Birmingham City goalkeeper Maik Taylor was on the fairway yesterday when he learned they would be opening their Premiership campaign against Manchester United.
Taylor has NEVER picked up a point at Old Trafford and he was sent off there in 2003.
But he still welcomes a curtain-raiser at the Theatre of Dreams.
Taylor, 37, revealed: "I was on the first tee when I got the text and I nearly shanked my shot!
"When the fixtures come out it really brings it home that we are back in the Premier League.
"You look at the first day and then Christmas and, of course, the Villa games.
"It will hit when we start back in pre-season training and realise we are preparing for an opening-day fixture at Old Trafford.
"It's great to be going to places like that again, even though I've never even come away with a point from there.
"I haven't really been on the end of a thrashing either, a couple of 3-0 results.
"I'm not sure about the theory they don't start the season strongly! It's going to be a tough hello to the Premier League playing the defending champions in front of their fans.
"At least they've got a veteran keeper too! It's good to see Edwin van der Sar still playing so well for a wonderful team like United.
"I'd rather be playing them in the first fixture, not the last one when we might be fighting for our lives."