Golf: Golden bear a major contender

Jack Nicklaus lived up to his star billing when he opened with a solid one-under-par 70 to claim a place near the top of the leaderboard during the first round of the British Senior Open at Royal Co Down Golf Club.

The 61-year-old, a winner of 18 major titles, started his first ever round in this championship with a spectacular eagle three on the 502-yard par-five first hole and then recorded birdies on the 479-yard par-five 12th and the 276-yard par-four 16th to sit a mere two shots behind the early first round leaders, South Africa’s John Bland and England’s Denis Durnian.

‘‘I suppose a 70 on the board is a pretty good score but I think I probably played a little bit better than that,’’ said Nicklaus.

‘‘I got the sort of start you like to have when I hit a good drive and a three iron to about 15 or 16 feet on the first and then made the putt but it was downhill after that.

‘‘I had good chances on quite a few of the other holes on the front nine but I didn’t make the putts.

‘‘But I can’t complain. When I walk home tonight and see 70 on the board in the first round of your Open I am sure I will think it’s not a bad score.’’

Bland and Durnian both recorded three-under-par 68s in breezy conditions to hold the early clubhouse lead.

Bland came into the championship with a score to settle after posting three second place finishes in the last four years, including two runner-up spots to Christy O’Connor Jnr, the winner in both 1999 and 2000.

However, he has high hopes of going one better this year, particularly as O’Connor is absent after breaking his foot when his motorbike fell on him earlier this year.

The 55-year-old South African raced to the turn in four-under-par 31 after recording an eagle at the first and birdies at the 145-yard seventh and the 425-yard ninth but then dropped his only shot of the day on the treacherous 528-yard 18th hole.

‘‘Christy beat me the last two years so I broke his foot and that took care of him,’’ he joked.

‘‘Seriously, I’ve played here three times and finished second three times so I think it owes me something.

‘‘It’s wonderful to see Jack (Nicklaus), Arnie (Palmer), Gary (Player), Bob (Charles), Tony (Jacklin) and Dave (Stockton) over here,’’ he added.

‘‘It’s good to see more Americans coming over. It’s beginning to get bigger and bigger and I just hope that continues.’’