The Open: Birdies aplenty on first morning at St Andrews

Big crowds had come to cheer on the hugely popular American but a sign of things to come occured on the opening hole when he hit his approach shot into the water and it got worse from there.

” I’m very pleased with the start”, said the 21-year-old, who is aiming to match Woods and Ben Hogan in winning three majors in a season.

“I had 123 yards to the pin over in the right-hand rough, and it was just an ideal, nice wedge, let it float up into the air in the wind”, explained Lawrie, making it sound far easier than it was. “If I can shoot something like ten-under in the last two rounds, I still think I’ll have a chance to win”, said the 21-year-old.

Johnson extended the gap to two with a birdie at the only par five on the back nine, the 14th, and produced important saves at the 16th and 17th.

“It’s always really cool to play golf in Scotland in front of the best fans in the world.” he said.

The last three years, in particular, have been lean for Lawrie, who has become exasperated by his putting problems. “Then I lift my head and they are disappointed!”

A couple of spectacular shots propelled home favourite and 1999 champion Paul Lawrie to a six-under-par 66 in the first round of the 144th British Open on Thursday.

On a day which started as one borrowed from the darkest depths of winter, with floodwaters rolling down the road past the luxury apartments of Hamilton Hall and finding an outlet onto the 18th and first fairways, and as other parts of the links soaked in water as if it were going out of fashion, the decision to suspend play was entirely necessary. I certainly expect him to be a guy to beat every single time you play.

Lawrie was two shots off the lead at the halfway-stage when weather disrupted the 2015 Open at St Andrews.

Willett won the English Amateur title in 2007 and defeated Rory McIlroy in the first round of the Amateur Championship the same year, racing five up after six holes before eventually sealing victory on the 17th. His front-nine 29 was the best nine-hole score at a St. Andrews Open since Jacklin in 1970.

“Today I hit a decent shot on the first and missed the putt and then holed the bunker shot at the second”.

“I’m not going to say I’m going to play better (this time)”.

That was the first time that Sutton, born in Lockerbie and a former Scottish Youths’ player, was ahead in a highly interesting tussle with teenager Lester who reached the final of the British Boys’ Championship past year.