Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman got off to a horror start in today’s start to the 142nd Open Championship.

Saltman, who lives less than five minutes from the course, was teeing up in the first group of the day at 6.32am.

However the former Walker Cup and competing in his third Open Championship put two balls out of bounds at the first hole on route to a quadruple bogey ‘8’.

Overhead view of Lloyd Saltman hitting one of three balls off the first tee this morning. (Photo courtesy of PA)

Saltman’s opening shot with a fairway wood sailed clear over a 20-foot high screen right off the tee and with the screen erected to provide a ‘clean’ view off the tee and not have players distracted by the tented village.

Saltman then advised his playing partners he was hitting a provisional that he also pulled well right and with his ball clearing hitting something as the sound could be heard on the first tee.

The 27-year old then indicated he was playing a third that fortunately found the right hand side rough.  His sixth shot landed on the green some 30-feet from the flag from where he two putted for his quadruple bogey ‘8’.

Saltman has his brother Zack on the bag while his other brother, Elliott and their parents are walking behind the ropes supporting Saltman.

David Rickman, Executive Director Rules & Equipment Standards soon after explained the situation with Saltman hitting out-of-bounds.

“The out-of-bounds in question was present in 2002 and while the tented village footprint is slight different this year, the out-of-bounds is fundamentally the same,” he said.

“Essentially we have two choices with an area like that.  We would either play it as out-of-bounds or a TIO – temporary immovable obstruction.

“Our concern with the later is that it gives free relief to any ball that goes in there and you look at the area the only difference between finding a ball in there or losing a ball in there, is the point of free relief.

“In any case if you would be dropping on a flattened piece of grass.

“So we felt strategically on that first tee we did not like the notion of it being a TIO so from a rules point of view that’s why when we looked at it, and knowing what we did in 2002, we decided that not only was it consistent but it was right for it to be OB.”

And Saltman was not the only player taking an ‘8’ on hole one with in-form American Brooks Koepka also starting with a quadruple bogey while England’s Chris Wood took a ‘7’.

Note – the area is one of two internal out-of-bounds areas for the this year’s Open Championship with the other being the practice ground.