Ernie Els produced a stunning back nine 32 to pip Australian Adam Scott

Ernie Els produced a stunning back nine 32 to pip Australian Adam Scott to The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes.Ten years on from his last Major victory the South African could hardly believe he had become Open Champion again.

The 42 year old, the same age as last year's winner Darren Clarke, triumphed after Scott bogeyed the last four holes over the difficult closing stretch.

Scott, chasing his first Major, looked all set to become the first Australian to hold The Claret Jug aloft since Greg Norman in 1993 when he led by four shots with only four holes to play.

But he bogeyed them all and Els, having made a crucial 15 foot birdie putt on the final green 20 minutes earlier, suddenly found himself with a fourth Major title.

Els commented: "I'm just all numb at the moment. He's a great friend of mine. Obviously we both wanted to win very badly for different reasons and I really feel for him.

"It's the nature of the beast. That's why we are out here. You win, you lose and it was my time.

"I was hoping at best play-off. When I was on the 17th green he was on the 16th tee and, as we all know, it's not the hardest hole."

Scott failed to get up and down from a bunker on the 15th, then three-putted the next and while playing the 17th would certainly have heard the roar - the loudest of the week - for Els's last green putt for a 68 and seven under par aggregate of 273.

The "Big Easy", second at Lytham in 1996 and third in 2001, almost resigned himself to another near-miss. But things were about to change far more than he anticipated.

Scott pulled his approach into the rough, and when he drove into more sand down the last and had to hack out, Els had one hand on the trophy.

His Presidents Cup team-mate played a superb third to eight feet, but the par putt to force extra holes was pulled wide and that was that.

Having stood 11 under earlier in the day, he signed for a 75 and six under.

Tiger Woods, who also finished poorly in addition to taking a triple bogey, tied for third with fellow American Brandt Snedeker three shots further back, while Scott's playing partner Graeme McDowell ended up fifth with World Number One Luke Donald.

In his winner's speech Els told the crowd: "I had a lot of support this week. But you guys have got to ask yourselves the question were you just being nice to me or did you actually believe I could win?"

Scott retained his composure admirably, but must have been devastated inside.

"I'm pretty disappointed," he said. "I had it in my hands and managed to hit a poor shot at each of the closing four holes.

"I'm very, very disappointed, but I played so beautifully for most of the week I certainly should not let this get me down.

"Surprisingly I was incredibly calm and I still am. I thought I could roll that last putt in, but I didn't and that's golf."

Scott was on the verge of becoming the sport's tenth successive first-time winner in the Majors, but while that has now ended another run goes on - Els is the 16th different winner in a row.

Now with two Opens to go with his two US Opens, his front nine contained bogeys at the second and ninth and not a single birdie.

That left him six back, but he hauled himself back into things with birdies at the tenth, 12th and 14th to set up the remarkable climax.

McDowell was always playing catch-up and could not recover from bogeys at the second and sixth, the second of those seeing him take two in the same bunker that gave Woods so many problems.

The 14-Major champion - still to add to that tally since the 2008 US Open - almost hit himself as his first attempt to escape came back off at him.

Officials checked the video to make sure there was no contact, but he then had to play his next crouched on the grass way above the ball.

He did wonderfully well not to leave it in again, but the ball shot across the green off the face and from there he triple-bogeyed to fall seven behind.

It was the first time he had dropped three shots on one hole in a Major since he lost his opening drive at Sandwich in 2003.

The real killer blow for McDowell came with a six on the reachable long next - he lost his second in the bushes - that put him six adrift.

Woods and Els were up into joint second at that point, but the former found bunkers on the 14th, 15th and 16th and that ended his hopes.

For Els it was a different story. A very different story. An unbelievable one, in fact.

The Open 2012: Ernie Els wins as Adam Scott crumbles

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Ernie Els clinched his second Open title after long-time leader Adam Scott spectacularly imploded at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The 42-year-old South African birdied the 18th to end seven under as Australia's Scott bogeyed the last four holes to come second by one shot.

Els, who began the day six shots adrift, clinched his fourth major title and first since winning the 2002 Open at Muirfield.

Scott's capitulation must rank worse than Rory McIlroy's Masters meltdown in 2011 and up there with Jean van de Velde's final-hole drama at Carnoustie in 1999.

The 1994 and 1997 US Open champion carded 68 to the 75 of Scott, who had led since the sixth hole on Saturday.

The 32-year-old Scott was four shots clear on the 15th tee and needed to hole from 10ft on the last to force a play-off.

Tiger Woods threatened at times but a triple-bogey via a greenside bunker at the par-four sixth and three straight bogeys from the 13th sank his chances of a 15th major and first since the 2008 US Open.

The 36-year-old carded a three-over 73 to end tied third at three under alongside playing partner and fellow American Brandt Snedeker (74).

Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, was playing in the final group for a second straight major but again struggled to engage the leader.

The Northern Irishman took 75 to tie for fifth at two under with England's world number one Luke Donald, who climbed up the leaderboard with a 69.

"I'm very disappointed but I played so beautifully for most of the week I really shouldn't let this bring me down," said Scott.

MORE TO COME

The Open 2012: Woods puts pressure on leader Scott

Tiger Woods attempted to apply pressure on leader Adam Scott ahead of the final round of the Open, suggesting that the Australian has under achieved so far in his career.

Scott, 32, leads by four shots after three rounds at Royal Lytham & St Annes, with three-time Open champion Woods lurking one shot further back.

"He's going for his first major title," said Woods, who has won 14 of them.

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Woods, who carded a third-round 70 for outright fourth, added: "But I think that he's maturing in his game and I think over the last maybe year or so he's really improved his game.

"He is in a great spot right now, he's got a four-shot lead and he's playing really well."

Scott's best performance in a Grand Slam event came at last year's Masters, when he finished joint second.

His best finish at the Open was tied third when Woods won his third Claret Jug at Hoylake in 2006.

But Scott's three-round total of 199 is four ahead of Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, and second-round leader Brandt Snedeker, who had a three-over 73.

Woods briefly looked like making more significant inroads into Scott's lead after reaching the turn at seven under but he dropped a shot on the 15th and never found a way back.

Woods added: "Whether the wind blows or not, I've still got to go out there and post the round that I know I need to post and execute my plan."

However, history is against Woods, who has never won a major going into the final round behind.

Meanwhile, Snedeker could not hide his annoyance having let his lead slip but insisted he remained a threat on the final day.

Snedeker had six bogeys in 10 holes from the fifth, having not dropped a shot in his opening two rounds.

But the world number 29 made birdies at 16 and 18 to keep himself in the hunt for a maiden major title.

Snedeker, 31, said: "It was very frustrating. I played very poorly on about as easy a day as we're going to see and I'm not happy with it at all.

"But those two birdies late on salvaged what could have been a horrific round into a pretty awful round so I've still got a chance.

"I realise there's a ton of golf left and I've played a lot of great golf to get to this point.

I know it's not far off. I know it's in there somewhere. As long as I hang in there and keep fighting, you never know what might happen.

"Today was one of those things where you've got to find out if you have some guts or don't. I could have packed up and gone home but I didn't."

Former Open champion Ernie Els said he had rediscovered his belief and that "something special" could happen in the final round.

The South African, who won the Claret Jug at Muirfield 10 years ago for the last of his three majors, shot a third-round 68 to put himself in a tie for fifth on five under.

"For some reason I've got some belief this week," said the 42-year-old.

"I feel something special can happen. I've put in a lot of work, especially the last couple of months, so something good is bound to happen. Hopefully it's on Sunday."

Els, looking back at his two previous appearances at Lytham, added: "I'm kind of in a similar position as I was in '96 and '01, trying to chase down a leader.

"In '96 I came close [joint second] and '01 not so close [joint third] but I feel I've got a chance."

Thorbjørn Olesen shrugged off the nerves

Thorbjørn Olesen shrugged off the nerves of playing with Tiger Woods in the penultimate pairing of The Open Championship to remain in contention at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The Dane, playing only his second Open after graduating from the Challenge Tour in 2010, met 14-time Major champion Woods for the first time as he stepped on the first tee, admitting it was a nervous experience which perhaps contributed to a couple of poor swings early on which cost shots.

But he rallied with birdies on the seventh, eighth and 11th holes to keep himself in the hunt. A double bogey on the 14th, however, where he left it in one of the 206 infamous fairways bunkers strategically placed around the course, put a dent in his chances of victory. While he birdied the 17th, his approach from the left rough on the last ran through the green, bouncing against the Lytham Clubhouse and he was unable to get up and down.

His one over par 71 left him at four under par 206 in seventh place, but he will have to pass some of the greatest players of a generation and overcome a seven stroke deficit if he is to take the Claret Jug home on Sunday. And four of the six players ahead of him have some impressive Major Championship pedigree – Masters Champion Zach Johnson, Open and double US Open Champion Ernie Els, Woods with his 14 Majors, 2010 US Open Champion Graeme McDowell – while Scott is a distant seven shots ahead of the Dane and four clear of the field.

But regardless of what happens on Sunday, when the wind is expected to blow, Olesen relished the experience.

“Playing with Tiger is something special,” he said. “There are a lot of people around him and just playing in front of so many people was a great experience. It was a pleasure to play with him.

“He is a great guy, fantastic player and the crowds were amazing. I have never played in front of so many people before so it was a big thing for me. I thought I hit a lot of good shots but could have holed some more putts.”

As for the butterflies at the start, he said: “I was particularly nervous on the first tee, mainly because of Tiger. He has been my idol so many years so it was a big thing for me to play with him. I was nervous the first few holes and that cost me two shots but overall felt I played well. Kept the ball in play and gave myself chances.

“We had a little chat down the seventh but not much. He is out here for winning and he was concentrating on that and I didn’t want to stop him.”

And of his chances on Sunday, he said: “I am working hard, trying to get as good as possible and hopefully I can have a good day tomorrow. I learnt a lot today from Tiger as he had a great strategy round the course, played a lot of irons off the tee to take the bunkers out of play.

“I thought I played well, just an error on 14 and flier on the last, and hope for a good day tomorrow.”

Ernie Els has rediscovered his belief

Former Open Champion Ernie Els has rediscovered his belief at Royal Lytham & St Annes and feels "something special" could happen in the final round.

The South African, who won The Claret Jug at Muirfield ten years ago for the last of his three Majors, shot a 68 to put himself in a tie for fifth on five under.

It leaves him six shots off the lead but the 42 year old has the feeling he can get better.

"For some reason I've got some belief this week," said the 1994 and 1997 US Open Champion who has had an indifferent few years by his standards.

"I feel something special can happen.

"I feel I've put in a lot of work, let's call it the last couple years, especially the last couple of months, so something good is bound to happen, so hopefully it's tomorrow."

Els, looking back at his two previous appearances at Lytham, added: "I'm kind of in a similar position as I was in '96 and 01, trying to chase down a leader.

"In '96 I came close (joint second) and '01 not so close (joint third) but I feel I've got a chance.

"I feel the way I'm playing, if those putts start dropping I can really shoot a low one. So that's what I'm hoping for."

A year ago Els dropped out of the Official World Golf Ranking's top 50 for the first time since 1993 and this year failed to qualify for the Masters Tournament - also for the first time in 19 years.

His victories have become much more sparse, with the last coming in December 2010 at the South African Open.

But he hopes his affinity with the tournament and knowledgeable Open galleries can spur him on in the final round.

"The Open is also different and special in its own way," he said.

"You can feed off this crowd. This crowd really knows the game really well and knows the golf course very well.

"They know when you've hit a good shot or a poor one."

Els went to the turn in 32 with a couple of birdies and although a bogey five at the 14th slowed his momentum he picked up another shot at the 17th.

Adam Scott overhauled Brandt Snedeker to lead The Open Championship

Adam Scott overhauled Brandt Snedeker to lead The Open Championship midway through the third round at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Two unwelcome firsts for overnight leader Snedeker threw the tournament wide open and Australian Scott was first to take advantage.

Snedeker began the day with a one shot lead after equalling the 36 hole Open record of 130 thanks to rounds of 66 and 64, in which he had not carded a single bogey or found one of Lytham's 206 dangerous bunkers.

But the first of those impressive streaks came to an end when he three-putted from just short of the fifth green, while the second ended just one hole later as his approach to the sixth found sand.

Snedeker recovered well with a pitch to five feet for a birdie on the par five seventh, but playing partner Scott - the first round leader after his own 64 on Thursday - had taken over the lead on ten under after six straight pars were followed by a two-putt birdie on the seventh.

Tiger Woods' bid for a first Major title since 2008, and a 15th overall, looked to be fizzling out when he dropped two shots in his first three holes, but the American then holed from 60 feet for birdie on the sixth, chipped and putted for another from the back edge of the seventh and converted a superb approach to five feet on the par five ninth.

Playing partner Thorbjørn Olesen was refusing to be overwhelmed by playing with the former World Number One, the Dane also recovering from two dropped shots to get back to five under at the turn.

That left him alongside 2002 winner Ernie Els, second and third in the last two Opens to be played at Lytham, who had picked up two shots in his first 11 holes.

Former Masters Tournament champion Zach Johnson had set the clubhouse target on five under after carding a 66.

Scott also birdied the eighth from 25 feet and with Snedeker dropping a shot there and at the ninth, Scott suddenly had a four shot lead.

That looked in danger when the World Number 13 found a fairway bunker off the tenth tee, but he holed from 20 feet to save par and maintain his cushion.

McDowell out to fulfil

Graeme McDowell hopes he can ensure his premonition of The Claret Jug remaining in Northern Irish hands comes true in The 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham.

For the second Major in succession, McDowell will start the final round in the last group after a third round 67 saw him finish seven under par, four shots behind leader Adam Scott.

The 32 year old finished second, just one shot behind champion Webb Simpson, as he sought a second US Open crown in San Francisco last month, but now aims to go one better and follow in the footsteps of last year's Open Champion and fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke.

"Darren was getting a few snaps and a few family portraits done with The Claret Jug last week," McDowell explained. "Some of the photos were pretty cool and I said to him, 'I've got a funny feeling that we'll maybe be bringing that Claret Jug back to Northern Ireland next week'.

"I was talking really from the opportunities that myself and him and Rory (McIlroy) and Michael Hoey have as a whole, and I guess it would be fairly prophetic if I happened to get the job done tomorrow evening.

"There's no doubt I think Darren will be an inspiration and someone that I'll think about a little bit tomorrow. Since I was a young boy I dreamed of coming down that last fairway on a Sunday afternoon, the last group in The Open Championship.

"This is special for me, back-to-back Major Championships to be in the last group on a Sunday afternoon.

"I talked about it early in the week. I can't expect to win this week, but what I can expect to do is compete if I do the right things, and to give myself a chance to be within three or four of the lead going into a Sunday afternoon and playing with the leader. That's really all I can ask and I'm right where I want to be."

Despite coming so close to winning the US Open again last month, McDowell was able to take the positives from being in serious contention for a Major for the first time since his victory at Pebble Beach in 2010.

"I think if you compare the final rounds of myself and (playing partner) Jim Furyk at Olympic, I was probably able to walk away a lot more positive than perhaps Jim was," McDowell added. "Jim had it right there and just didn't get the job done the last three holes.

"I kind of blew mine early doors. Through nine holes I'm four over par and my US Open chances are kind of gone. I battled really hard on the back nine to give myself a glimmer of hope, and it was only a glimmer.

"It's the first time I've really put myself in the absolute heat of the battle in a little while. I was reminded that I'm able to control my emotions correctly. I'm able to stay in the moment and just accept that tomorrow can go great and tomorrow can go badly.

"I can just try and hit the shots that I want and perhaps it will go my way tomorrow."

McDowell believes Lytham has been a "sleeping giant" so far this week with soft fairways and virtually no wind, but would prefer some testing conditions on Sunday to ensure Australia's Scott has to work for his first Major title.

"With conditions like today, perhaps four shots is insurmountable, because it will be in Adam's hands," McDowell added. "Throw a bit of wind across this course like perhaps they are forecasting, he will have to go and work a lot harder and he will have to go win it.

"It will be a case of keeping your head down for 13 or 14 holes, that's what I did at Pebble. I'm in a very similar position to what I was at Pebble, where I was three back. He (Scott) is going to be the guy who's going to sleep on the lead tonight. He's going to be the guy with all the pressure.

"And what I did at Pebble was just keep my head down for 11 or 12 holes and just come up for air and see where I'm at and refocus and get the head back down again.

"I'm probably not the only man in this field that's thought about picking this Claret Jug up. I've already thought about a few various liquids that I'd like to put in there and taste what they might taste like out of The Claret Jug.

"But I'm not the only man that wants this thing tomorrow. All I can do is dream big, and I certainly will be dreaming big tonight."

Former champion Paul Lawrie acknowledges

 he has given himself the best chance to win The Open Championship since his victory in 1999 but so far he sees no comparisons with that triumph.

The Scot added a one over 71 to his opening 65 to be four under going into the weekend.

He may already be six shots off the lead set by American Brandt Snedeker's impressive 64 but Lawrie knows better than most how quickly things can turn around.

"Not really, because I was well behind," he said when asked whether he could see parallels with 13 years ago at Carnoustie.

"Maybe not so much after two days but I was ten shots back in '99 with a round to go.

"What am I now, six shots at the moment? So you're looking to claw a few of them back tomorrow and give yourself a chance.

"There's 36 holes to go and obviously Brandt has played phenomenal golf to be ten under par - that is world class to be fair.

"You've got to keep going and keep grinding away and keep doing what you're doing.

"Hopefully you have a couple of under par scores over the weekend and you're in there roughly with a chance.

"Apart from '99 I've not had any chance to win this tournament (having missed the cut seven times) so to go into the weekend [in contention] it's a good performance again, a nice run, so hopefully I can keep it going."

Snedeker and fellow Americans Tiger Woods, Matt Kuchar and Jason Dufner and Australian Adam Scott - who all play the vast majority of their golf on the US PGA Tour - are all tied fourth or better.

The suggestion has been that a lack of wind and wet fairways and greens have made Royal Lytham & St Annes more 'Americanised' as it is not playing like a traditional links.

Lawrie can see why that the argument has been made but believes the course is still difficult and that any stiffening of the breeze over the weekend will see scores shooting up.

"You're not going to get it any calmer than it has been these first two days," said the 43 year old.

"It would be nice if it blew a little bit over the weekend but this course is so severe you don't want it any windier than what we've had it.

"The course is pretty tough, as you can see by the scores, and I couldn't quite believe that Brandt got to ten under.

"I think my one over par round was a good effort. I wouldn't say there was any hanging on, I played quite nicely and had a few chances and I was disappointed not to get a birdie on 18."

Lawrie said yesterday his two sons, aged 16 and 13, had preferred to remain at home to play golf themselves rather than come and watch him.

He does not expect that to change over the weekend even if he is in a better position than he has ever been before.

"They've had the Royal Aberdeen Junior Open today and they've got a junior medal tomorrow," said Lawrie.

"Right now there's no plans for them to come, no."

Brandt Snedeker claimed his place in Open Championship history

Brandt Snedeker claimed his place in Open Championship history to set a daunting clubhouse target at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Snedeker added a brilliant 64 to his opening 66 for a ten under par total of 130, equalling the lowest score over the first 36 holes in Championship history and the lowest Open round at Lytham.

Sir Nick Faldo also shot rounds of 66 and 64 at Muirfield in 1992, while Tom Lehman's round of 64 on his way to winning here in 1996 was matched by first round leader Adam Scott.

Snedeker, who had been 25 over par for his previous three Open appearances, was two behind Scott overnight but wiped out his deficit in style with a flawless front nine of 30.

The 31 year old from Tennessee picked up shots at the first, sixth, seventh and ninth, before adding further birdies on the 11th and 12th to move four shots clear of the field.

He looked in danger of dropping his first shots of the week on the 15th and 18th, but saved par superbly each time to complete a remarkable 36 holes without a bogey on one of the most difficult courses on The Open rota.

Scott remained six under after seven holes with 1999 Champion Paul Lawrie five under after eight, while Tiger Woods was seven off the pace on three under.

World Number One Luke Donald had earlier carded four birdies in five holes from the fourth to be out in 31, but then fluffed a chip on the tenth to bogey and eventually signed for a 68 to lie two under.

That was considerably better than former US Open Champion Rory McIlroy however, who found five of Lytham's 206 bunkers and dropped six shots on those holes in a 75 that left him two over.

Four-time Major winner Phil Mickelson fared even worse with a 78 to finish 11 over, but England's Greg Owen looked to have found the ideal way to make the cut, holing his second shot to the 18th for an eagle two and a second consecutive round of 71. Owen also had an albatross on the par five 11th when The Open was last staged at Lytham in 2001.

Snedeker admitted he was aware of trying to keep a bogey off his card as he played the 18th, but not about joining Faldo in the record books.

"That was not even on my radar coming into Thursday morning, I was just hoping to make the cut," said the World Number 29, who missed the US Open recently after suffering a rib injury caused by coughing too much.

Asked about the turnaround in his Open form, Snedeker added: "The golf course is playing more Americanised now, it's soft with not a lot of wind, and I have a different mentality this time, I'm playing away from a lot of pins.

"I tried to just get the ball on the green all day, even if it was 100 feet away. When you're putting the way I have been the first two days you want to get it on the green as fast as you can."

Scott was not about to give up the chase easily however, picking up shots at the tenth and 11th to move within two shots of Snedeker on eight under par.

Woods also birdied the fourth and sixth to improve to five under, but World Number Three Lee Westwood carded nine straight pars on the front nine to remain three over.

Simon Dyson produced one of the rounds of the morning

Simon Dyson produced one of the rounds of the morning as a three under par 67 at Royal Lytham and St Annes took him into red figures at the halfway stage.

It was only the fourth sub-par round among the first dozen groups on a tough morning on the Lancashire Coast after heavy overnight rain.

Dyson, who finished tied ninth in The Open last year at Royal St Georges, dropped a shot early on the third but made no mistakes thereafter and picked up four birdies, including a chip in on his penultimate hole to climb into the top 20 of the leaderboard.

“It was really tough to start with,” said the six time European Tour champion. “We played all the front nine into the wind.  And then as we turned and got on about 11 or 12, it turned back into us again.  So we played pretty much three quarters of the round into the wind today.”

Yesterday Dyson played three iron, wedge into the eighth but into this morning’s wind the clubbing was up to a driver, nine iron.

After birdieing the seventh from three feet, he holed from 15 feet on the ninth and then admitted he got lucky on the 11th when he left his second shot in the rough after a wayward drive but played a bump and run to 30 feet and holed for a birdie. And after chipping in on 17, he had a chance for a fifth birdie of the round on the last after an approach he described as his best of the day finished ten feet from the hole but the birdie putt missed on the low side.

“Very pleased with it,” he said. “I played nicely today.  I scrambled very well yesterday but  I managed to get the ball in the positions I wanted to today.  If you're hitting off the fairway to these pins, there's a few you can attack, and I managed to do that."

Dyson's best finish this season was joint tenth in his defence of the Irish Open at Royal Portrush three weeks ago and he looks to have found a bit of form.

“And It’s always nice to play the weekend at the Open, best tournament in the world.”

Paul Lawrie was just one behind clubhouse

Paul Lawrie was just one behind clubhouse leader Adam Scott midway through the first round of The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The Scot, a Claret Jug winner at Carnoustie 13 years ago, chipped in twice in his first five holes en route to a five under par 65.

That was one behind Australian Scott, who had a chance to record the lowest score in Major Championship history when he stood on the 18th tee needing a birdie for a 62.

Instead he pulled his tee shot into the rough and bogeyed, but his 64 was still a fine effort.

Former Masters Tournament winner Zach Johnson was level with Lawrie on five under, one ahead of Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who was four under with two to play.

Lawrie’s effort matched his lowest-ever score in The Open Championship.

The 43 year old, who came from a Major record ten shots behind on the final day to triumph at Carnoustie in 1999, chipped in on the third and fifth holes and had another birdie in between.

Then, after dropping his only stroke of the day on the eighth, he picked up three more shots over the closing five holes, including a three footer at the last.

His previous 65 came in the final round at Sandwich in 1993, when he finished sixth.

Lawrie has missed seven cuts in The Open since his shock victory, achieved when he was 159th in the Official World Golf Ranking and in a play-off after France's Jean Van de Velde triple-bogeyed the 18th when three clear.

“It was probably the strangest start of my career, the first six holes - I didn't really hit many good shots and I was three under," said the Scot.

"I chipped in twice and holed it from off the green. We get enough bad luck so it is nice when it goes your way now and again.

"Obviously after that I hit some really nice shots, played some solid golf, and ended up with a good score.

"The weather helps, it is almost flat calm out there, so I would imagine there will be some good scores.

"Overall I think I drove the ball solidly, hit it in the right place and I rolled the ball pretty nicely."

The par four sixth was an eventful hole for the former champion and playing partner Davis Love.

Firstly, Lawrie was just about to unleash a drive when he was halted as Matt Kuchar, in the group behind, wandered on to the fairway - there is a 50 yard walk back to the tee box - having finished the previous hole.

After the American apologised Lawrie pulled his drive into the left rough and, after hacking out, then watched as Love shanked his approach 50 yards off line and on to the third green.

Lawrie eventually holed a long putt from the back of the green for par and was grateful.

"When you hit it where I hit it off the tee you are kind of accepting a five in your mind, so it is not a bad thing to get it back in play and give yourself a chance and hole a nice putt," he added.

Asked whether the interruptions had affected him he joked: "I'm just a cool dude.

"I'd had my practice swing and was getting ready to hit and then someone said 'Kuchar's there' and he was walking across.

"It can happen as we are in our own world sometimes but it was quite funny when he put his hands up."

The cream had certainly risen to the top - with no fewer than six Major Champions in the top eight on the leaderboard.

That included Lawrie, Johnson, McDowell and former World Number One Tiger Woods, but it was a player yet to join that exclusive club who they were chasing in the form of Scott.

Scott, who has recorded just one top ten in 12 previous appearances in The Open, had the chance to create history when he stood seven under with two to play, but the 31 year old had to settle for equalling the lowest Open round at Lytham, which was set by Tom Lehman on his way to The Claret Jug in 1996.

Meanwhile Johnson was looking for a second win in succession after claiming the John Deere Classic on Sunday.

South African Ernie Els, champion at Muirfield in 2002, and current Masters Tournament champion Bubba Watson returned matching rounds of 67, while former US Open Champion McDowell bogeyed the last to join them.

Scott admitted he had been thinking about shooting the first 62 in Major Championship history, albeit at a slightly inopportune time.

"I know there's never been a 62 and when I was waiting to use the bathroom going to the 17th tee I did a look at the leaderboard and realised it was a par-70," the World Number 13 said.

"And I also probably then realised that I wasn't going to be the guy to shoot 62.

"It's one of those things that you don't want to go through your mind, thinking about your final score and stuff like that.

"So I got rid of that quickly and got on to playing the 17th, but unfortunately dropped one up the last."

Scott finished eighth in the Masters Tournament and 15th in the US Open this year, despite shooting opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively, and revealed his caddie Steve Williams - who worked for Woods during 13 of his 14 Major wins - had helped focus his mind on making a fast start.

"We talked about that mindset because I was playing well at all the Majors this year, but the first round I'm shooting myself in the foot a little bit and making it too much work to get back in it," he added.

"And he [Williams] wanted me to go to that first tee today like it was the 72nd hole and you have three to win. Really switch yourself on from the first hole. That was a good little trigger he kind of helped out with."

Rory McIlroy’s Open Championship challenge remained on track

Rory McIlroy’s Open Championship challenge remained on track despite the setback of driving out of bounds after hitting a spectator on the head at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The incident happened on the 15th, with McIlroy three under par and joint fifth at the time, when he pushed his drive right into the crowd and the ball ricocheted inches out of bounds. After checking the spectator was okay and signing a glove as an apology, McIlroy  returned to the tee but ran up a double bogey.

But the World Number Two maintained his concentration to drive the green on the 336-yard next and two-putt to return to two under. He then also birdied the last for a three under par 67 to finish day one nicely placed in the group three shots behind leader Adam Scott.

"He could have headed it the other way," he joked before adding: "The most important thing was that he was ok.

"I didn't realise there was out of bounds over there. I was shocked when I was told, but it's just one of those things and I thought I did well to keep my composure."

After the incident McIlroy had the goal of getting back to three under, a target he achieved with his closing birdie.

“That birdie on 18 will make dinner taste very nice tonight,” he said.

It took the 2011 US Open Champion seven holes to make his first birdie of the day and he then added another on the very next hole. He dropped a shot on ten but immediately hit back with successive birdies and then bounced back again from his double bogey on the 15th.

“I liked how I reacted out there,” he said. “I bogeyed the tenth from the middle of the fairway with a wedge in my hand, so that wasn't so good.  And reacting to that unfortunate break on 15 the way I did, as well, is very pleasing.

“It's not going to be this easy for the rest of the week.  So I'm happy with the score that I've shot, and it's a great position heading into the second day.”

Paul Lawrie was just one behind clubhouse leader

Paul Lawrie was just one behind clubhouse leader Adam Scott midway through the first round of The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The Scot, a Claret Jug winner at Carnoustie 13 years ago, chipped in twice in his first five holes en route to a five under par 65.

That was one behind Australian Scott, who had a chance to record the lowest score in Major Championship history when he stood on the 18th tee needing a birdie for a 62.

Instead he pulled his tee shot into the rough and bogeyed, but his 64 was still a fine effort.

Former Masters Tournament winner Zach Johnson was level with Lawrie on five under, one ahead of Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who was four under with two to play.

Lawrie’s effort matched his lowest-ever score in The Open Championship.

The 43 year old, who came from a Major record ten shots behind on the final day to triumph at Carnoustie in 1999, chipped in on the third and fifth holes and had another birdie in between.

Then, after dropping his only stroke of the day on the eighth, he picked up three more shots over the closing five holes, including a three footer at the last.

His previous 65 came in the final round at Sandwich in 1993, when he finished sixth.

Lawrie has missed seven cuts in The Open since his shock victory, achieved when he was 159th in the Official World Golf Ranking and in a play-off after France's Jean Van de Velde triple-bogeyed the 18th when three clear.

“It was probably the strangest start of my career, the first six holes - I didn't really hit many good shots and I was three under," said the Scot.

"I chipped in twice and holed it from off the green. We get enough bad luck so it is nice when it goes your way now and again.

"Obviously after that I hit some really nice shots, played some solid golf, and ended up with a good score.

"The weather helps, it is almost flat calm out there, so I would imagine there will be some good scores.

"Overall I think I drove the ball solidly, hit it in the right place and I rolled the ball pretty nicely."

The par four sixth was an eventful hole for the former champion and playing partner Davis Love.

Firstly, Lawrie was just about to unleash a drive when he was halted as Matt Kuchar, in the group behind, wandered on to the fairway - there is a 50 yard walk back to the tee box - having finished the previous hole.

After the American apologised Lawrie pulled his drive into the left rough and, after hacking out, then watched as Love shanked his approach 50 yards off line and on to the third green.

Lawrie eventually holed a long putt from the back of the green for par and was grateful.

"When you hit it where I hit it off the tee you are kind of accepting a five in your mind, so it is not a bad thing to get it back in play and give yourself a chance and hole a nice putt," he added.

Asked whether the interruptions had affected him he joked: "I'm just a cool dude.

"I'd had my practice swing and was getting ready to hit and then someone said 'Kuchar's there' and he was walking across.

"It can happen as we are in our own world sometimes but it was quite funny when he put his hands up."

The cream had certainly risen to the top - with no fewer than six Major Champions in the top eight on the leaderboard.

That included Lawrie, Johnson, McDowell and former World Number One Tiger Woods, but it was a player yet to join that exclusive club who they were chasing in the form of Scott.

Scott, who has recorded just one top ten in 12 previous appearances in The Open, had the chance to create history when he stood seven under with two to play, but the 31 year old had to settle for equalling the lowest Open round at Lytham, which was set by Tom Lehman on his way to The Claret Jug in 1996.

Meanwhile Johnson was looking for a second win in succession after claiming the John Deere Classic on Sunday.

South African Ernie Els, champion at Muirfield in 2002, and current Masters Tournament champion Bubba Watson returned matching rounds of 67, while former US Open Champion McDowell bogeyed the last to join them.

Scott admitted he had been thinking about shooting the first 62 in Major Championship history, albeit at a slightly inopportune time.

"I know there's never been a 62 and when I was waiting to use the bathroom going to the 17th tee I did a look at the leaderboard and realised it was a par-70," the World Number 13 said.

"And I also probably then realised that I wasn't going to be the guy to shoot 62.

"It's one of those things that you don't want to go through your mind, thinking about your final score and stuff like that.

"So I got rid of that quickly and got on to playing the 17th, but unfortunately dropped one up the last."

Scott finished eighth in the Masters Tournament and 15th in the US Open this year, despite shooting opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively, and revealed his caddie Steve Williams - who worked for Woods during 13 of his 14 Major wins - had helped focus his mind on making a fast start.

"We talked about that mindset because I was playing well at all the Majors this year, but the first round I'm shooting myself in the foot a little bit and making it too much work to get back in it," he added.

"And he [Williams] wanted me to go to that first tee today like it was the 72nd hole and you have three to win. Really switch yourself on from the first hole. That was a good little trigger he kind of helped out with."

Bunkers simply too penal at Royal Lytham

The Royal and Ancient gets it right in the British Open ... for the most part. 

Here's what is right: The winning score doesn't matter.

In the U.S. Open, the blue blazers of the USGA seem to protect par with nasty rough, shaved greens and chipping areas. Manufacturing par 5s into par 4s.

At the Open Championship, the weather protects par. If the wind is up, scores will be high. If the wind doesn't blow and rain has softened the course, who cares? The Claret Jug is not inscribed with a footnote that says, "won despite a lack of wind."

That means there must have been a mean gale howling in 1938 when Tommy Armour finished 12 over -- and still won at Carnoustie.

And we know Louie Oosthuizen got the good end of the draw and had calm conditions while shooting 16 under to win at St. Andrews in 2010. Neither the gallery, nor the R&A, seem to care what the winning total happens to be that particular year.

That's what's right about The British Open.

What's wrong? The bunkers. There are too many of them, and they are way too severe. Royal Lytham & St. Annes might be the worst offender.

There are more than 200 bunkers on the property and all of them are deep pits with deep faces. There are 20 bunkers on the 17th hole alone.

Links courses are meant to be played on the ground, but with so many odd bounces off the turf and so many bunkers, luck plays a huge part in victory. The bunkers take the recovery shot out of a player's options.

It does not take a great deal of skill to chunk a sand wedge, playing backwards toward the tee. Open courses are great because they give a player so many options, with the exception of bunker play.

You can hit driver over the bunkers or take irons and play short. Carve a 3-wood around the hazards. Hitting a ball into a fairway bunker this week leaves zero options. You turn around and hit back toward the tee.

Where is the skill in that?

A bunker that fronts the eighth green features a sod face sloped at an 80 degree pitch. You don't need a sand wedge to get out, you need pitons, a pick and a guide dog.

You can argue the bunkers serve the same purpose as severe rough in the U.S. Open. They test a player's ability to control the ball to avoid the hazards and test a player's patience, but that is a fatuous argument.

The best players separate themselves from the field by being able to put the club on the ball. The more times the good player can hit the ball, the more chances he has to separate himself from the field. Deep and numerous bunkers bring more luck than skill into the equation.

The R&A almost got it right.

Johnson

Zach and Steve: Both Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker put a lot of emotion into last week's John Deere Classic. Johnson called it his personal fifth major. I saw the look on Stricker's face as he walked the 18th fairway, knowing his chance of winning a fourth consecutive John Deere title had slipped away. Both the win and the defeat were emotionally draining for the pair. How much do they have left, and how quickly can they recover this week? It will be interesting to see how they respond.

Weather Report: The forecast is not good, but it appears better later in the day than early. Rain is expected in the mornings with a chance for clearing in the afternoon. Which end of the draw you get is of great importance at the British Open because the weather is so volatile. If the forecast is accurate, players likePhil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy got the good end of the draw.

Bobby Jones: You can't walk the course without heading over to the plaque. In honor of Jones Open victory, club officials placed a plaque on the exact spot of his critical shot in 1926. Jones was tied for the lead when he picked a mashie off a bad lie and hit the green from 175 yards, leading to victory. Jones latter said, "Even a teaspoon of sand would have meant disaster."

It was at that same 1926 Open that Jones left the course between the third and fourth rounds without his credential. Security would not let him back onto the grounds without proper identification, so Jones purchased a ticket as a spectator, then proceeded to win.

The Big One: No trip this week is complete without a ride on "The Big One." That's the name of the rollercoaster in nearby Blackpool. When opened in 1994, it was the tallest and steepest rollercoaster in the world. It features a 205 foot drop with a 74 mph top speed. If Royal Lytham St. Annes doesn't get a players's stomach churning, take a ride on "The Big One."

Winner, winner: How do you predict an Open Champion? The wind, the rain, the bunkers, all play a huge part in the tournament. Luck will be a major factor this week but at the same time, we can apply a little logic to the equation. The rough is lush, and control of the golf ball is vital. Not just steering clear of the rough line, but navigating through a minefield of bunkers. Graeme McDowell hits fairways, and he is second on TOUR in greens in regulation. I know that did not work out so well in the final round at The Olympic Club, but that was just the warm-up.

McDowell adds a British Open to his resume this week.