Open gets underway

Perfect conditions today greeted the early starters in the opening round of the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry.

England’s Paul Broadhurst struck the opening tee shot at 6.30am in bright sunshine with absolutely no wind, and split the fairway with a long iron.

Playing partner Michael Campbell, the former US Open champion, also found the fairway, but the final member of the group, 1989 Open winner Mark Calcavecchia, pushed his shot into the rough.

Australia’s Greg Norman, winner here in 1986 and third last year, was also among the early starters alongside American Kenny Perry, who was beaten in a play-off for the US Masters earlier this year after blowing a two-shot lead with two holes to play.

Graeme McDowell was to be the first of the Irish starters with an 8.20am tee-off

World number one Tiger Woods, who was absent from Birkdale last year after undergoing knee surgery following his US Open win at Torrey Pines, was due out at 9.09am and was sure to attract massive attention from both the crowds and media.

Woods has been paired with England’s Lee Westwood – tipped by Ryder Cup colleague Ian Poulter to be a contender this week – and Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, the teenage star who will also command a considerable media presence.