GRAEME Storm followed up one successful drive down the middle of the range with another, then another, and turned with a smile on his face to his caddy and anyone else watching him, clearly enjoying being in his native North-East.

Asked whether he was using the 200-yard marker as his line after repeatedly firing over it, he politely replied ‘I was just hitting it to be fair, wasn’t even looking’. It was Pro-Am day after all at Close House, enjoyment the key ahead of the start of the British Masters in the morning..

The Northern Echo: KING: England's Lee Westwood (right) with former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish during the Pro-Am at Close House

KING: England's Lee Westwood, right, with former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish during the Pro-Am at Close House

Out came Storm’s yardage book, covered in a red Liverpool FC sleeve with a couple of autographs on it. One signature was former Anfield striker Robbie Fowler, who he spent time with on the range, and the other Kenny Dalglish - or ‘King Kenny’ as the Reds supporting Storm referred to him – who he had chatted with on the putting green.

Storm was in his element. Only this time, unlike when he was younger watching them do their stuff at Anfield, Dalglish and Fowler are not the main attractions. This is Storm’s stage.

January’s South Africa Open winner, who finished third last weekend in Portugal to climb into the top 40 in the European Tour rankings, is playing in a competitive event in the North-East for the first time in 15 years.

Storm, now 39, has changed and achieved a lot since finishing 55th at the Great North Open at Slaley Hall in 2002; the last of his three outings at Slaley just a quarter of an hour’s drive away from Close House. He missed the cut in his first two.

But this is different this year. He has already assured himself of his Tour card for 2018 and the next four days – provided he can make the weekend’s play - are purely about enjoying the moment, supported by plenty of Hartlepudlians who have travelled up from his hometown to watch him in action.

“It’s a really different feeling this week,” said Storm, who will be teeing off alongside Miguel Angel Jimenez and Haotong Li at 1.10pm.

“I said to Sara (wife) that it feels strange. I am staying at home, it feels surreal, a tournament on the doorstep, getting my head round it has been quite difficult.

“I am going into this with more experience than I did with Slaley Hall, but it does feel really different. The stature of the event is much bigger than Slaley was at the time, even if that was a big event and it was a shame we lost it.

“Something like this coming back here is amazing. Look at the names like Rory (McIlroy), Sergio (Garcia) … the celebrities … it’s awesome.”

He then went up to the first where daytime TV presenter Jeremy Kyle announced Storm’s Newcastle United team – consisting of Sir Les Ferdinand, Andy Cole and Ryan Taylor, as well as Alan Shearer caddying. Hundreds were in the grandstand and next to the tee box just to see that afternoon fourball power up the first.

Storm said: “There’s a real buzz. It’s a proper tournament. Sky Sports and the European Tour have really promoted it. The venue is nice. The golf course is very difficult, a lot of climbs, it’s not a course we are accustomed to on the Tour.

“Finishing third last week was huge for me, so I am looking forward to this. I could have pushed it closer if I had holed my putts. After the lay-off with my wrist it was huge for me.

“The build up to the event has been really relaxed, I’ve played a few holes, hit a few balls, there’s no pressure on me. I am not having to think about my card, I am just looking to have fun.

“People might think ‘well he’s the local lad, he will know the course really well’ they might expect big things. But I don’t know the course that well. There are some really top class golfers here this week. If I can get myself in amongst it then you never know.”

He maybe is at Close House just to have fun and enjoy himself, but having beaten Rory McIlroy in the play-off in South Africa in January, he can do it again, can’t he?

The two-time Tour winner said: “Ha. I have beaten him yeah (smiles) … but it will just be fun out here and I just want to be involved at the weekend. Just to play all four days would be good. I would be disappointed if I miss the cut, but I have had a good year regardless.

“I don’t know how I will play this course over the tournament. I found out a bit more in the Pro-Am. I think it will be more strategic. The greens are very undulating here. Getting used to those quickly will be one things. Who knows what the weather will be like, it’s the North-East.”

Storm’s not the only North-East golfer in action at Close House. Fellow Tour player Chris Paisley, from nearby Stocksfield and a former member, will be teeing off at 7.40am in the third group, while Close House’s Teesside-born managing director and PGA pro Jon Lupton has an invite and is off at 1.10pm.

GRAEME STORM’S FOUR TO FOLLOW:

Rory McIlroy

“Because he’s Rory”

Odds: 15/2

Sergio Garcia

“Because he’s Sergio”

Odds: 9/1

Haotong Li

“Because he’s played this course a lot recently and stayed here.”

Odds: 50/1

Chris Paisley

“As a local lad he knows the course. He is playing nice golf. I can see him going quite close.”

Odds: 66/1