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DAY 1

July 16th 2010, Fife, Scotland: Louis Oosthuizen secured a five stroke halfway lead at The Open Championship at St Andrews.

In eight previous Majors the 27 year old South African had missed seven halfway cuts - and in the other he shot rounds of 81 and 77 over the weekend and finished last.

But after adding a five under par 67 to his opening 65 Oosthuizen will go into the weekend on a Championship record-equalling 12 under par.

Nearest to Oosthuizen is 50 year old Mark Calcavecchia, seven under par and continuing the recent trend of golden oldies making their presence felt.

"It's probably the position anyone wants to be in," said Oosthuizen who won his first European Tour title in Spain in March and with it climbed into the world's top 50 to qualify for The Masters Tournament.

"It's what we work to achieve and I'm just very happy with the two rounds I put together."

So he should be. Although he teed off at 6.41am, he had to play through driving rain and yet had a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth to move out in front.

There were ups and downs after that, but a closing birdie enabled him to match the record mark - in relation to par - established by Nick Faldo and Greg Norman at the venue in 1990.

"St Andrews is where it all started. I think it's everyone's dream to win The Open Championship, but to win it at St Andrews is just...you never really think it'll happen."

He just laughed, though, when somebody asked if his Major record might have made him fix up other things for the weekend.

"I was planning on making the cut. I've booked a house until Sunday night," he said.

That left Calcavecchia alone in second place, albeit five shots behind Oosthuizen.

Rory McIlroy, magnificent in his opening 63, could only follow that up with an eight over par 80.

The Northern Irishman, who spent most of a 65 minute delay for strong winds in a bus, managed to smile afterwards, but said: "It was just very, very difficult out there.

"I think all the guys were finding it tough this afternoon and I just let it get away from me a little bit.

"I actually did well to par the last three holes if I'm totally honest - it could have been an 82 or an 83."

Paul Casey and Lee Westwood were other early starters and, by shooting 69 and 71 respectively - Casey even had a triple bogey at the 17th in that - they were next best on six under.

As for World Number One Tiger Woods, winner at the course in 2000 and 2005, he made a better fist than McIlroy of staying in the hunt by turning in 36.

But then came bogeys on the 13th and 15th to leave him three under and nine back.

McIlroy's compatriot Graeme McDowell, winner of the US Open Championship a month ago and almost inevitably another who teed off around breakfast time, was part of the group on five under after a seven-birdie 68.

"You just had to deal with it and again just be very patient," said Woods. "Right now I'm eight back so we'll see.

"I'm not exactly where I want to be, but today I could have easily shot myself out of the tournament, but I put it back together."

A total of 30 players could not finish, including Steven Tiley on six under, British amateur champion Jin Jeong on five under after 17 and Darren Clarke at four under with three to play.

They will all come back at 6.30am.

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