Thunderstorm threat leads to early start at Hoylake

The threat of afternoon thunderstorms meant an early start for those players who just made the cut in the British Open championship at Hoylake today.

But anyone with memories of Muirfield in 2002 will not have given up hope of getting into contention should the weather turn nasty.

Four years ago Justin Rose began the third round in 50th place, but after shooting a 68 to improve to two under par, sat back in his hotel room and watched as the rain and wind arrived to blow the overnight leaders off course.

Tiger Woods slumped to an 81 that year and Colin Montgomerie an 84, and by the end of the day Rose had moved up 47 places to joint third and just three off the lead.

With 71 players making the halfway cut at one under, England’s Andrew Marshall teed off on his own at 8:20am and opened with three pars before picking up a birdie on the fourth.

Former champion Todd Hamilton, winner at Troon in 2004, was also among the early starters and parred the first to remain one under.

Ernie Els, the man Hamilton beat in a play-off two years ago, was in the final pairing with Tiger Woods due to tee-off at 2.30pm – an hour earlier than previously scheduled.

Woods held a one-shot lead on 12 under par, Els having matched the world number one’s 65 on Friday.

Graeme McDowell was the only Irish contender to make the halfway cut. He is tied for a share of ninth place on -5 after a second-round 73.