England’s Barry Lane got the 2012 Open Championship underway by hitting the first shot of the tournament.

There was a good crowd of early morning spectators, in overcast and windy conditions, when the 52-year old Lane teed off at 6.30am at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

Barry Lane gets 2012 Open Championship underway. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Lane is competing in his 15th Open Championship and this is the first time he has had the honour of teeing up first.

Greeting Lane was R & A CEO, Peter Dawson, and with Lane remarking:  “Good security.  They wouldn’t let me on the tee.”

He was introduced onto the tee by Ivor Robson, who remarked:  “Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the first day’s play of the 141st Open Championship.

“This is game No. 1.  On the tee from England.  Barry Lane.”

Lane had 201-yards to the flag and hit a 5-iron to some 30 feet short of the flag but after leaving the putt four feet short he then missed for a bogey.

However the honour of the first birdie of the day went to American James Driscoll whose second shot, from some 60-feet right of the flag, found the bottom of the cup.

It put Driscoll, competing in his second Open Championship, into the lead at one under par.