The 49-year-old did not play any tournament golf at all for two years as he struggled with his game and injuries, finished near to last at the Madrid Open last October and did not play again until the French Open three weeks ago.

He finished last in Paris with two rounds of 81 but remained determined to play this week, perhaps to pass on some of his knowledge of links golf to his son and caddie, Baldomero, himself a promising golfer.

Ballesteros remains as popular as ever, but his opening drive in practice drew gasps of surprise rather than admiration as he hit an ugly, low pull into a fairway bunker, while the round of applause for his successful second attempt bordered on the patronising.

The Spanish star hit a good tee shot down the left of the second hole. But his approach came up short of the green in a deep bunker, from where he only just managed to extricate the ball at the first attempt.

Ballesteros’ greatest strength has always been his iron play, but there were worrying signs of his lack of form on the third hole.

After dropping the ball in the middle of the fairway, Ballesteros pushed his approach well right of the green and almost into the grandstand, while his second attempt was pulled well left of the green, leaving almost 50 yards between the balls.

Golf writers say it would be a major surprise if Ballesteros could make the halfway cut, and he could yet decide to pull out before play gets under way on Thursday.