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On a day where 71 players finished their opening rounds under par, and much of the potential sting of St Andrews was negated by perfect playing conditions, 21 year old Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy, with an opening round of 63, leads the 2010 Open Championship by two shots over South African Louis Oosthuizen.

Despite the dire predictions for the opening days of the event, the weather conditions on day one could not have been more conducive to scoring. Softened by rain and without any wind to defend her honour, St Andrews was exposed to a field of the world’s best and it did not take long before the pattern of the day was established.

1995 champion John Daly, out in the 6th group of the day, raced to seven under par through 11 holes and although the momentum slowed as he played the final seven holes in 1 over, when he and playing partner, Andrew Coltart, both signed for rounds of 66 they were the leaders in the clubhouse.

“It’s good to be sitting here,” said Daly after his round. “I think this is the first time I have seen a media centre at a British Open since 1995 (laughter). I think if the wind doesn’t pick up then somebody is going to beat that today. if you are going to get it going around here then today is the day. I just love it here. it just suits my game and is my favourite course all over the world.”

Just under an hour behind them however, McIlroy was about to prove Dalys’ prediction right. After a relatively slow start to his round McIlroy reached the 9th tee at just 1 under for his round but his tee shot with a driver at the par four finished only 15 feet from the hole and when that was holed for eagle he had reached the turn in a respectable but hardly spectacular 3 under.

Two and a half hours later however McIlroy had completed a homeward nine of 30 and at 9 under he not only led by two but he had joined a very select group as producers of the equal lowest rounds in major championship history.

Despite being elated at his start McIlroy will be disappointed at a missed three footer at the 17th which might well have seen him finish with 62 and set the lowest round in major championship golf. it mattered little. it was a stunning start.

“I just love the place,” said McIlroy. “I love St Andrews in general. it just sets up well for me and fits my eye. it takes something in your round or a little just to get you going and I think that (the eagle at the 9th) was what got me going.”

“I definitely felt we need to take advantage of the conditions and of the golf course. there has been a lot of rain over the last couple of days and with no wind you are never going to get St Andrews playing any easier. I am happy to have been able to take advantage of the conditions and it gives me a little bit of a buffer going into the next three days.”

28-year-old Oosthuizen played in the middle of the tee times at 11.41 and so finished his round more than three hours after McIlroy and in an increasing wind. the South African played beautifully early in 2010 winning his first European Tour event in Spain and putting together a series of good finishes.

The elevation in status those performances gave him earned him access to some of the great events in the game and he has generally struggled since but he is finding his feet at this higher level, his opening round effort further proof of that.

“This is holy ground we are walking on,” said Oosthuizen. “I just love it. It’s nice feeling playing here. You have to work your way around the course. You have to hit a lot of shots and I like that type of golf. I have been hitting it well for a while and today was just different as I made a few putts. I read the greens around here quite well and just have a nice feel on them.”

Oosthuizen has a 6.41 tee time tomorrow morning to assist in consolidating his position provided of course that the golfing gods offer similar conditions to the morning field on day two as those experienced by the early starters in round none.

Tiger Woods probably described the conditions best. “the golf course could have been had today especially early with no wind,” he said after his round. “We were talking about it out there that it actually felt awkward with no wind because you never play links golf with no wind.” he may have felt awkward but Woods was impressive. His round of 67 has him well poised heading into round two.

World number two, Phil Mickelson, made a slow start with an opening round of 73 but the world number three, Lee Westwood, did much better.

Playing in the afternoon field, Westwood reeled off five consecutive birdies before the turn to be out in 31 and although he could only grind out a final nine of 36 his round of 67 was very impressive. His leg injury did not seem to bother him and he has the benefit of a morning tee time tomorrow.

It was a day of mixed fortunes for the twelve Australians. John Senden started well with a round of 68, a bogey at the Road Hole his only blemish. Robert Allenby was round in three under 69, Jason Day a 1 under 71 in his very first major championship round, Michael Sim, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy even par 72’s, Marc Leishman and Peter Senior 73, Mathew Goggin 74 after dropping three shots in his last three holes, Kurt Barnes 75, Cameron Percy 76 and Ewan Porter 81.

The weather on day two is expected to be wet for the morning field then clearing to fine but breezy conditions later in the day with the occasional shower.

Already the cut score appears as if it will be under par. Any significant change in conditions tomorrow might alter that prediction, but at the completion of day one, 73 players were under par.

Predicting the weather at St Andrews might just be as hard as picking the winner of this event.

St Andrews offers little resistance

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