Westwood finds water on first hole

Lee Westwood today suffered a nightmare start to the 134th Open championship at St Andrews.

In benign conditions on the Old Course, Westwood hit his approach to the opening hole straight into the Swilcan Burn which guards the front of the green.

After taking a penalty drop the Ryder Cup star, fourth last year at Troon, pitched on to six feet but missed the putt to run up a double-bogey six.

That left the Englishman already three shots off the lead held by American Rich Beem, the former USPGA champion carding a birdie on the same hole to lie one under par.

Former champion Mark Calcavecchia, in the first group out at 6.30am, had also birdied the first from six feet, but three-putted the next to drop back to level par.

Barely a breath of wind had greeted the early starters as Yorkshire’s Simon Dyson struck the opening tee shot.

Dyson, who had missed the cut in his previous three Open appearances, safely found the generous fairway shared with the 18th hole, as did playing partners Calcavecchia and Rory Sabbatini.

Sabbatini famously played out of turn during a tournament on the US Tour recently in a protest against slow play, and this time almost did it accidentally on the second tee.

After Calcavecchia had teed off Sabbatini went to place his ball on the tee before Dyson reminded him of the correct order. “Sorry, I’m half asleep, leave me alone!” Sabbatini joked.

Defending champion Todd Hamilton was also among the early starters in the same group as Westwood and Retief Goosen, and both he and Goosen safely parred the first.