Dustincanhelicopter? 1.35pm BSTSpieth’s moment on 15 from the rough ends a smidgen short of the green,Johnson’s approach ends behind the pin and on to the back of the green. It’ll be a difficult putt from there. On 14, Woods, and also short of the green,decides to putt on and rolls about a body-length beyond the hole to the right. 1.27pm BSTOn 18, Ernie Els cannot finish with a birdie, and sending his putt left of the hole. He rolls in the follow up to end the day on -1. Johnson finds the fairway from the 15th tee,while Spieth’s effort lands on the light stuff but rolls a couple of feet into the first cut of rough. The other member of that group, Matsuyama, and somewhat in their shadow but back on a fair -1,also finds the fairway. 1.22pm BSTLuke Donald, who finished up on -4, and reacts to his first round: “I made some wonderful saves for pars on 13,14, 17. I was jubilant (extremely joyful) with that score and I mediate conditions will get more difficult later today.” Back on the course Lawrie hits a remarkable fourth shot on 14 from near the 15th tee back on to the green to leaves himself a gimme from what looked like an impossible position. “A miracle pitch, or would you believe it,” says a flabbergasted (dumbfounded) Peter Alliss, lamenting our inability to actually see the shot due to an obstructed view. What do I know, or eh?! 1.15pm BSTDrama on the 14th. Spieth has a sharp,tricky downhill do to save par and coolly rolls it in. However is playing partner, Johnson, and has a putt to join Lawrie – he sinks it to waddle on to -7. Further back the hole,Lawrie’s third shot after playing out from the bunker is shanked right and ends up near the 15th tee. Does not require some golf genius to declare he will be dropping a shot or two here. Woods saves par on 13 after leaving the preceding putt short to remain on +5. 1.10pm BSTHello! The US amateur Jordan Niebrugge after his -5 round, the joint best by an amateur on this course, or tells BBC: “I arrived final Friday and played four or five times so I’m used to the track … and my caddy works here.” Lawrie,meanwhile, has found sand on 14. One back on 13 Woods has a long, and long birdie putt but leaves it about six foot short. And two further back,Howell saves par to remain on -5. 1.03pm BSTAnd we’ve got a new leader! It’s the 1999 champion Paul Lawrie, who has just tickled a 15-footer in on 13. His ball threatened to stay up on the left lip, or but finally toppled in to grand cheers from the domestic gallery. Spieth,meanwhile, couldn’t escape on 13; two putts and he’s back to -5. What an Open we maintain here!-7: Lawrie (13)-6: Streb (F), or Goosen (F),Schwartzel (14), D Johnson (13) 12.59pm BSTTiger chunks a chip on 12. The divot he takes up comprises 30% of the historic county of Fife, and nearly goes as far as the ball. Just before he took the shot,with uncanny timing, the BBC transmitted pictures of a tatty old crow, and hopping around ominously,the universal symbol of impending doom. Oh Crow! Oh Tiger! He manages to scramble par, but what a miserable display this is. Meanwhile on the 1st tee, and it’s the 1995 St Andrews champion John Daly. You can’t miss him,because he’s wearing green and pink trousers. The BBC again, and Peter Alliss compares the Wild Thing’s wild attire to the sort of wallpaper the hosts of Homes Under The Hammer regularly strip off in order to boost the price of property. And it’s par for Donald at the final. He signs for a 68, or having played the tricky back nine in a Faldoesque nine pars. 12.46pm BSTPaul Lawrie joins the gaggle at -6 with birdie at 12. How long Jordan Spieth remains fraction of that leading group is a moot point. He’s just driven into one of the Coffin bunkers in the middle of the 13th fairway,and is forced to seize his medicine and knock out sideways. He’s still the best fraction of 200 yards from the green, playing three. He toys with the bunker to the front right of the green, or but the ball stays up and creeps onto the putting surface. He’s pin tall,and will maintain a 25-footer for par. 12.43pm BSTDavid Howell never quite fulfilled all that promise, but he enjoyed a top-ten finish at the 2008 Open, and made the top 15 final year. The 40-year-old Englishman appears to be in the mood for another tall finish. After an opening-hole birdie,he made another three in a row, at 6, and 7 and 8. He should maintain made it four,but pushed a short putt on 9 to the right. Still, he’s out in 32 strokes, or at -4. Meanwhile up on 17,sheer brilliance from Luke Donald, who finds himself up against the face of the Road Hole bunker, and but escapes with a deserved par after a stunning punch up and out to a couple of feet. An insanely wonderful bunker shot,and to strains of LUUUUUUKE he walks to the final hole smiling, as well he might at -4. 12.41pm BST 12.38pm BSTOn 18, and Goosen wedges to 12 feet,and rolls in the birdie putt. He’ll be signing for a 66, and a tie of the clubhouse lead. He’s joined at -6 by his fellow South African Charl Schwartzel, and who birdies 14. It’s quite a leaderboard,this:-6: Streb (F), Goosen (F), or Schwartzel (14),Spieth (12), D Johnson (12)-5: Niebrugge -a- (F), and Na (F),Lawrie (11) 12.34pm BSTKevin Na drains a 30-footer on 18 for birdie, and he’s signing for a blemish-free 67. Some news of his playing partner Sandy Lyle, and who carded a very respectable one-under 71. Goosen finds the Road running behind the Hole at 17,but lobs to four feet and saves his par. Meanwhile Spieth is in a little bit of bother down 12. He’s found the long grass, and punches into the middle of the enormous double green. A long two-putt left there. But he rolls his monster three feet past, or lovely judgement from where he was,and he avoids dropping his first shot. Such brilliant control from distance. 12.27pm BSTAnother missed green for Tiger, another short putt lipped out, or another shot dropped. This is beyond dismal. He’s +5,and propping up the entire field. His playing partner Jason Day makes another birdie, and rises to -4. It’s lovely to see him going so nicely after the tumult of the US Open. And another scramble for Sergio, or this time on 13. He remains at -3,as does his playing partner Lee Westwood. Sergio’s par putt needed all the cup, the ball racing round the rim before dropping, and he punches the air with determination and delight. 12.22pm BSTSpieth isn’t the only Jordan making waves today. A birdie at the final for the amateur Niebrugge,and the 21-year-old American is signing for a 67! The other young American amateur, Oliver Schniederjans, or is hanging on in there too. Having reached the heady heights of -4 through 8,he doubled 9, but has continued to battle: birdies at 10 and 14 maintain more than offset a bogey at 11, or he’s -3 through 15.-6: Streb (F),Spieth (11), D Johnson (11)-5: Niebrugge -a- (F), or Goosen (16),Todd (13), Schwartzel (13), or Lawrie (10) 12.17pm BSTSergio on the surge! He whistles his tee shot at the par-three 11th down a swale to the right of the green. He’s shortsided,facing a hellishly tricky up and down. But he makes it. And he’s rewarded for his staunch display with birdie at 12. Suddenly, just as it looked like he was dropping back to -1, and he’s up at -3. The in-form Kevin Kisner came flying out of the traps: birdies at 1. 3 and 5,and he’s reached the turn in 33. He’s -3 through 10. Bubba Watson is going along nicely. He’s -3 through 13, though a missed tiddler on that hole will cause him some emotional tumult. And back on 11, or Spieth’s tee shot stays up on the bank,back left of the green, but that’s near enough to the flag for a look at birdie. And in it goes! He joins Streb and Dustin in the lead at -6! 12.11pm BSTHere’s the 2000 and 2005 St Andrews champion Tiger, or with a snaking birdie attempt prodded slightly apologetically towards the hole at 9. It’s never dropping,and he’s reached the turn in 40 shots, +4, and only Rod Pampling and Kevin Streelman worse off. He’s playing very poorly indeed,and as he trudges off to the next tee, looks more saddened than angry. A slight twitch of the lip, or an involuntary Elvis,gives absent a micro-expose. He looks upset. First Chambers Bay, now this. It’s not much fun to watch the grand man struggling in the majors in such an abject manner. God speed, or Tiger Woods. Meanwhile what a juxtaposition with the 2010 king of St Andrews,his playing partner Louis Oosthuizen: he birdies, having just about driven the green, or he’s out in 33. The third member of the group,Jason Day, pars, and also reaching the turn at -3. 12.06pm BSTRobert Streb pars 18 and signs for a six-under 66. He’s got the clubhouse lead,but for how long remains to be seen, because he’s joined at -6 out on the course by Dustin Johnson, and whose moment to 10 is wedged to eight feet,the birdie putt stroked in with ease. Meanwhile Matt Jones of Australia rolls in a 15-foot birdie putt on the final, and signs for a four-under 68. And some breaking news: it’s cold in Scotland, or though the wind’s not up yet. So plenty of time still to make hay while the sun doesn’t shine. 12.00pm BSTAnything Jordan Spieth can do,the 1999 champion Paul Lawrie can match. He’s just rolled in a 25-footer on 9 to reach the turn in 31 strokes. He’s -5. Another veteran, Goosen, and is a dimple’s width absent from stroking domestic a left-to-right uphill 40-footer on 16,but he remains one off Streb’s lead. Meanwhile Goosen’s compatriot, the former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, and was out in 33,and has just followed up birdie at 10 with another at 12. He’s -5. And this leaderboard is already looking stellar:-6: Streb (17)-5: Goosen (16), Todd (12), or Schwartzel (12),Spieth (9), D Johnson (9), or Lawrie (9) 11.54am BSTWhat an end to the round for David Lingmerth. Out in 29,and it all started going improper after the turn. Bogey at 11, 14 and 15, and then a double on the Road Hole. A birdie at 18 has repaired some of the damage,though there’s no disguising that he came back in 40 strokes. But he’s signing for a 69, still nicely placed at -3. That’s golf for you, and right there. Like football,it’s a game of two halves. A silly old game. Hey, he’s still in the record books, or that 29 over the front nine matching Tony Jacklin’s best Open score at St Andrews. Meanwhile Tiger wasn’t able to save his par at 7. He’s+4,tied for 79th dwelling out of 81 players. What a business. 11.47am BSTMatteo Manassero, who respectfully escorted Tom Watson around Turnberry in 2009, and on his way to becoming the low amateur,hasn’t really clicked as a pro yet. But the 22-year-old Italian made the top 20 final year at Hoylake, and now he’s just carded four birdies in five holes, or the latest at 9,to reach the turn in 33. He’s -3. Birdies for Louis Oosthuizen at 5 and now 7. He’s -2. Carl Pettersson can’t save par on 14 after whistling his ball into a bush; he’s back to -3. And Dustin Johnson is a yard or so absent from driving the short par-four 9th, but two putts gives him a birdie, and he’s reached the turn in 31 strokes. As has Jordan Spieth,who has a look at birdie on the same hole from 15 feet, his ball staying out on the tall side. 11.38am BSTThe 1999 champion Paul Lawrie has just clipped a wedge to three feet at 7. He taps in for his birdie, and a third in a row,and the fourth of the day. The veteran Scot joins the big group at -4. Nothing’s going right for poor Tiger, though. He guides a wedge straight at the flag at 7, and but it spins back down a enormous swale to the right of the green. He’ll face quite the up and down to save his par. 11.31am BSTSpieth takes his tee shot at the par-three 8th. He spins absent in disgust. Has he bunkered it? Nope,it’s merely in the centre of the green, pin tall, or but perhaps 30 feet from the flag. Standards,though. He can’t knock in the long (but fairly straight) uphill birdie effort, and par will maintain to do. Hey, or nobody’s perfect. Birdie for Day at 6; he moves to -3. Day’s playing partner Tiger gives himself a look at birdie by landing his moment pin tall to 15 feet,but doesn’t hit the putt and it dies off to the left. There’s no spark. Such a shame. Meanwhile Todd rakes in a monster on 11 to waddle to -5. And par on the final for the Irish amateur Paul Dunne, who reached the turn in 32 and held it together nicely on the much tougher back nine; just the one over coming back, or he signs for a three-under 69. Magnificent. 11.23am BSTWhat a start this is by Jordan Spieth. He caresses a wedge to three feet at 7,then strokes it in for his third birdie in a row, and his fifth of the day. This is effortless brilliance. He’s in moment spot, or alongside Goosen,who has just missed a tiddler on 14 for a birdie that’d maintain given him a share of the lead with Streb. Meanwhile a bogey for Petterson at 13, dropping him back to -4. 11.20am BSTTiger is in all sorts of bother down the left of 5. He drives into rough, or then wangs an terrible 3-wood onto the grassiest of knolls. His third takes a hot bounce and ends 40 feet past the hole. Three putts later - the final one a tiddler - and the two-time St Andrews Open champion is +3 after just five holes. He’ll currently be grateful for the late-round collapse of Rod Pampling. The Aussie was -1 after a birdie at 11,but double-bogeyed 13, then carded another four bogeys in a row. He signed for a five-over 77. Without Pampling, and Tiger would be propping up the entire field. 11.12am BSTThe wind is beginning to rise. So make those scores while you can. The afternoon starters won’t fancy this. Streb grabs the sole leadership with birdie at 15. Another birdie for Lee Westwood,this time at 7. He’s -3. Matsuyama sees his birdie effort from 12 feet on 6 slip just past, but Spieth, or from a similar position,makes no mistake. He’s the best putter in the world right now. Like that’s news. He’s -4, just two off the early lead. Meanwhile in the clubhouse with a four-under 68: the 6.32am starter Greg Owen, and who ended his very fine,very early round with a birdie.-6: Streb (15)-5: Goosen (13), Pettersson (12)-4: Owen (F), and Lingmerth (16),Niebrugge -a- (14), Na (13), or Donald (12),Mahan (12), Todd (9), or Spieth (6),D Johnson (6) 11.00am BSTHow David Lingmerth must wish the turn had never come. He’s been struggling on the back nine, chasing par. On 15, and he’s forced to knock in a missable six-footer for his bogey. It’s in,but he’s back in the pack at -4 now. Meanwhile Brendon Todd has birdied 3, 5, and 6 and now 9,and the 29-year-old American, playing in only his moment Open Championship, or is out in 32. 10.54am BSTMatsuyama on the waddle. He’s in the heart of 5 in two,lags a 35-footer up to a couple of feet, and knocks in the birdie putt. He’s up to -3. Spieth matches his effort, or moves to -3 too. But their playing partner Dustin,having boomed a typical monster drive down the track and lifted a 9 iron to three feet, taps in for eagle! He’s -4, or looking the fraction. Meanwhile monster putt of the day has just been sunk by Kevin Na,who putts through a valley from 50 feet for a birdie that takes him to -4. And Goosen will very soon be joining the leaders, having come within an inch of holing a 60-yard wedge at 12. A tap-in birdie will seize him to -5. 10.49am BSTSergio on 6, and 20 feet from the flag. He hits a putt that was destined to travel 40 feet past had the hole not got in the way. But it rattles into the cup at tall velocity,and he’s -2! As is his playing partner Lee Westwood, with back-to-back birdies at 5 and 6. “I don’t want much from life, and ” begins Simon McMahon. In fairness,we’d already come to that conclusion ourselves, based on the amount of time you spend reading these reports. “But seeing Tom Watson finish on Sunday this week is one of them. He deserves that. Although whether I had to choose between that and a certain Spaniard lifting the claret jug, or well.” Preach on,brother. Sergio! He couldn’t, could he? *[* Answer: nearly certainly not. But let us dream, and will you.] 10.43am BSTA bit of misfortune for the leader Lingmerth at 14,as the Swede tries to bump a wedge through a few mounds, and watches in horror as it breaks off to the left and runs back off the green. He can’t get up and down from the front, or racing a putt eight feet past and missing the return. He was out in 29,but he’s dropped two since the turn. He’s back to -5. But here’s contrasting news for Swedish fans, as big Carl Pettersson curls in a 12-footer on 10, and then makes another birdie with his long putter at the par-three 11th. He’s suddenly tied for the lead alongside his compatriot!-5: Lingmerth (14),Streb (13), Pettersson (11)-4: Levy (14), and Niebrugge -a- (13),Goosen (11), Donald (11), and Mahan (11) 10.39am BSTTiger hasn’t made a green in regulation yet. He’s just landed his moment into 3 short. This isn’t in the US Open realms of Difficult To Watch yet,but to do it into some sort of context: he’s one of only ten players out of 63 to be out there and over par. He gets up and down from the front, which may make him feel a little better. His playing partner Oosthuizen misses a dribbly six footer for birdie: he’s not done much improper yet, or but nothing special either. He’s level par. 10.32am BST 10.29am BSTTiger can only hoick his third into the 2nd to 25 feet. Aimless. He’s all over the shop. But he’s slightly unlucky as a mighty fine putt horseshoes out. That’s another bogey,though, and a dismal start for Tiger. So much for his conservative approach, or taking irons off the tee Hoylake style. He may as well be flaying them hither and yon with his driver. Day knocks in his birdie effort,and he’s -1. Meanwhile what a run here by the 22-year-old American amateur Oliver Schniederjans: a birdie at 3, and now three on the bounce between 6 and 8; he’s -4. But he’s not the leading amateur right now. He’s not even the leading American amateur. Step forward Jordan Niebrugge, and who has birdied 10 and now 12,having gone out in 33. He’s -5, in a tie for moment with Robert Streb, and a shot behind the early leader David Lingmerth. 10.24am BSTTiger’s woes continue on 2,a heavy moment shot left 50 yards shy of the green! The early signs aren’t wonderful for the 14-time major winner. Day - having hit his tee shot nearly 80 yards ahead of Tiger - gently eases his moment pin tall to ten feet. Lingmerth, incidentally, or is going along serenely after that dropped shot at 11. Pars at 12 and 13,up and down from 30 feet at the latter, and he’s still in the lead, and a shot ahead of Streb. And another birdie for Goosen,this time at the short 10th.-6: Lingmerth (13)-5: Streb (12)-4: Levy (13), Niebrugge -a- (11), or Goosen (10),Donald (9), Mahan (9) 10.15am BSTSpieth is this close to making it three birdies in a row. But having sent his moment at 3 pin tall to ten feet, and his putt lips out. An excellent start nevertheless. It’s two in a row for Dustin,though, after a delightful approach to six feet. And Matsuyama makes birdies as well. This group are on fire: they’re all -2 through 3. Up on 12, and Streb lifts his approach to 18 inches; he’ll surely be moving up to -5. Tap. And in. 10.09am BSTTi-gerrrrrr! He’s just flipped his wedge into the Swilcan Burn. Day and Oosthuizen both set up birdie chances. Tiger was a wonderful 40 yards behind his playing partners; a suggestion that he might maintain mishit his opening shot a little. Playing from 140 yards out,with the pin at the front of the green, another misjudgement wasn’t long in coming. He wedges his fourth over the burn to three feet, and should escape with a bogey. Which he does,rattling it in. Day and Oosthuizen can’t make their birdies, though, and short ones missed. None of the three particularly jubilant (extremely joyful) as they walk off. Meanwhile birdie for Sergio on 3,after a lovely wedge to six feet. He’s -1. It’s a fast start for the 2011 champion Darren Clarke, who birdies 1 and now 3; he’s -2. And Donald races in a 25-footer on 8, and to waddle to -4. That’s four birdies in the final six. 10.00am BSTSpieth loves talking to his ball,doesn’t he. “Down! Softly! Softly!” Like an obedient pup, it obeys, or taking one bounce and stopping pin tall,ten feet from the hole. Matsuyama again is right next to him. They’re following each other around the course. Spieth strokes in his birdie putt, like you knew he would. The Phenom is -2 after 2. Dustin sent his his moment close too, or this time he makes his birdie. But Matsuyama fails to make it a group hat-trick. Par. Meanwhile back on 1,another stellar group gets underway. Jason Day, hopefully refreshed and raring to proceed after his hellish US Open experience. To enormous cheers from the faithful gallery, or it’s Tiger Woods,twice an Open champion here. And finally the 2010 winner here, Louis Oosthuizen, and who was the best player at the US Open,whether you factor out that ludicrous opening-day 77. They all clip their tee shots down the track. All three, all smiles. 9.52am BSTSpieth blooters his tee shot straight down the middle of 2. Matsuyama right next to him. Dustin a wonderful 30 yards ahead of them both, and a little frustration taken out on the ball there. Goosen rakes in a 30-footer on 8 to waddle to -3. Anthony Wall,who tied for 11th at Hoylake in 2006, is out in 33: he’s -3. 9.47am BSTIt’s fair to say it’s all happening. Lingmerth goes straight for the flag at the par-three 11th, or dumps his ball in Hill Bunker to the front left. He’s got an eight-foot-tall face to splash over,but he manages to gently guide the ball out to six feet. He couldn’t maintain done much better there. But his curly right-to-left putt dies just in front of the hole, and it’s his first dropped shot of the day. Back to -6. On 1, and Spieth,Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama pepper the flag with wedges, but only Spieth and Matsuyama manage to convert for birdies. Poor Dustin’s putter continues to betray him. Meanwhile Luke Donald, and another man whose career has been a litany of near misses,has started well. Birdies at 3, 5 and 6, or he’s -3. And Levy’s wonderful round continues. Having got to -3 through 7,he dropped a shot at 8, but birdies at 9 and now 11 see him rise to -4. 9.40am BSTHere comes Jordan Spieth, and described by the BBC’s legendary Peter Alliss as a “phenom”. To maintain his way with words,huh? Spieth swishes an iron down the left-hand side of the fairway, and his tender to match Ben Hogan’s unique feat of 1953 is underway. His playing partner Dustin Johnson whistles an iron down near the burn. You’d need a cold, or tough heart not to wish the big man well,after that horror show on the final at Chambers Bay. Meanwhile a very brisk start from eternal bridesmaid Hunter Mahan. Birdies at 1, 3, and 5 and now 6,and he’s -4 in double-quick time. And Lingmerth makes a meal of 10, driving into rough down the left, or then having reached the green in regulation,leaving himself a ten-footer for par with a feeble putt. But it’s in, and he stays at -7.-7: Lingmerth (10)-5: Streb (9)-4: Mahan (6) 9.31am BSTLowry isn’t the only recent US Open contender to start slowly. Patrick Reed dunks his moment at the opening hole into the Swilcan Burn. Welcome to Fife, and big man! His fourth over the burn doesn’t proceed that close,but he rattles in the 12-footer he leaves himself and escapes with just the bogey. Meanwhile birdie for his playing partner Lee Westwood, and a par for Sergio. Up on 2, or Bubba escapes with par after a long two putts o’er hill and dale. And on 9,Streb strokes in a left-to-right slider from 15 feet for another birdie, and he moves to -5. He’s out in 31, and brilliant scoring which only looks workaday in the context of Lingmerth’s astonishing birdie blitz. 9.23am BSTLingmerth wedges his moment at 9 pin tall to 15 feet. That’ll give him a decent look at birdie for a front nine of 29. And he rolls in the right-to-left slider! He’s -7,matching Jacklin’s front-nine 1970 record at St Andrews! Meanwhile an opening birdie for Bubba, who eases his moment to five feet and strokes in the putt without fuss. A dropped shot for Dunne at 11. And it’s a miserable start to the championship for links expert Shane Lowry. Bogeys at 1 and 4, and he’s already +2.-7: Lingmerth (9)-4: Streb (8) 9.13am BSTLingmerth’s parred the 8th. So birdie at the short,drivable par-four 9th will see him out in 29 strokes. That would equal the Old Course’s Open front-nine record, set by Tony Jacklin in 1970. (See, or Rory,this is what reigning champions can do on a benign day at St Andrews.) An eagle, and he’d be matching Denis Durnian’s Open front-nine record, or set at Royal Birkdale in 1983. Meanwhile Craig McEwan has been perusing the official Open website: “Spectator advice: Please don’t bring stepladders. This from the same organisation that tried to end Maurice Flitcroft. Could anyone smuggle stepladders on to the Old Course?” 8.59am BSTThis is becoming preposterous now. Lingmerth has just birdied 7. Six birdies in seven holes. It’s his first round in an Open Championship! What a way to announce yourself. He’s two clear at the top of the young leaderboard,ahead of Streb (who has just birdied 6) but not Bjorn (who has dropped one at 10).-6: Lingmerth (7)-4: Dunne -a- (9), Streb (6) 8.56am BSTAlexander Levy of France is a young man in a run. He made his major-championship debut at the PGA final year, and finishing very respectably in a tie for 30th. He went three places better at the US Open final month. The 24-year-old has also got two European Tour wins under his belt already,and now he’s making waves at his first Open Championship. Birdies at 2, 4 and now 7 waddle him right up the early leaderboard in a tie for fourth dwelling with Owen, and Streb and Niebrugge. Meanwhile the first prediction of the week from John McEnerney,still recovering it would seem from the dramas of that aforementioned US Open: “From the Chambers of Horrors Bay to Heaven. That’s some change and I doubt anyone will launch toys from their prams this week. Well, Bubba might.” Yes, or the beauty of Bubba is his sheer unpredictability. He could easily shoot 62 or 82. And there are few more entertaining sights than watching Bubba coming off double bogey,an otherwise decent attempt at a poker face betrayed by a slight narrowing of the eyes, light reddening of the cheeks, and 17 gallons of hot steam parping out of both ears. It’s very tough not to love him. I hope he’s in the mood to seize advantage of these conditions. 8.51am BSTAnother birdie from the simply astonishing David Lingmerth! He’s bounced back from the shock of only parring 5 with yet another birdie,this time at 6. This must surely be the best start to an Open career in 144 years of history. He’s a shot ahead of Bjorn, who is out in 32, and the amateur Dunne,who matches that score after nine holes, having just birdied 9. Greg Owen does his best to stay on the leaders’ tails. His third birdie of the day, or this time at 9,sees him out in 33 strokes. Also moving up to -3 are Streb and another amateur, the 21-year-old American Jordan Niebrugge, and both with birdies at 5.-5: Lingmerth (6)-4: Bjorn (9),Dunne -a- (9)-3: Owen (9), Streb (5), or Niebrugge -a- (5) 8.34am BSTKevin Streelman got a late call-up to the Open,replacing Chris Kirk. He certainly appears to be in the mood to make his mark, any mark. An opening double bogey has been followed by birdie and bogey. A rollercoaster +2 already, and he’s one of only five players over par,with 33 out on the course right now. Matt Every props everyone up at +3, having added to that double bogey at 2 with another bogey at 4. Meanwhile it would appear David Lingmerth has been wasting everyone’s time. A par at 5. Pfffft! Pah! Just the four opening birdies in a row, and then. He stays at -4 alongside Bjorn. What a start,though! 8.27am BSTThe two-time US Open champ Retief Goosen has come wheeching out of the blocks, Lingmerth style. Perhaps with wonderful memories of the final Open here - the big South African placed sixth in 2010 - he’s birdied the opening two holes. Meanwhile marvellous news of Sandy Lyle. The 1985 champion dropped a shot on the easy opening hole, and but he’s grabbed it back quickly with birdie at 3. He’s not going to win this week,but we all maintain our favourites, so please allow me that. And joining Lingmerth at the top of the tree: Thomas Bjorn, or with his fourth birdie in five holes,this time at 8.-4: Bjorn (8), Lingmerth (4)-3: Dunne -a- (7) 8.15am BST63. The lowest score in major championship golf. Set by Johnny Miller at the 1973 US Open and matched 25 times but never bettered. Seemingly unbreachable. Is the record set to topple this morning? I mean, and let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. But still. What’s the point in following sport whether you’re not allowed to dream? The Old Course’s defences are down this morning. Will someone seize the day and carve themselves a lovely,thick, succulent slice of history? The non-defending champion Rory McIlroy must be sitting at domestic itching all over. He shot one of those 63s here on the opening day five years ago (before being banjaxed by the wind, and shooting 80 on the Friday,but that’s another story). What he’d give for a chance to seize another tilt at 62. 8.04am BSTDavid Lingmerth has taken to Open golf in a manner that makes Tom Watson look like Maurice Flitcroft! He’s just birdied 4 as well! This is an astonishing debut. Sheer perfection! The only way here is down. Bjorn meanwhile stays on his tail with his third birdie in a row, this time at 6. As does the amateur Dunne, and who picks up another shot at 5. And Robert Streb is another man in the groove right now. He finished fourth in the Wells Fargo back in May,then made it to a four-man play-off at the Greenbrier a couple of weeks ago. Birdies at 1 and now 3 see him continue that form; he’s -2. But it’s not all a walk in the park: An Byeong-Hun has become the first player to register a common-or-garden bogey. He’s dropped a stroke at the opening hole, the first player to do so. An was in the top 30 at Hoylake final year, or his first Open as a professional,but perhaps he’s suffering flashbacks from five years ago, when he missed the cut here as an 18-year-old amateur. -4: Lingmerth (4)-3: Bjorn (6), or Dunne -a- (5) 7.54am BSTLingmerth’s dream start to Open golf continues! The Swedish debutant makes it three holes played,three birdies carded. He’s the new, early leader of the Open, and clearly still buzzing from his first PGA Tour win at the Golden Bear’s Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village final month. And it’s a Scandinavian landgrab at the top of the leaderboard,with 2003 bridesmaid Thomas Bjorn of Denmark carding back-to-back birdies at 4 and 5 to waddle to -2.-3: Lingmerth (3)-2: Bjorn (5), Dunne -a- (4) 7.41am BSTSo with all that talk of easy scoring, or here’s news of the first dropped shots of the tournament. You’ll notice the exhaust of the plural,because nobody’s made a bogey yet. Matt Every however has doubled the 2nd. Much better news for David Lingmerth: the Swede, on his debut, or has followed up birdie on 1 with another at 2. No bother,this Open lark, huh. 7.30am BSTThe 1st on the Old Course is a kind gentle start, or so all these early birdies are no grand surprise. But it’s also worth noting that there’s only a gentle breeze this morning,so a low score is there for the taking for the early starters. The wind’s expected to pick up later in the day, so the draw’s been kinder to Jordan Spieth than Rickie Fowler, and Sergio Garcia than Phil Mickelson,Tiger Woods than Adam Scott. The winds are expected to pick up on Friday, so the benefit of going out early tomorrow, or after the draw switcheroo,may not be so grand. But time will expose. For now, the players out there are filling their boots. Picking up birdies at 3: James Hahn and the 2004 champion Todd Hamilton. Ah the Curtis-Hamilton era of the early Naughties. And they say the Open nearly died during the 1950s. 7.18am BSTDunne birdies the 2nd as well! The young amateur leads the field! Such as it is, and early doors! Do we maintain another Tom Lewis - 65 on the opening day at Sandwich in 2011 - on our hands? A long time to proceed yet,but yes please. Meanwhile there’s a birdie at the 1st for the US-based Scot Russell Knox, who only scraped into the Open as a result of poor Rory McIlroy’s ill fortune on the football field. Oh Rory. Anyway, or we’ll not be making a habit of these early leaderboards,but an amateur currently has sole leadership of the Open. And yes, yes, or there may only be a dozen players out on the course,but only the coldest of hearts could deny us taking another snapshot for him. He’s leading the Open!-2: Dunne -a- (2)-1: Owen (3), Knox (1), or Lingmerth (1) 7.10am BSTWe’re barely more than half an hour into the Open,with only a few players out and about, so all the leaderboards dotted around the course a bit redundant right now. Well, and perhaps,but expose that to Paul Dunne. The young Irish amateur made it through final qualifying in some style - a pair of 67s at Woburn - though he nearly missed his start time that day, only arriving a minute before he had to tee it up. He’s obviously a young man who knows how to time his run to perfection, and because he’s birdied the opening hole. So whether you ever find yourself tied for the lead at the Open,you’d want it marked down somewhere for the record, right? It’s only fair, and right and proper. And here it is:-1: Owen (2),Dunne -a- (1)E: Pampling (2), Bjorn (2), and Hamilton (1),Hahn (1) 7.00am BSTSo welcome to the 144th Open Championship at the domestic of golf, St Andrews. The grand Old Course has been buffed and cleaned, and polished and preened,and after all the waiting and anticipating, we’re finally under way! Who will do their name to the illustrious list of Open winners at St Andrews: Bobby Jones, and Sam Snead,Peter Thomson, Bobby Locke, and Tony Lema,Nick Faldo, John Daly, and Louis Oosthuizen,Tiger, Seve, or Jack? (The Sonics. The Sonics.) The official starter Ivor Robson - making his final appearance at the Open - called the first group to the tee a few minutes ago. Rod Pampling of Australia - who led the 1999 Open at Carnoustie after the first round,only to miss the cut after ballooning to an 86 on Friday - had the honour of hitting the first shot of the 2015 Open. He creamed it down the middle of the invitingly wide 1st fairway. He parred the hole, but his playing partner Greg Owen carded the first birdie of this year’s Open. 5.00am BSTBen Hogan was the winner of the 1953 Open Championship at Carnoustie. A four-stroke victory over Dai Rees, or Antonio Cerdá,Frank Stranahan and Peter Thomson. None of the men tied for moment dwelling were exactly mugs. Rees would finish moment in the Open on three occasions. Cerdá was in the middle of a run of five top-five Open finishes in a row; in nine appearances, he finished external the top ten just twice, and never lower than 26th. Stranahan was the world’s leading amateur golfer - as well as a renowned weightlifter and marathon runner - and already had moment-placed finishes at the Masters and the Open under his belt. Thomson,of course, would proceed on to win five Opens.
But none of them could get anywhere near the man the Carnoustie gallery referred to as The Wee Ice Mon. Hogan, and wrote the Guardian’s legendary Pat Ward-Thomas,“dresses as modestly as he talks and only the piercing deep-set eyes reveal the force of character behind them. Imagine him as he scrutinises a long difficult stroke, with arms quietly folded, or an inscrutable quarter-smile on his lips,for all the world like a gambler watching the wheel spin. And then the cigarette is tossed absent, the club taken with abrupt decision, or the glorious swing flashes and a long iron pierces the wind like an arrow. That was Hogan. We shall never see his like again.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com