WATCHING Jordan Spieth lift the Claret Jug on Royal Birkdale’s 18th green brought back happy memories for two talented Dunfermline golfers.

Just eight days before the American superstar became Open champion for the first time at the famous Merseyside links, Dunfermline Golf Club members Elaine Scott and Megan Brown were teeing up their own success and piece of history on the same course.

Elaine, 48, and Megan, 22, rubbed shoulders with some of the game’s biggest names ahead of competing in the first R&A Nine Hole Championship Final on Saturday July 15.

They were two of 42 amateur male and female golfers who competed in a handicap pairs competition following a successful pilot at Royal Troon last year, and finished third after playing the Southport course’s back nine.

More than 7,000 players entered qualifying events across Great Britain and Ireland and, after topping the Scottish leaderboard, they shot a combined score of 72.5 after a superb round in front of their watching family and friends.

Elaine told Press Sport: “It was absolutely brilliant; I felt like I was a professional golfer!

“There were four pairs from Scotland and we had the highest score, so we did really well.

“It was a wonderful experience but so surreal; I was thinking that I’m actually going to play on the same course the professionals are going to play the week after!

“The greens were beautiful and the course was immaculate. It became real when we arrived and saw that the Open stands were up.

“It was initially terrifying on the 10th; I remember thinking ‘am I good enough to play this course?’, but there was a lot of excitement as well and, once I teed up, the fears and nerves dissolved.

“Megan played well and I played well, and I’ll never forget it as long as I live.”

Megan, who even bumped into the likes of Dustin Johnson and Tommy Fleetwood, commented: “It felt like we were treated as professionals on the day and I was really impressed at how well the course was laid out for us.

“I was surprised with how many pars I had and made me think I can play on the same course as the professionals. It didn’t really hit me until I teed off, and I was like, this is pretty cool!

“Elaine says she was nervous but I was watching her and she was as cool as a cucumber. We played really well to finish third; we were top in Scotland so we went down to enjoy it, so it was amazing to walk away with something.

“Finishing up on the 18th was pretty special and I had visions of Henrik Stenson (last year’s Open champion) at Troon, and made me wonder what would happen at Royal Birkdale.

“The nine-hole thing is really good and we’ve already messaged each other to say ‘see you at Carnoustie’ next year!”