Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell stole the headlines with a one-under-par 69 to share the lead on the first day of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
McDowell, American Rocco Mediate and Australia’s Robert Allenby topped the leaderboard but Australian duo Greg Norman and Adam Scott were just a shot behind, along with American Bart Bryant.
Just two behind the lead in a share of seventh were Simon Wakefield and Londoner Anthony Wall, who both carded one-over 71s late in the day, as did former major winners Retief Goosen and Mike Weir.
That was one better than England’s Ian Poulter - who endured the worst of the weather as a morning starter.
Poulter had two birdies and three bogeys in his outward half of 35 and despite dropping three shots in five holes after the turn he took advantage of the two par fives to birdie both.
“Standing on the range this morning the rain’s coming in sideways and the wind’s blowing 30(mph) and as we know we only four holes downwind so you know it’s going to be relentless,” said the 32-year-old.
“When the wind and rain are like it was on the front nine it’s brutal. I managed to weather it pretty good, stayed focused, and hit some good golf shots.
“It is easy to let it get to you very quickly and you can let it slip.
“You only have to look at the board to see there are some great players shooting very big numbers.”
