SANDWICH, England — If you believe in kismet, then you believe Thomas Bjorn will win the British Open this week.

If Bjorn, who wasn’t even supposed to be here because he hadn’t qualified, is able to cobble together three more days that come remotely close to duplicating what he did in yesterday’s first round at Royal St. George’s, he’ll write one of the greatest tales in the history of this storied championship.

He also would serve as a living, breathing example of the rewards of mental perseverance.

The 40-year-old Dane was the second-to-last alternate to get into the field, not finding out until Monday night that he was in thanks to Vijay Singh’s late withdrawal.

Because he brings more baggage to this British Open than the cargo cabin of a British Airways 767, you could have excused Bjorn for taking a pass.

That was never an option.

“This is the Open Championship,” he said. “Where else do you want to be?”

No one wanted to be Bjorn eight years ago as he was leaking away a three-shot lead with four holes to play during the 2003 British Open, the last time it was played at Royal St. George’s.

With a two-shot lead at the par-3 16th hole, Bjorn famously took three lashes to get out of a greenside bunker for a double bogey and then promptly bogeyed 17 to virtually hand the Claret Jug to Ben Curtis.

That was the closest Bjorn has come to winning a major championship. He had two hands around the neck of the Claret Jug and let it slip through his fingers.

Yet there was a resilient Bjorn yesterday scorching the very course that broke his heart with an opening-round 5-under-par 65 to tie for the lead.

“There are a lot of issues that go on in a golf career,” he said. “But I look ahead . . . and I always look ahead. I’m 40 years old and there might just be a little bit more in me.”

What a stirring story that would be.

“I’ve worked very hard in my career to get myself in those positions and I got in that position in ’03, and that was my biggest chance to win a major championship,” Bjorn said. “I’ve always promised myself I’ll keep going and keep going.”

Bjorn’s mind-set is why fellow Dane Anders Hansen, who’s been friends with Bjorn since they were 12-year-old juniors, was one of the few people not surprised to see Bjorn’s name atop the leaderboard.

“Thomas is good at moving on with things,” Hansen said. “I’ve known Thomas for so many years and he seems to go through these things and he just moves on. His mental strength is unbelievable.”

Bjorn’s form entering this week had been abysmal, but with good reason: His father, Ole, died in May after a long fight with cancer.

In five events since his dad’s death, Bjorn missed three cuts, withdrew once and had a tie for 57th.

When the topic of his father was broached yesterday, Bjorn had a difficult time composing himself, saying through tears, “Well, he meant a lot to me . . . he would have been very proud of what I did today.”

Bjorn once walked off the course at the K Club during an Irish Open, saying he was battling “inner demons.” Yesterday he admitted, “I lost my appetite for the game, totally. I’d get in the car going to the airport and I wouldn’t want to go. I always felt like I had to go more than I wanted to go.”

Now he’s Bjorn again, wanting to go to tournaments. Being Colin Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup vice captain last fall helped rekindle his flame for the game.

“When I walked around the Ryder Cup, I knew that, at my best, I’m easily competitive with these guys,” Bjorn said. “I want to win more golf tournaments. I want to give it another go and give myself a realistic chance of winning a major championship.”

If you believe in kismet, he’ll have that chance Sunday.