I've never been to a golf course where really the entire town is encompassed around the course like St Andrews. The love for the game of golf breathes and lives through the town. That's what I'm most looking forward to experiencing, being part of the town when everything is about The Open."

Now you've had a year to reflect on winning the Claret Jug, what were the real highlights for you at Royal St George's?

Winning (laughs). Coming over for the first time to play my first Open, it was learning how to play links golf. Royal St George's is a little different than some other links style rotations in The Open Championship, but I think I did a pretty good job figuring it out for my first try.

Given you've never visited St Andrews before, are you planning to alter your preparations?