McIlroy, who missed his Open title defence through injury when it was last held on the iconic Old Course in 2015, made an impressive start to his bid for a fifth major title by posting a six-under 66 on Thursday

 

 

St Andrews, Scotland: A sublime eight-under-par round of 64 ensured Cameron Young ended a low-scoring opening day of The 150th Open as the clubhouse leader. The 25-year-old is making his Championship debut but showed no sign of nerves to set the standard on a course he has played just once before – aged 13.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signing for an 8-under 64, Young will hope to follow in the footsteps of Collin Morikawa, who raised the Claret Jug in his first appearance in The Open last season at Royal St. George's. Young was not the only competitor to take advantage of the minimal winds as Rory McIlroy, Cameron Smith, Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele all carded rounds in the red figures.

 

 

RORY ON A HOT STREAK

 

 

 

 

McIlroy, who missed his Open title defence through injury when it was last held on the iconic Old Course in 2015, made an impressive start to his bid for a fifth major title by posting a six-under 66 on Thursday. Rory McIlroy sits just two shots behind after a stirring performance, bookended by excellent birdies, saw the Northern Irishman record his lowest opening round since he lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool eight years ago.

 

 

The 2014 Champion is not the only world-class operator lurking in the wings after a day that favoured the morning starters, who took advantage of the lighter winds.

 

 

 

 

View the full leaderboard at https://www.theopen.com/leaderboard 

 

 

"Fantastic start. Just sort of what you hope will happen when you're starting off your week," said the four-time major champion. "I did everything that you're supposed to do around St Andrews. I birdied the holes that are birdieable, and I made pars at the holes where you're sort of looking to make a par and move to the next tee

 

 

 

TIGER WOODS' DISMAL PEFORMANCE

 

 

 

 

 

Tiger Woods' bid for a historic 16th major title and third St Andrews success has turned into an unlikely battle just to make the cut after a disappointing opening day at The 150th Open.

 

 

Woods said ahead of the final men's major of the year he wanted "at least one more run" on the historic Old Course, the venue where he completed the career Grand Slam in 2000 and won in 2005, although struggled from the outset as he stuttered to a six-over 78.

 

 

T35: Jordan Spieth, Louis Oosthizen, Hideki Matsuyama and 16 others (-1):

 

 

 

 

Spieth looked to be playing smart, risk-free golf in his opening round, going bogey-free on the front with two birdies for a respectable 34; however, his card got far busier on the back nine with three bogeys that pushed him out of contention and into a spot from which he will be forced to climb Friday to contend on the weekend. Spieth has the creativity and skill to succeed at St. Andrews, and he will have every opportunity to prove that across his second round.