Adam Scott superbly answered the call of all Australian sports fans in muscling his way to the lead on the opening day of the 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
Scott was one over par after three holes before the Queenslander burst to the front with three birdies in his next four holes and then five birdies from the 11th to 15th holes inclusive for an under par 64 on the par 70 layout.
Adam Scott gets the line from caddy, Steve Williams on route to a 64 and the lead on day one of the 141st Open Championship. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
The Australian’s round equals the lowest score on the Lancashire links gem and ties the 64 American Tom Lehman posted on day three when he won in 1996.
Scott is the first Australian since fellow Queenslander Rod Pampling to lead The Open, and his round also comes just a handful of days after his 31st birthday.
“I’m very pleased with the start, obviously and was just nice to take advantage of the calm conditions today,” he said.
“It was surprising but very pleasing to go out and play some solid golf. It’s what I haven’t done the first rounds of the majors this year, and that was my goal here, really, starting the week was to play today like it was Sunday and there was no tomorrow.
“I did a good job of that, and now I’ve got my work cut out for me the next couple of days to keep myself in a similar kind of position.”
Scott’s fine first round showing is a breath of fresh air for a passionate sport-loving nation that have seen their tennis players bundled out of Wimbledon, their cricketers thrashed by arch rivals England in the one day series and the real likelihood an England rider will win this year’s Tour de France.
“Hopefully, this round will be a lift for the country,” he said.
“There’s been a little bit of a lull for Aussie sport at the moment, I guess. But my football team is on top of the ladder back home so I’m happy with them.”
And Scott will be looking to become the first Australian -born winner of golf’s oldest major since another Queenslander in Ian Baker-Finch won in 1991 at Royal Birkdale.
Of course, Scott is also seeking a first taste of success in nearly 12 months since capturing the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
