1101: Tom Watson - at the grand ol' age of 59 - leads the Open, folks, as he sinks another lip-smacking putt to go four under through 12. Kenny Perry, who finished runner up to Angel Cabrera after a play-off at the US Masters this year, is making a bit of a surge with a couple of birdies in a blemish-free round so far up to 13, while Sergio Garcia - for the third time in his round - makes up for a wild tee shot by saving par, this time at 12, and he stays one under.
Leaders: -4 Watson -3 Calcavecchia, Senden-2 Perry, Stricker, Singh, McDowell, Hansen, Westwood -1 O'Meara and 15 others 1054: A gallant attempt at his chip from off the green leaves Westwood a horrid putt for par at seven and he can't make it, so he drops back to two under. Ryo Ishikawa picks up a shot, though, as he goes one under, as does Woods who sinks his tiddler to join the Japanese superstar in the pack two shots off the lead.
1050: Ouch - Westwood finds he has a horrible lie at seven after that wayward second shot and his escape bobbles short of the green. He faces a tough ol' up and down to save par, there. Woods, however, putts from off the green to within a few feet and he has that for a birdie at the par five.
"Conditions out there are absolutely perfect and the course couldn't possibly play any easier - it's still hard, but this is as good as it gets. I don't know if it's going to stay like this, though, so maybe the earlier you get out there today, the better."
Clubhouse leader Mark Calcavecchia on BBC Two
BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts on Twitter:
"Have escaped the Tiger scrum. A snapper on the 6th tee got a telling off for clicking as Lee Westwood was over his ball. Hard stares from Lee."
From Sam, alone in the office, Loughborough via text on 81111: "Is it sad that I'm more excited by learning the alt-tab trick than the golf?!"
1041: First real slip of the day from Westwood as the Englishman puts his second shot at seven into the rough - difficult to tell how bad his lie is, though. Australian John Senden, meanwhile, has joined the leaders at three under with three birdies on the bounce 13 through 15, while Graeme McDowell sinks a beauty at nine to go into the turn at two under. Just as I type, Tom Watson narrowly misses a putt at 12 to go four under - what a round he is enjoying.
Leaders: -3 Calcavecchia, Senden, Watson, Westwood -2 Perry, Singh, McDowell, Hansen -1 O'Meara and 13 others From Alan in Edinburgh via text on 81111: "Ian Poulter is just getting into the Scottish frame of mind (see below). 'Pooring' is acceptable and I'm sure he'll be telling us how 'dreich' it is later."
1034: Mark Calcavecchia misses the chance to take the outright lead as he forces a long putt at 18 past the hole, but no such trouble for Tom Watson who is putting a smile on everyone's faces as he birdies 11 to join the leaders at three under. Italian 16-year-old Matteo Manasero - the youngest player on the course partnered by the oldest in Watson - is more than holding his own there as he sinks a lovely putt at the same hole to stay level par, but Garcia - who could do with a touch of Manasero's precocious talent right now - pushes another putt past the hole at 11 to miss out on birdie. He's just failing to convert these chances, the Spaniard.
1027: Tiger Woods, who while hardly faltering has yet to really open his box of tricks today, pings a stonking tee shot at six to find the green. By the way, for those of you perplexed as to how to keep track of both the Open and
the second Ashes Test
today, fear not - I have the solution. I'm thinking two windows, both sat open on your navigation bar alongside your 'work', and exuberant use of the alt-tab 'switch windows' facility when your boss walks by. That, my friends, is happy days.
1023: Lee Westwood is the form man on the course at the moment and he just misses out on yet another birdie at five when his putt pulls up - he'll stay at three under. Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell is beginning to tar his splendid opening as he bogeys eight to drop to one under, while Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa - whose nickname is apparently "The Bashful Prince" - leaves himself a tricky four-footer for bogey at five after his par effort falls short from range. Mark Calcavecchia pulls a tricky eagle chance inches wide at 17 but he'll birdie to go three under, while Vijay Singh holes for a two at eight and he goes to two under. The pick-up shots are coming thick and fast.
1017: Garcia ends up pushing his putt at nine and he drops back to one under.
Leaders: -3 Westwood -2 Calcavecchia, Watson, McDowell, Hansen -1 Overton, Wall, Senden and 17 others 1013: A couple of delightful rescue shots - one from Sergio Garcia and one from Graeme McDowell - and those two might just save par at nine and eight thanks to them. Vijay Singh, one under for the round so far, punts on to the green at eight but he faces a lengthy putt for birdie.
From David in Manchester via text on 81111: "Let's hope Ian Poulter's golf is better than his spelling on Twitter (below)! 'Pooring'??"
1009: Sergio Garcia, from the middle of the fairway, drops a bit of a clanger at nine as he sends a simple eight iron short and wide of the green. He faces a tough up and down to save par, there. At the opposite end of the leaderboard, meanwhile, Kiwi Michael Campbell and Spain's Pablo Larrazabal are battling it out for the first round's wooden spoon, lying as they are seven and six over through 16 and 13 respectively.
1006: Westwood gives himself a chance of yet another birdie by pinging his tee at the fourth to within a few feet of the pin, but just pushes his putt past and he pars. Despite that, I want some of what he had for breakfast, this really is cracking golf. Ishikawa finishes off a sparkling birdie at the same hole, while Woods mops up a tidy three. Graeme McDowell, meanwhile, just doesn't put enough weight behind his birdie putt at seven and that's missed opportunity. He stays two under. And Anders Hansen drills in a 20-footer in at five for a delightful birdie.
From Gareth in Norwich via text on 81111: "Broadhurst through 15 already? At this rate the bar wont even be open when they get in. Golfing schoolboy error."
Ian Poulter on Twitter:
"Morning Open viewers. Watching the golf this morning on TV, it's flat, calm and no rain there - I'm staying 5 miles away and its pooring down."
0955: That's a shame, Graeme McDowell - who has been hotter than the inside of McDonald's apple pie so far - drops a shot at six to join the pack on two under. Tiger Woods, meanwhile, two putts after his chip back onto the green and he drops a shot - unlike Westwood who taps in to make it three-three-three. What a start for the in-form Notts man.
Leaders: -3 Westwood -2 Calcavecchia, Garcia, Watson, McDowell, Westwood -1 Wall, O'Meara and 9 others 0949: Spot of luck for Tiger, who is able to take a drop after that horrible tee shot as it lay underneath a TV tower, but he still has to bunt away at the long stuff to get his ball out and it shoots past the green. Westwood is unbowed, though, as he chips an exquisite iron smack onto the green. Westy is on fire and no mistake.
0943: Not good. Tiger Woods looks like someone has spilt ketchup on his brand new slacks as he punts a horror of a tee shot into the long rough at three, and he reacts by swiping at air in disgust. As bad as that was, though, is as good as it gets from Garcia on seven as the Spaniard rolls a jam-spangler in from 25 feet for eagle and he goes two under. Tom Watson pulls his putt millimetres short to miss out on another birdie.
0940: A little look round the course and Luke Donald and Darren Clarke have both bogeyed three to lie one over through four, while England's Anthony Wall birdies 11 to move to one under.
0936: And that's the first roar of the Championship from Tiger as he sinks a lengthy putt for his first birdie of the day. Ishikawa and Westwood refuse to be outdone, though, as both follow suit and that's a beauty of a start for the Englishman, two under through two. I wonder if, as promised, Westwood is boring Woods about Nottingham Forest yet? That'd be enough to prompt Woods to deliberately drive into the rough wouldn't it?
From David, wishing he'd taken the day off, in Chesterfield via text on 81111: "Ross Fisher is only a good bet
if his missus doesn't go into labour!
May prove to be a bit of a distraction... just like the live video when you're at work!"
0931: Oh that's nice, Graeme McDowell sinks a doozy of a putt from 15 feet for his third birdie in five holes and he goes into the outright lead. With barely a breath of wind about, that's more the like the kind of scoring I was expecting to be honest. Over on two, Ishikawa outshines his playing partners with a chipped approach to within a few feet - but only just as Woods and Westwood float their shots to almost as close in. Cracking start to that threesome.
0925: Tom Watson almost continues his splendid opening at the sixth with a curving putt from 20-odd feet, but it refuses to pull in and he stays at two under, with playing partner Sergio Garcia two-putting from off the green to stay level par.
Leaders: -2 Calcavecchia, Watson, McDowell -1 Finch, O'Meara, Perry, Wilson, Stricker, Singh Par 14 others
0921: Well you don't see that very often, Tiger Woods misreading his putt at the first by a relative mile and he pushes it left to miss out on a good birdie chance. No slip from Westwood, though, as he strokes confidently into the hole to go one under through one.
From Dan in Birmingham via text on 81111: "Ross Fisher £10 e/w at 55/1 has to be a good bet doesn't he?"
0914: Anything Tom Watson can do, Graeme McDowell can match at the moment as the Northern Irishman rolls in a six-footer for a birdie at the second to join the leaders at two under. Lee Westwood and Tiger Woods, who both drove conservatively short of the fairway bunker on one, ping gorgeous approaches onto the green within five and eight feet respectively.
0911: Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Ryo Ishikawa get their rounds underway - the former two pinging their irons down the middle of the fairway and the latter just creeping into the light rough down the right. In case you were wondering, approximately 4,782 (give or take) photographers are following this group - and not all because of Tiger. Ishikawa is bigger in Japan than sushi (give or take), apparently.
0905: Four minutes until Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood get their rounds under way - cue pandemonium at Turnberry - but before then it's two other Americans that are making waves, with Tom Watson and now Mark Calcavecchia two under at the top of the leaderboard. Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, Anthony Wall and Kenny Perry are among those on level par.
0859: Folks - manually refresh this page and live video pictures will magically appear. That, as they say, is lovely jubbly.
0858: While Tom Watson rolls back the years with a sensational opening to lead the Championship, Greg Norman is finding things more difficult than a five-year-old who has had too much ice cream. The Australian double bogeys the fifth and he goes three over - only Michael Campbell and Rory Sabbatini are faring worse at the moment.
From Lee say at the side of a pool in Italy via text on 81111: "Thank goodness for the BBC website and Blackberrys. How the hell did we manage before them? Off to a wedding later. You don't think the bride and groom Jen and Dom will mind if I keep nipping out for a peek do you?!
0847: Well, Craig (below), Sweden's Stenson is level par through three so don't throw your slip on the fire just yet. Anyone out there had a cheeky wager on Tom Watson? Allow yourself an air punch because the veteran has just rolled in a 10-footer at the third to move to two under. He couldn't... could he?
Leaders: -2 Watson -1 Calcavecchia, Wilson, Stricker, McDowell, O'Hair Par: 13 others From Craig, Guildford via text on 81111: "How's my investment of £50 ew @35/1 on Henrik Stenson looking? Shall I rip my betting slip up now?"
0838: Flying start from Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell as he picks up a shot at the first to join the pack of five on one under. His compatriot Darren Clarke, alongside Englishman Luke Donald and Japan's Azuma Yano, has made his way to the first tee as well and that group will get a lovely reception, I'm sure.
From Richard (who may pull a sickie) in Southend via text on 81111: "With the Open and the second Ashes Test starting today, are there any other days this year that offer four better days of sporting spectacular?"
0826: Everyone's
favourite nearly man Sergio Garcia
is through his first hole, and the Spaniard lies on level par at the moment. Meanwhile, Kiwi Michael Campbell falls back to four over with a bogey at the eighth and he holds up the leaderboard again.
Leaders: -1 Calcavecchia, Wilson, Stricker, Watson Par: 11 others 0817: A little mention, now, for a couple of fellas a few of my golfing buddies are backing for Open glory this weekend; American David Duval and Aussie Adam Scott are yet to click into gear, both lying one over through two. Here's hoping one or both can pull it around and earn me a freebie beer on Sunday evening. Soon
up to the tee
will be the likes of Fiji's Vijay Singh and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell - the hits just keep on coming, people.
0812: Hold the phone - it's 1977 all over again isn't it? Tom Watson,
star of arguably the greatest Open ever,
gets his Championship off to a dream start, following up a doozy of a drive with a cracking approach and five-foot putt for birdie at the first. Not so great for English trio Paul Broadhurst, Anthony Wall and Graeme Storm, though, with all three one over.
From Toby via text on 81111: "Re: 0716 - I am not sure who has had a bigger fall from grace - Michael Campbell or Paul Daniels."
0804: Former Open champion Mark O'Meara is making the most of the good early conditions by going two under with a birdie at the third, but Greg Norman gives a glowing example of the perils of missing the fairway on the second as he struggles to swipe his way out of the long rough to the right and it costs him a shot.
Leaders: -1 O'Meara, Calcavecchia, Wilson Par: Nine others 0758: Greg Norman - winner here in 1986, lest we forget - is among the big names out and about early doors and he pars the first. In a remarkable comeback at the age of 53, the veteran Australian created arguably the story of last year's Championship, leading going into the final day before falling back to finish third. Someone has asked me about his compatriot John Senden - well he is level par after four. Steady Eddie stuff and that is exactly what's needed here.
0751: Hold up - we have an Englishman back at the top of the standings as Oliver Wilson birdies the first after a dream of an approach leaves him a good putt. A reminder, by the way, that we'll all have TV pictures on BBC Two, the Red Button and the website (UK users only) from 0900. Bootiful.
From Chris in Telford via text on 81111: "This lot have until 0909 and then it's all over when the Tiger roars his first off the tee. Good luck to everyone and I pray the sun continues to shine."
0743: A delightful birdie two from Jeff Overton sees him join American compatriot Mark O'Meara at the top of the leaderboard on one under, and early indications are that low scores are there to be made today if you can keep it in the short stuff. That's easier said than done, though, at this
Turnberry
course, which has more hazards than an It's a Knockout obstacle run.
0728: America's Mark O'Meara will be among those hoping to roll back the years this weekend and he gets his Open going nicely with a birdie at the first to go top of the early leaderboard. Otherwise it's pars all round mainly, while Michael Campbell stops the rot with a par at the fourth to stay four over.
From Steve taking 15 Year 6 pupils to Brancaster Staithe (Norfolk) for kayaking + crabbing: "Thank goodness for mobile technology as I can supervise the kids whilst connecting with the golf! Keep the sun shining as I'll be there at the weekend! Go Monty + Poulter!"
From Richard in godmanchester via text on 81111: "My favourite day of the year! Not much chance of me or anyone from work getting anything done today. A fiver on Nick Watney at 80-1 and a patriotic cheer for the Brits and we're away!"
0716: OK, the weather might be delightful, but this course is proving trickier than Paul Daniels for the opening threesomes this morning. Mark Calcavecchia follows his birdie at the second with a bogey at three to drop back into a pack of seven on level par, while England's Paul Broadhurst does the same at the third to drop to one over. However, their struggles are smaller than a church mouse's dinner compared to Kiwi Michael Campbell - the 2005 US Open champion is four over after three. Oopsa-daisy.
From Peter by the pool in Kefalonia via text on 81111: "No Greek coverage so tuned in via the web. Early predictions are Lee Westwood to outshine Tiger Woods later, and Ross Fisher to make a strong start for the Brits!"
0705: Englishman Paul Broadhurst may have had the honour of taking the first tee shot at the Open, but American Mark Calcavecchia snatches the first birdie of the Championship at the second, placing him top of the placings with, admittedly, only a dozen players now out on the course. Heady days indeed.
From Anon via text on 81111: "Re 0650 - vol au vents with artichokes? Don't tell me my mother in law has got a gig doing the catering! Won't be many turning up for day 2 if that is the case!!"
0657: So, in case you haven't yet had the chance to float around this wonderous thing we call the BBC Sport website, allow me to nudge you in the direction of a whole wad of preview material, interviews and blogs. For example, are you wondering
if this is the year the Brits can conquer The Open?
Rob Hodgetts is on hand to aid your musing. Or perhaps the America-philes (made-up word alert) among you are considering placing a little bet on one of the likes of Kenny Perry or Jim Furyk? Well,
Mark Orlovac
is your man to help you decide where to stick your cash.
Have a poke around over your morning coffee and croissant, why don't you.
From Ian in Kent via text on 81111: "Re: 0630 - Yelps? Yelps!? This is Ivor Robson! I think you mean 'announces in a light Scottish burr'. Cheers."
0650: Scotland's own Gary Orr is among those out and about on the course at the moment and, let me tell you, conditions are so good at Turnberry at the moment, even I could shoot a sub-100 round I reckon. And that would ordinarily be a claim more fanciful than a vol-au-vent smothered in artichokes.
From Owen in Edinburg via text on 81111: "Re: 0628: Morning Sam. Did you mean sunny climes or are you going hillwalking in South Africa for your hols? Sorry, early for such pedantry. Is it windy over there?"
Ah yes, good spot Owen. I do indeed holiday in the mountains. Ahem.
0643: Pars all round for the 2009 Open's first group meaning an Englishman leads the Championship folks! What are the chances of that still being the case come Sunday evening?
BBC Sport's Mark Orlovac on Twitter:
"It really is a glorious morning here at Turnberry, the contrast with the first day at Birkdale could not be more stark. Wonder how the 1st group are feeling?"
0635: Broadhurst, alongside Kiwi Michael Campbell and American Mark Calcavecchia, strolls down the opening fairway to polite applause as the crowds begin to build nicely even at this early hour. And that allows me to give you an early pointer that this year's Open will be what can only be described as
Twitter-tastic. We have Robin Hodgetts, Mark Orlovac, Iain Carter and Ged Scott - among others - in place at Turnberry and all of them are armed with a mobile phone and an intention to keep us all updated via the medium of Tweets throughout the next four days. Modern technology huh?
0630: "On the tee, Paul Broadhurst", yelps Open starter Ivor Robson, and the Englishman gets the 138th Open Championship under way with a super drive right down the middle of the fairway. Let me tell you, conditions could not be better at Turnberry right now - take a picture and slap it on a postcard, someone, please. If it stays like this, we could be looking at a heap of low scores today - something few were predicting earlier this week.
0628: Turnberry - one of the most picturesque courses out there - plays host to the Open this year and, with literally seconds to go until the first shot, why don't you think about getting involved
via text on 81111? Few things in life fully justify a 0430 alarm call, I'm sure you'll agree, but the Open is up there with Christmas morning and a long-haul holiday flight to the sunny climbs of who knows where. Get involved.
0625: Oh yes, I know what you're thinking... just when you thought this summer's feast of top sporting action could not get any more plentiful, along comes the
138th Open Championship. Settle yourself in for four days of quality, nail-biting, topsy-turvy golfing action because, as far as I can tell, any one of about three dozen players will fancy their chances of taking home the most coveted prize in world golf on Sunday evening. Are you ready to rumble?
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