Dustin Johnson leaves Jordan Spieth in the shade

They are playing the same course side by side, but if Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth are going to continue their majors duel into the last round of the 144th Open Championship, then the American rivals will get there by contrasting routes.

Less than a month after Johnson’s 72nd hole implosion at the US Open that let in Spieth for his second major of the season, their head-to-head was renewed on the ancient links of St Andrews yesterday.

And it is the 31-year-old from South Carolina who will begin today’s second round with The Open lead, following an opening seven-under 65, just as he did at Chambers Bay last month.