Kent’s Warren Bennett returns to The Open after a ten-year gap this week – ten years in which all his dreams appeared dashed and he became a European Tour caddie just to try to keep a foothold.

The 40-year-old former Tour winner, leading amateur in the championship way back in 1994, feared his playing days were over after a succession of injuries. But he refused to give up and now, after coming through two stages of qualifying, he is at Royal Lytham giving everything he has in a bid to re-ignite his career.

“I’ve come back because there’d be too much regret if I didn’t,” said Bennett. “If I fail I fail. At least I will have tried. I’m still at the bottom of the barrel. Just because I’ve made it to The Open doesn’t mean anything – it really doesn’t.

“But this shows I am doing the right thing. Even if I shoot two 90s I am doing the right thing. It proves to me I’m on the right path. Others might have the pressure of trying to win, but the pressure for me is to make the cut and earn some money. That’s my Open Championship. Next week I’m back on the (third division) EuroPro Tour. I’m not saying that’s bad, but it’s like playing at Wembley and then going to Torquay or something.”

He stands 71st on their money list with £1,000. The player in the same position on the main circuit, South African Jaco Van Zyl, has earned nearly £200,000. “I just want to have a good week and I’ll be really disappointed if I didn’t,” said Bennett. “To get back on Tour is the ultimate goal. The last time I earned good money was 2004.

“Now I survive on what I win – it’s hard. “There’s more pressure doing that than there is here. If you don’t make money you can’t play the next tournament – that is pressure.”

Bennett’s last European Tour appearance was in Portugal in 2008, but he had to pull out because of the hand problem he had suffered when a car knocked him off his bicycle.

Bennett tees off at 10:59am on Thursday morning with fellow Kent golfer, Steven Tiley teeing off in the group beforehand at 10:48am.