If Nathan Green needed another reminder that he is teeing it up against the next generation at the South West Rocks Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifier, the PGA TOUR winner likely got one when he was the sole player to retrieve reading glasses before signing his scorecard.

Despite the age difference and distance variation between the 51-year-old and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia regulars he is competing with, Green showed his class on day one with a four-under round while enjoying a rare tournament start.

“I can’t see anything,” Green joked of glasses becoming part of his equipment setup.

“I couldn’t read the local rules or anything, so I’ve got to carry it with me… but it’s good fun. I don’t play a lot than the regular Tour ones anymore, the game’s gone past me a little bit in that respect, but it was actually fun there, so I’m going out there and trying to compete.”

Compete he did on day one, when Green showed the benefit of regular golf at home in the Newcastle region with his son to record an opening 68 that sees him five back of leader Jordan Doull.

Green managing the equal lowest score of his group, which included regular challenger for Tour titles Nathan Barbieri, promising new pro Jye Halls and defending champion at South West Rocks Daley Loumanis.

“I played all right today. I think whenever I hit in the trees, I got lucky, which you sort of got to do around here. But I played okay,” Green said.

“It was good playing with a couple of young boys who hadn’t seen play before. Some top young players, so it was good fun.”

Joking that any mentorship to the rising stars would be ill-advised due to “all probably better in the head than I am or ever was”, the strong competitive fire in the former Canadian Open winner clearly still strong and on display when discussing his lead-up to the tournament.

“I play a fair bit. It’s probably a slightly disappointing thing. I’ve been actually hitting it really well at home and because one of my young boys is really keen on it, I get to play with him a fair bit,” Green said.

“Been playing a fair bit and playing actually really well. Today I hit it pretty scratchy, which was disappointing, but got it around and the short game wasn’t too bad.”

No doubt adding to the competitive feeling for Green was teeing it up alongside Jake Riley, whom he has played a mentor role to, with Riley starting his golf at Toronto Golf Club, where Green’s brother Darren is the head professional.

Green and Riley recorded matching scores on day one, with the elder statesman full of praise for the soon-to-be 21-year-old.

“He should beat me. He plays every day, but it’s good to see him playing pretty steady and making a little bit of money and he’s a good player,” Green said of Riley.

“He’s got all the tools he needs it’s just probably how he applies himself.

“He’s got everything you need, so hopefully he can play well at the right time and make a career out of it.”

Green getting a chance to watch Riley’s career progress during Round 2 when playing in the group behind his former occasional caddie, while no doubt trying to show him the old dog still has a few tricks up his sleeve.