DOMINIC KING: Matthew Jordan is in dreamland after his magical week at The Open ends with a once-in-a-lifetime moment at Royal Liverpool

This was the dream. As a young boy with stars in his eyes, when he watched Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy make history, local boy Matthew Jordan hoped he would one day walk down Royal Liverpool’s 18th fairway and receive the same acclaim.

Imagine his feelings, then, when fantasy became reality. On this sodden afternoon, when practically every other English golfer was left grimacing, Jordan had what might prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime moment to put the gloss on a near-perfect week at Hoylake.

Having hoicked a drive down the left, Jordan had to cross railings to reach his ball. There, waiting for him, were an army of his friends and after he split the fairway with his second shot, he walked the next 200 yards in their company, as if he was just a normal spectator enjoying the action.

It would have been easy to lose concentration but he quickly got back into the game and how impressive he did it, punching a wedge to six-feet and then sinking the putt. Having started the week by taking the opening drive, he finished in the top 10 and secured his ticket to Troon in 2024.

Waiting at the back of the final green was father, Andy. The pair shared an emotional embrace as they tried to take it all in and what made things even more poignant was the fact that a posse of young kids were now running after him, begging for some of his paraphernalia.

Matthew Jordan received the acclaim of the local crowd as he made his way down the 18th

Jordan earned a top 10 finish to ensure he will play at next year’s Open Championship in Troon

‘I just so wanted to knock it in just for everyone who’s supported me, just to go mental one last time,’ said Jordan.

‘They stuck with me even in the rain. To be able to do it for them and have that kind of ultimate feeling, to birdie the last at my home course at The Open is just brilliant. I knew a few people walking alongside me and we were having a joke about the shot (I had played). It kind of brought me out of the pressure mode, talking to them. And then once I got back in I was like, “Hang on! I’ve still got to hit a shot here!”

‘I wanted to put myself in the last few groups to experience it. You can never expect what’s going to happen or how you’re going to feel. But I was so glad to give myself that chance. Then, walking down 18, it’s incredible. The grandstand is so big!

‘You move along, more and more people just keep coming. The ovation, it lasts like a minute and two minutes and you can’t stop smiling. You’re like, OK… it’s brilliant, but I don’t know if I’m worth this much applause.’

He absolutely was worth the applause. The only blemish on his round was a bogey on 17, the infamous little hole that has been the source of such discussion all week. It was there that a triple-bogey six left Tommy Fleetwood, another local hero, looking bedraggled.

Fleetwood played solidly enough — and never lacked for backing from the crowds — but the putts never dropped when he needed them and he looked spent when he trudged off, finishing tied with Jordan and Max Homa on four-under.

It was the kind of look which told you he felt it should have been so much better.

The look on Jordan’s face, by contrast, made it clear he will still be floating next week, when he returns to the course for a family four-ball.

‘This has been the best,’ he said, the grin providing sunshine on a rainy day. ‘This, hands down, has just been the best.’