By Neil Silver, PA Sport

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Michael Brooks knew he was going to have an enjoyable morning when he "burst it off the tee, hit a nine iron to 12 feet and holed the putt at the first".

That was one of an impressive five birdies for the Royal St George's assistant professional, who had the honour of playing as the marker alongside Peter Fowler in the first match out in the third round of the Open.

"I got a telephone call last night at 11 O'clock to say I was playing at nine O'clock in the morning and it was a nice surprise," said Brooks.

"I had known for a little while that I was on standby and I was delighted to get the call, otherwise I'd have been working in the professional shop from about 6am until 9pm."

Brooks was unable to keep a card because he lost a ball at the fourth and was not allowed to go back and play another, but was more than satisfied with his round.

"I got off to a great start and played all right," he said.

"I burst it off the tee, hit a nine iron to 12 feet and holed the putt at the first.

"Peter made it easy for me and calmed me down because it was more than nerve-wracking out there. My brief was to get out and play and not get in anyone's way."

Brooks is a former Scottish Amateur Champion and played in the same Walker Cup team as Justin Rose in 1997.

Australian Fowler was the man with the serious business on the course and he shot a one under par 70 for a three-round total of seven over.

"I played pretty good all day and made the most of the better conditions," said Fowler.

"The biggest difference to the first two days was that the pins were much kinder because there were some diabolical ones on the first two days.

"The week has been great fun. I haven't played the Open since 1995 so it was good to get another shot at it."

The one black spot during the round came when Fowler was put on the clock at the 16th hole for slow play, although he and Brooks completed the round in exactly the maximum time allowed of three hours and 32 minutes.

"Playing in the Open is not a normal round of golf but the officials have got their job to do and I have got mine, and we both try to do it as best we can," said Fowler.