Thorp refused to be fazed at playing alongside Watson, one of the game’s great names, and finished level with the American on the day at one-under-par 71.

Watson was impressed with his young partner.

“Marius has the ability to be a great player,“ he said. “He is fearless with the putter. I remember those days.

“That was something I used to revel in and I wish I was like that again.”

Thorp now has a number of options after putting some big players to shame with his game plan at Hoylake.

He has a year to run at college in Oslo but there is also an offer to continue his studies in the US.

However, it all depends on what happens at the European Tour school in November. Thorp intends to turn professional should he qualify.

For the moment he intends to savour a rare double. He won the individual title at the world junior team championships last month when Norway clinched the team event. Dad Arild was captain.

Like Watson, Thorp took time out from practice to visit The Beatles museum in Liverpool.

He said: “We talked about music and The Beatles, although he remarked I was much too young to remember them.

“I had so much fun out there and I played good. It does not get any better than playing with one of the game’s great players.”