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.