Play got underway today in the 142nd edition of golf's oldest tournament, the Open Championship.
Conditions proved to be tricky at Muiefield, especially in the afternoon, as the blistering sun dried the course out.
Zach Johnson, one of the morning starters, made his way to the top of the leaderboard and stayed there until the close of play.
You can read how all the action unfolded below.
Good morning! Welcome to Sports Mole for live coverage of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield.
It has been 12 months since Adam Scott suffered a catastrophic meltdown with four holes left at Lytham St Annes, effectively handing the Claret Jug to Ernie Els.
The Australian exorcised some of his demons by winning the Masters in April, but victory this week will lay the ghost completely at rest. He tees off with Matt Kuchar and Luke Donald at 2.23pm.
The players are already out on the course, with Peter Senior, Lloyd Saltman and Oliver Fisher getting us underway at 6.32am. Fisher is two-under through seven holes and tops the leaderboard with Mikko Illonen and Mikko Angel Jimenez.
In fact, Jimenez has just birdied the fifth hole to move onto four-under-par, meaning he now leads the way on his own, two shots clear of the chasing pack. What a start by the Spaniard!
Sir Nick Faldo, Tom Watson and Freddie Couples have just struck their tee shots at the first hole to massive cheers. It would be some story if one of those guys won this week. Not beyond the realms of possibility, of course, with Watson nearly pulling it off in 2009.
US Open champion Justin Rose is now on the first tee. He's dragged it slightly to the right and is in the rough. Defending champion Els is next up, he flirts with the rough on the left but ends up in the first cut. Snedeker locates the fairway and gets a lot of run due to the sun baking the course over the past few days. It's playing very fast.
BIRDIE, BIRDIE! Fisher moves to three-under-par with a birdie at five. That's his fifth birdie today, but dropped shots at six and eight see him one shot back on Jimenez. Meanwhile, Rafael Cabrera-Bello joins him on three-under with a birdie at five.
Rose, chopping out of the rough, lands his second shot just a couple of inches shy of the green. He'll have that for birdie. Els shanks his approach and leaves himself in the rough. Snedeker from the short grass, fires at the green but tugs it left and into the rough. A few nerves, it seems.
Snedeker put in a strong challenge at Lytham last year and turned up this week as one of the pre-tournament favourites, but he'll have to do better than that...
Ian Poulter finds the fairway with his first shot, but Keegan Bradley looks like he's in the bunker. A lot of the pros have said the key to playing Muirfield is staying out of the fairway bunkers, so not the best start for the 2011 PGA champion.
Els pitches out from the rough, looking to get some height on his ball to land it softly, but catches it a bit thin and leaves himself with a lot of work to do for his par.
Rose, putting off the green, makes an excellent read but drifts just past the hole. The green is playing fast and his ball keeps going a bit, but the way his blade is working that should be par.
BOGEY, PAR! Els (+1) can't save par and drops a shot at the first. Rose (E) rolls his short one in for a four.
Horschel and Poulter both go off the green to the left at the first hole. Both men challenged the top of the leaderboard at last month's US Open as they search for a first Major title.
Bradley's third shot is from the rough, he hits the green but it runs off the bank and finishes in the bunker. And it's on a downslope. Horrible start for the American. He's staring down the barrel of a five or six.
Els (+1) finds the green at the par-four second but is a long way from the cup for birdie.
BOGEY! Poulter (+1) nearly escapes with par at the opening hole, but his attempt from around 15 feet doesn't quite do enough.
Rose (E) nearly sinks a long birdie putt but it finishes on the edge of the hole. His putter seems to be in decent nick already. Meanwhile, McIlroy is on the first tee and ready to get his championship underway...
Els (+1) saves par at the second hole, as does Snedeker (E).
EAGLE! Martin Kaymer (-2) makes a move with a three at the par-five fifth hole. He's been woefully out of form since winning the PGA Championship in 2010, profiting from the troubles of Dustin Johnson. He did sink the putt that won the Ryder Cup, though.
McIlroy's opening tee shot finds the rough. Matsuyama, with his very slow and deliberate back swing, can't do much better and also lands in the thick stuff. Mickelson sends his safely down the middle of the fairway.
DOUBLE BOGEY! Fisher (-1) drops back to one-under-par with a five at the par-three 13th. He's still just three shots off the lead but that's a blow.
McIlroy finds the right bunker with his second at the first hole. Difficult up and down from there. Matsuyama from the rough on the other side of the fairway, gets a decent run and creeps onto the green. Mickelson loses his to the left and finishes not too far from where Snedeker did.
CLOSE! Rose (E) plays a fantastic shot into the third pin to leave himself with a couple of feet for birdie, but his putt hits the lip and stays out. Unfortunate, but a solid start nonetheless.
BIRDIE! Rose's approach shot was out-stripped by Snedeker (-1), who taps in to pick up a shot at the third hole. An even better start...
McIlroy shows lovely touch from the bunker to leave himself inside a foot from the cup. Mickelson puts too much oomph on his chip and has distance to save par. Matsuyama doesn't allow enough break from left to right and his birdie putt never really had a chance.
Mickelson rolls his rock to save par at the first. A bonus, that. McIlroy and Matsuyama tap in for fours as well.
Jimenez (-4) found the bunker with his second and the par-five ninth, but he recovery was a good one and he has around eight feet to get to five-under-par. The Spaniard is traditionally a fast starter around the Links courses of the Open Championships past.
McIlroy (E), Matsuyama (E) and Mickelson (E) all find the green at the second, although it is the Japanese pro who is in with the best shout of a birdie. A great approach shot has left him inside five feet.
BIRDIE! Jimenez (-5) does get himself to five-under and is now two clear of the chasing pack.
BIRDIE! Dustin Johnson (-2) has picked up shots at the first and fifth holes. Great start, but, despite his enormous talent, he can be a patchy player. So don't be too surprised if you see a double on his card by the 18th hole. A popular player, though. As chilled out as they come.
BIRDIE! Mickelson (-1), after saving par at the first, picks up a shot at the second. He's moving up.
Seven Americans are already under par. They are: Cink (-2), Johnson (-2), Walker (-2), Hamilton (-1), Curtis (-1), Snedeker (-1), Watney (-1), Mickelson (-1). Dominating the early scoring.
Matsuyama (-1) made his birdie at the second hole and now has a pitch from the fairway at the third, but he puts too much into it and finishes the ball at the back of the green. He got no bite whatsoever.
Rose (E) with his second shot at the par-five fifth, lands in the thick rough short of the green. He can still give himself a birdie chance with a good shot from there. Els (+1) has been scrambling so far but limited the damage to just one dropped shot. He's hit the green but the cup in in a different postcode.
BIRDIE! Mickelson (-2), putting from the fringe, drops in for birdie at the third. His blade is hot. Victory in the Scottish Open will have been a big boost to his confidence, as well.
McIlroy (E) sees his birdie putt miss to the left, while Matsuyama (-1) saves par and stays at one-under.
BOGEY! Cabrera-Bello (-2) makes a six at the par-five ninth hole and drops three shots off the pace. Jimenez (-5) pars the 10th and is running nicely so far.
BIRDIE! Snedeker (-2) finds the middle of the cup for another birdie at the fifth. The Americans have asserted themselves early on here at Muirfield.
Jimenez (-5) with his second shot at the par-four 11th, it's a wedge from the fairway... and he's on the green. That's a chance to get to six-under.
Mickelson (-2) locates the putting surface with his tee shot at the par-three fourth. It's a long one, but the way his balde is working so far you'd not bet against him making it. Matsuyama (-1) finds trouble. McIlroy (E) fires an iron onto the green.
Jimenez (-5) leaves his birdie putt short at 11, he doesn't look happy with his effort. Taps in for par, though.
BIRDIE! Horschel (E) gets himself back to even par with a birdie at the fifth. His long eagle putt finished inches from the hole, it was a terrific effort.
Mickelson (-2) and McIlroy (E) both see birdie putts rolls by the hole.
BOGEY! McIlroy (+1) misses his putt coming back for par, a short one from a couple of feet. Frustrating for the Northern Irishman, who has made a stuttering start.
No mistake from Mickelson (-2), who nudges home.
BOGEY! Matsuyama (E) found trouble with his tee shot at the par-three fourth, he gave himself a decent chance on an up-and-down, but, alas, he has not taken it. That drops him back to even.
Els (+1) has a chance to get back to even at the sixth, but the ball breaks to the right late on and drifts agonisingly past the hole. That's a par, though. No disasters yet...
BOGEY! Rose (+1) is now over par after seeing his putt break late as well. Tough break for the US Open champion, but his approach left something to be desired.
DOUBLE BOGEY! Snedeker (E) undoes all the good work he has put in on the first stretch with a double at the sixth.
BIRDIE! Cabrera-Bello (-3) sinks a testing eight-footer and gets back to three-under-par at the 11th. He's once again two shots off fellow Spaniard Jimenez.
BIRDIE! Dustin Johnson (-3) has built some early momentum with another birdie at the eighth.
Mickelson (-2) from the thick rough at the fifth, he's back in play on the fairway. McIlroy (+1), still struggling, finds the front bunker. Matsuyama (E) leaks his a bit to the right, but a favourable kick off the bank sees him just off the front of the green.
BOGEY! Jimenez (-4) drops his first shot of the day at the par-four 12th. He's just one shot clear of Cabrera-Bello now.
McIlroy (+1) has an acrobatic stance from the bunker, he needs to get it high enough to carry over the wall and onto the green. He can't get enough height and hits the edge of the trap, but he's out of the sand. Still, he'll do well to save par there.
Ross Fisher has posted the early clubhouse lead with a one-under round of 70. I wonder how close that'll be to the top by the end of the day...
BOGEY! Opting to putt from off the green, McIlroy (+2) rolls his ball three feet from the cup. He can't make it though, and that's another one gone for the two-time Major champion. Early danger, and he looks bereft of confidence.
Mickelson (-2) pushes his birdie putt wide of the hole. He taps in for par, though.
EAGLE! Nick Watney (-2) has had an up-and-down first stretch, but an eagle at the fifth sees him join the group on two-under-par.
LEADERBOARD: (-4) Jimenez; (-3) Cabrera-Bello, D. Johnson; (-2) Hamilton, Watney, Mickelson; (-1) Fisher, Sink, Kaymer, Piercy, Z. Johnson, Katayama
Jimenez (-4) stays in the lead, but his par putt at the 13th only just trickled in. It wasn't the most confident-looking stroke, despite his brilliant scoring so far.
BIRDIE! Jason Day (-1) started with a double bogey at the first hole, but he has recovered excellently and is now under par thanks to birdies at five, eight and 10.
BIRDIE! Big-hitting Dustin Johnson (-4) ties the lead with Jimenez with a birdie at the par-five ninth. He finished runner-up in 2011, but has also placed in the top 15 in the last two championships. A real contender, you have to feel. Links golf suits his game no end, especially with the dry course running fast.
BIRDIE! Ian Poulter (-1) also gets himself under par after dropping a shot at the first hole. He heads to the par-four eighth now with a bit of forward momentum.
2004 champion Todd Hamilton (-2) posts 69 to take the clubhouse lead from Oliver Fisher (-1).
BIRDIE! Cabrera-Bello (-4) makes it a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with a birdie at the par-three 13th. Starting to get bunched...
Jimenez (-4) putting off the green at 14, finishes two feet from the cup. That should be par. Mickelson (-2) taps in for par at the par-four sixth.
BIRDIE! Scott Piercy (-2) moves up the leaderboard with a birdie at the par-five fifth.
Els (+2), looking to get something going at the par-five ninth, hits a long second shot onto the green. A bit unfortunate as it rolls off the back though, but that's still a chance for eagle. He has to be looking at a birdie at the least...
Poulter (-1) saves par at the eighth. Mickelson (-2) from just off the green at seven, and that's a superb shot. Great spin control, as it bites to leave him a foot from the cup.
EAGLE! Zach Johnson (-3) gets to three-under with a monster putt for a three at the par-five fifth. Wow, that tracked right into the centre of the cup. It's all America and Spain at the moment!
BIRDIE! Els (+1) gets his round moving in the right direction with at the ninth. It's been a laboured start by the defending champ, who heads to the par-four 10th now.
LEADERBOARD: (-4) Jimenez, Cabrera-Bello, D. Johnson; (-3) Z.Johnson; (-2) Hamilton, Watney, Mickelson, Piercy, Mullen; (-1) Fisher, Kaymer, Poulter, Matsuyama, Streelman, Katayama, HS Kim, Tiley, KT Kim
Jimenez (-4) stays in a three-way tie fir the lead by rolling in a short one for par at the 15th.
BIRDIE! Poulter (-2) moces to two-under with a birdie at the ninth. He chipped from the rough at the back of the green, leaving himself with a tap in. A bogey at the first well and truly forgotten now.
BIRDIE! McIlroy (+1) looking to get something going at the par-three seventh. His superb tee shot left him with a tester, but he read the putt perfectly to drop in.
BIRDIE! Z. Johnson (-4) follows a superb eagle at the fifth with birdie at the sixth to join his namesake Dustin, Jimenez and Cabrera-Bello at the top of the leaderboard.
BOGEY! Mickelson (-1) gives a shot back at the eighth.
Robert Karlsson (-6) has posted 77 for his first round. He started par-par-birdie, but it all went downhill from there. Bogeys at four, nine and 12 preceded three-straight bogeys at 14, 15 and 16. A five at the last was the final nail in his first-round coffin.
Scotland's Lloyd Saltman (+8), who hit the first tee shot at 6.32am, is at the bottom of the pile in the clubhouse after signing for a 78.
BOGEY! Jimenez (-3) loses a stroke at the 16th to drop out of the lead. Dustin Johnson, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Zach Johnson are now in a three-way tie atop the leaderboard.
SOLE LEADER! Zach Johnson (-5) makes a two at the par-three seventh to take the outright lead. He finished runner-up in last week's John Deere Classic to teenage champion Jordan Spieth, so he's running well at the moment.
Mickelson (-1) hits approach to the ninth green into the rough. His third shot will be difficult, but he's still in with a chance of getting back to two-under. Awkward, though.
Poulter (-2) saves par at 10 to stay two-under-par.
BOGEY! Cabrera-Bello (-3) is now two shots off the leader Zach Johnson with a bogey at 15.
Mickelson (-1) from the rough at the ninth, digs it out and onto the green. It's a long birdie opportunity.
BOGEY! Dustin Johnson (-3) drops a shot at 12. That's his first bogey of the day and means that he is now two shots off the lead as well, along with Spanish duo Jimenez and Cabrera-Bello.
Mickelson (-1) lags his birdie putt short of the hole. He'll stay among the group of 10 players on one-under par.
McIlroy (+1) with a long birdie putt at the ninth, it looked in all the way but rolled just past the hole. Unlucky.
BIRDIE! Els (E) is now back level with birdie at the 11th.
Justin Rose (+2) has not been having the best first round, as bogeys at six and nine see him languishing on two-over. Still, there's time to get back level before the end of his round, although he is fast approaching the most difficult part of the course.
McIlroy (+1) with his second from the deep rough at the 10th, he flirts with the front bunker but will have a pitch onto the green from the first cut.
Leader Z. Johnson (-5) rolls a good-looking putt a few inches from the cup at the eighth, which would have seen him get to six-under. Still two shots clear of the field. Poulter (-2) can't drop for birdie at 11 and stays on two-under.
A glorious putt from way off the green by Mickelson (-1) leaves him with little left for par at the 10th. McIlroy (+1) also has a few feet left for par to stay one-over.
BIRDIE! Snedeker (-1) was two-under through five, but has seen his round stall somewhat since a double at six followed by bogey at seven. However, the American has found shots at nine and 12 to get himself back into the red numbers.
Jimenez (-3) with his second shot from the fairway at 18, he's not happy with that one and mutters something in Spanish before seeing it splash into the sand. He was at five-under at one stage, but will be looking to escape with a four at the final hole to post 68 and take the clubhouse lead.
Poulter (-2) lofts his approach to the 12th green flag high and will be looking to get himself within two of leader Zach Johnson.
Jimenez (-3) has his bucket and spade out in the sand at 18, and he does well to leave himself a few feet for a four.
Thirty-year-old Englishman Steven Tiley (-3) is going well on three-under-par through five holes. He finished tied for 68th in 2010.
CLUBHOUSE LEADER! Miguel Angel Jimenez (-3) posts 68 to take the clubhouse lead from Todd Hamilton. It could have been better for the Spaniard, with the birdies drying up on the back nine. Although, with the stretch playing extremely difficult today, that could well be the leading score by the end of the day.
BOGEY! McIlroy (+3) goes wide with a birdie putt at the 11th, and ends up with another ugly three-putt to record back-to-back bogeys. It looked as though he had got his head together after birdie at seven and a good save at eight, but once again he's travelling in the wrong direction.
BIRDIE! Cabrera-Bello (-4) birdies the 17th and heads to the final hole looking for at least a four, which would see him snatch the clubhouse lead off his countryman Jimenez. A five would see him tie the overall lead with Zach Johnson, who is currently on the par-four 10th hole.
Mickelson (-2) with his second shot at the par-four 12th, lands it on the green but well short of the cup. That's a good 35-40 feet from the cup. Matsuyama (E) finishes inside Mickelson's ball, but still had distance to traverse. McIlroy (+3) nearly holds onto the green, but it rolls down a ridge and off.
CLUBHOUSE LEADER! Rafael Cabrera-Bello (-4) posts 67 to take the clubhouse lead. Great round from the Spaniard, whose only dropped shots came at nine and 15.
It's going from bad to worse for McIlroy (+3), as he pays the penalty for not landing his chip from the green-side rough on the dancefloor. It trickles back down and leaves him with the same shot again. He gets it on at the second attempt, but he looks like slipping further back. It really is quite astonishing to witness his decline since winning the PGA Championship last year. New clubs? New love? I doubt that's the reason, but who knows what's going on...
A long putt from McIlroy (+3) slips past the hole. It was a decent attempt, but he's about to slip to five-over (at least).
Mickelson (-1) saves his par and is putting together a solid round so far.
BOGEY! Oh dear, Dutsin Johnson (-2) drops a shot after tamely pushing at a putt from close range. A shocker, really. He's now three shots off Zach Johnson, who saved par at 10 with another monster putt.
DOUBLE BOGEY! McIlroy (+5) ended up signing for a six at the par-four 12th, leaving him 10 shots off leader Zach Johnson.
Mickelson (-1) leaks his tee shot at the par-three 13th to the right, while Matsuyama (+1) dials his approach into the pin. McIlroy (+5) gets a kick off the bank and has a chance to grab a shot back.
Steven Tiley (-3) was three-under through six holes, but a four at seven saw him drop back to two-under. However, birdie at the par-five ninth has him back at three-under.
Justin Rose (+2) is two-over and currently tackling the par-four 14th.
Ian Poulter (-2) is still going well. He's in the group behind Rose.
BOGEY! Shades of Augusta as Dustin Johnson (-1) starts missing short putts. It seems as though confidence is a big factor for him on the greens. That's back-to-back bogeys for the big hitter.
LEADERBOARD: (-5) Z. Johnson; (-4) Cabrera-Bello (F); (-3) Jimenez (F), Tiley; (-2) Hamilton (F), D. Johnson, Poulter, Watney, Cabrera, Mullen, O'Meara, Jacobson; (-1) Fisher (F), Snedeker, Mickelson, HS Kim, Teater, KT Kim, Wagner
So the American still going strongly in East Lothian. Two Spaniard have also climbed to the top of the leaderboard, with Cabrera-Bello the clubhouse leader by one shot ahead of Jimenez. Ian Poulter, amateur Jimmy Mullen and Steven Tiley are leading the English charge.
BIRDIE! Snedeker (-2) proving his Links credentials with another birdie at the 15th.
Meanwhile, Rose (+3) went from bunker to bunker at 15 and looks like dropping more shots.
BIRDIE! Zach Johnson (-6) stretches his lead at the top of the leaderboard to two shots with another fantastic birdie putt at 12. How will he navigate the closing stretch though? It's proven to be troublesome so far, but no-one is playing as well as ZJ at the moment.
What a shot from Mickelson (-1) at 14. His takes a long iron to his second shot from the middle of the fairway and lands it on the front of the green. It rolls on though, and finishes around six-eight feet. Simply magic.
Poulter (-2) went wide with his approach to the 15th green, but got lucky with his lie in the rough, finding his ball on a patch of trodden-down grass. He chops a high one onto the green, but he'll need some help from his new putter now.
EAGLE! Well, well well... Dustin Johnson (-3) gets back to three-under-par with an eagle at the par-five 17th. He crushes the ball off the tee and that makes par fives ideal scoring opportunities. If only he hadn't duffed those two short putts at 15 and 16. Ifs, ands and buts, though.
Disaster for Els (E). He found the bunker at 16, and after two attempts to get out, he's still in there. Third time lucky, but it'll be at least a double, which will spoil his scorecard after he's scrambled so well.
BIRDIE! Mickelson (-2) is looking very solid. Not normally a word you associate with Lefty; he's usually astoundingly brilliant or woefully inaccurate. Could be an ominous sign for the rest of the field as he trundles along, picking up shots at key moments.
Poulter (E) with his tee shot at the par-three 16th, he takes an eight iron to it. The balls just creeps onto the green, but can't cling on and falls down the front slope. Bogeys at 14 and 15 have him back at level-par.
EAGLE! Bubba Watson (-1), someone we haven't heard from at all during this first round, has just made three at the 17th and now heads to the par-four 18th. He's another one who punishes the ball off the tee, but that's the first shot he's gained on a par-five hole today.
TRIPLE BOGEY! Els (+3) falls to three-over par after his sandy escapades at the 16th.
Jason Day (+2) posted 73 for his first trip around Muirfield. He was going well until a bogey at the 16th was shortly followed by a double at the 18th. Horror finish.
Dustin Johnson (-3) signs for a 68 to join Miguel Angel Jimenez (-3) in the clubhouse on three-under-par. Cabrera-Bello (-4) still has the bragging rights at the bar, but the way ZJ (-6) is playing the drinks will be on him this evening.
McIlroy (+4) putts from off the green, but goes off the other side and trickles, after a bit of resistance from the rough, into the bunker. Awkward stance, with a wall right in front of him. He digs it out, though, but has distance left. It's enough to make you cry...
BIRDIE, BOGEY! Mark O'Meara is going along very nicely and drops in for another birdie at the sixth. That leaves him just one shot off the lead as ZJ (-5) drops his first shot of the day at the 14th.
BIRDIE! Justin Rose (+4) picks up a shot at the 17th, but he'll be slightly frustrated that his eagle putt lipped out. Still, he's back up to four-over.
Sir Nick Faldo (+8) has just played a delightful shot from the fairway bunker at 18 to within a few feet. Tough day for the former champion, who hasn't played competitive golf for some time. Still got some of that magic, though. You don't win six Major championships without it.
DOUBLE BOGEY! McIlroy (+6) shoots a six at the 15th and is down to six-over-par now. In the words of Marvin Gaye: "What's going on?"
In the group of three veteran Major champions, Tom Watson (+4) posts 75, as does Fred Couples (+4). Finally, Sir Nick Faldo (+8) comes home in 79.
Els (+2) squirts his recovery shot from the rough at 18 into the spectators. Fortunately, no-one is hurt. Considering how the 16th played out for the South African, you're left wondering if he wanted to make someone pay with that one! (He wasn't, of course)
The afternoon starters have already got underway, but the big names are now approaching the first tee. Here comes the group of Westwood, Schwartzel and Garcia.
Defending champion Ernie Els (+3) posts 74 for his opening round. Just that triple at 16 really spoiling his card.
Brandt Snedeker (-3) posts 68 to join Dustin Johnson and Miguel Angel Jimenez on three-under-par in the clubhouse. That's two off current leader Zach Johnson (-5), who is currently on the 15th hole.
US Open champion Justin Rose (+4) goes round in 75, leaving him four-over-par. A good second round can see him right, though. By no means beyond the realms of possibility. Although the first objective is to survive the cut.
Click here to read the story of Rose's first round at Muirfield.
Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald are now on the first tee.
Mickelson (-3) with his second at the par-five 17th, it's a bit wayward. Meanwhile, ZJ (-5) finds the green with his tee shot at the par-three 16th.
Poulter (E) is on the green at 18 as Schwartzel lines up a bogey putt at first hole. It doesn't drop and that's a double to start for the former Masters champion. He's not the first today, very much doubt he'll be the last. Tough hole to start.
BIRDIE! Westwood (-1) makes the perfect start with birdie at the first. His approach shot was not too dissimilar from Schwartzel's, although he got that little bit of fortune coming out of the rough. It's served him well.
Will the 'Foley Factor' have any bearing on his game as he attempts to capture his first Major title at the age of 40? Few deserve it more.
ZJ (-5) leaves his birdie putt at 16 short and has work left for par.
BOGEY! Whoops, it's a dropped shot to finish for Poulter (+1). That was for an even-par round of 71, but a sour note to end on for Europe's Ryder Cup hero. A short putt which lips out.
BOGEY! Donald (+1) drops a shot at the tough first hole. Far from ideal, but plenty of time to correct himself. No dramas... yet!
TIED FOR THE LEAD! Mark O'Meara (-5) birdies the par-five ninth hole and moves into a share of the lead with Zack Johnson.
Click here to read how Ian Poulter's first-round unfolded at Muirfield.
Mickelson (-3) is safely on the green at 18. It landed before the pin, but the sun really has baked these greens and it's making it so tough to be accurate.
Westwood (-1), Garcia (E) and Schwartzel (+2) all see birdie putts stay up at the second hole.
Here comes Tiger, striding up to the first tee hell bent on capturing the Claret Jug for the fourth time in his career.
Mickelson (-3) burns the edge of the hole with his birdie attempt at 18. It runs past and leaves him work to do for par.
BIRDIE! Hideki Matsuyama (E) sinks a nice putt for birdie on the 18th to post 71.
BOGEY! Rory McIlroy (+8) finishes with a bogey, which typifies his first round, to finish with a 79. I think it;s safe to say that's him out of contention. Battle is on to make the cut.
BOGEY! Ahhh, Mickelson (-2) can't make his putt coming back and that's a 69 for him. He's played very solidly today, but that's a bad way to end.
Woods sprays his tee shot at the first into the rough. An inauspicious start for the world number one. McDowell's is much better, ending up in the short stuff. 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen, completing the three ball, finds the rough but has got lucky with his lie.
Woods has played a provisional ball, but that's also entered the jungle. Terrible couple of tee shots. Errant, to say the least.
BIRDIE! Garcia (-1) gets himself under-par at the third. It thought about staying out, but gravity did its thing and the ball disappeared.
Woods is deep in the weeds here. He's taking a drop and will try to chop it out from a better lie. He'll need plenty of thrust on that clubhead to get this even near to the green. But if there's one thing Tiger has, it's clubhead speed. It comes out at some pace and runs into the bunker. Not actually a bad result.
BOGEY! Zach Johnson (-5) is once again in the lead on his lonesome as Mark O'Meara drops his first shot at the 10th.
McDowell with his second shot from the first fairway, lands the ball on the front of the green. It'll be some putt from there to make birdie, though.
McIlroy (+8) is in the clubhouse with the second-worst score of the day. He has blamed "stupid mental errors" for his hideous 79, which included six bogeys and two doubles. The only highlights were birdies at the par-three seventh and 13th holes.
You can read all about it by clicking here.
ZJ (-5) hits the green at 18 and will have an uphill putt for birdie. A par will see him into the clubhouse leading the tournament.
Once ZJ has finished up, it's updated-leaderboard time...
Another nicely-judged putt from the leader and he should tap in for an opening round of 66.
Zach Johnson taps in for par at the last to post 66 for his first round. He leads the tournament and is safely in the clubhouse. Very well done.
With the heat rising and the course drying ever more, that score looks unlikely to be beaten today. Conditions are testing. If that score is bettered, though, it'll be a stellar score.
Phil Mickelson: "The guys who played early got very fortunate."
LEADERBOARD: (-5) Zach Johnson (66); (-4) Cabrera-Bello (67), O'Meara; (-3) Jimenez (68), Dustin Johnson (68), Snedeker (68); (-2) Hamilton (69), Mickelson (69), Cabrera (69), Fitzpatrick (A), Laird; (-1) Fisher (70), Watson (70), Castano (70), Lehman, Spieth, Harrington, Moore, Garcia, Westwood
Sergio Garcia (-1) fades his second shot at the par-five fifth to the right, but fortunately it stays out of the really thick cabbage. Westwood (-1) fires at the pin, and that finishes at the back of the green. He's putting for eagle, but will be happy with birdie from there. It needs a good stroke, though.
BIRDIE! Oosthuizen (E) recovers the shot he dropped at the first with birdie at the second.
McDowell (E) starts with two pars. Meanwhile, Woods (+1) misses his chance to get back to level-par.
BIRDIE! Westwood (-2) has made a strong start with another birdie at the fifth. He lagged his long eagle putt within inches and tapped in for a four. Nice play.
Woods (+1) finds the bunker at the third hole and will need a good up-and-down to save par.
BIRDIE! Schwartzel (E) gets back to level par with a birdie at the fifth. There have been a few who have dropped shots at the first and managed to correct themselves before hitting the turn. That's where the scoring seems to have stopped, though. The back nine is playing devilishly difficult today.
I don't know if Sean Foley's influence has any bearing on this at all, but Westwood (-2) isn't half striking the ball cleanly. He splits the sixth fairway with his tee shot. Beautiful strike, turning his hips and bringing through his shoulders at just the right moment. Fluid motion.
After shooting 65 in the first round at Lytham last year, Zach Johnson opened with a 66 this time round. He said: "I don't know what the secret is [playing the first round of the Open], if I've found it. I hit some solid shots and putted really well."
On the conditions and course layout, Johnson added: "It's a Major, it's the Open. You want difficult."
Good man.
Anyway, back to the action, and Garcia (-1) has safely found the green at the sixth. Still a long way from the cup.
Westwood (-2), putting off the green fir birdie at the sixth, judges it very well and leaves himself with a tiddler for par. Schwartzel (E) is also eyeing up a 40-footer, but he's going from the middle of the green... it looks in all the way, but a late wobble takes it just off the line of the hole. Good putt.
BIRDIE, BIRDIE! Martin Laird (-3) gets himself in the mix with a birdie at the ninth. Garcia (-2) is also moving up after holing a long one at the sixth. Lovely putt from the Spaniard, who has been received warmly by the Muirfield spectators after the rather partisan reception he received at Merion.
Westwood (-1) and Schwartzel (E) roll in their short ones for par.
BIRDIE! Tricky putt for Woods (E), but he just gives it a nudge downhill and into the centre of the cup. Nice. That gets him back to level-par after an iffy start. That should settle him a bit.
Westwood (-2) takes an iron to his tee shot at the par-three seventh, drags it left and is nearly swallowed by the bunker, but it stays out. Let's see how good your short game is now, Lee.
Hunter Mahan (-2) has gone birdie-birdie to get himself to two-under through five holes. He threatened to break his Major duck at Merion last month, does he have the game to win over four days on a Links course? Time will tell...
Uh oh, Westwood (-2) has duffed his second shot at the seventh and he'll play his third from the bunker. He takes no time in addressing it, chipping out to about eight fee. It'll be at least one shot gone. Lapse of concentration after a good start, there.
BOGEY, PAR, PAR! It's just the one shot gone for Westwood (-1) then, as Garcia (-2) and Schwartzel (E) both make par.
BOGEY! The back nine is claiming yet another victim in Mark O'Meara (-3). He played the front nine in five-under par, but dropped shots at 10 and 14 see him on three-under now, two shots off leader Zach Johnson.
Kuchar (+2) is in the bunker and right up against a five-foot wall. No chance of getting out of there, and he's struggling to get out sideways as well. He tries to hit it against the wall to get a better position, which defies belief as he can take a penalty drop. Hmm...
My, my... Kuchar's second shot from the bunker, with a bit more room to manoeuvre is a beauty.
Luke Donald (+2) has just missed a very makeable birdie putt at the seventh. He started with a bogey and then made six at the par-five fifth, meaning he remains two-over heading to the par-four eighth now.
BOGEY, BOGEY! Garcia (-1) gices a shot back at the eighth, while O'Meara's round is disintegrating with another bogey at 15.
Westwood (-1) holes a long one to save par, and Schwartel (E) has a testing five-footer, which he drops to stay level-par.
BIRDIE! McDowell (-1) gets himself into red figures with a birdie at the fifth.
What a lucky break for Schwartzel (E)... he rushed his tee shot through, desperately trying to save it going left by keeping his hands level with the clubhead. The ball took a funny turn in the air as it looked to be sailing out of bounds... but it hit a wall and cannoned back onto the fairway. You have to say that's pretty much optimum position, as well. You need luck to win the Claret Jug, but that's taking the Michael, so to speak.
Westwood (-1) from the fairway bunker at the ninth, he lays up on the fairway. That'll be an iron into the green looking for birdie. Garcia (-1) takes a fairway wood but tops it. That might be in trouble.
Schwartzel (E) has to change his ball, which took a might thwack off the stone wall. The referee presides as he places it in the EXACT same spot it was in. He also goes at it with a fairway wood, looking to get on in two, but finds the bunker.
Woods (E) has a go at the sixth green, but runs off the back edge.
Westwood (-1) is on the par-five ninth green in three and looking for birdie, but there's quite some distance left. It'll be some putt from there.
Woods (E) chipping from the greenside rough, doesn't make the green and trickles back down the bank, presenting him with a similar shot. Frustration for the world number one.
Schwartzel (E) shows a nice touch from the bunker to give himself a makeable birdie opportunity. Woods (E) just about gets onto the putting surface but has a difficult one for bogey.
These greens are ridiculously fast now. Like putting on glass. Westwood (-1) looked to have lagged his birdie putt close from distance, but it just kept going, and going, and going. That's a hard one for par now.
BOGEY! Garcia (E) chipped from the greenside rough, but likes Westwood's, it didn't want to stop. He was left with about 15 feet for par, but it curled just shy of the hole. That's another dropped shot for the Spaniard. Conditions are TOUGH!
BOGEY, BOGEY! Westwood (E) can't make his coming back either, and he's now back level. Meanwhile, Woods rattles in for a bogey, which is the best outcome he could have hoped for after two less-than-inspiring chips.
Schwartzel (E) stays level with his playing partners through nine holes by dropping his par putt. They'll be clinging on to any semblance of a decent score through the back nine.
The back nine has been problematic all day, but with conditions now testing on the front nine as well, you have to feel that anything under-par for the afternoon starters will be a good score. If conditions are similar tomorrow that should even it all out by the weekend. It's all guesswork at the moment, though.
Westwood (E) has pulled his tee shot, and the provisional ball, into the cabbage at the 10th.
Donald (+3), now three-over through eight holes, does a Schwartzel, only this time he has two ricochets to help him avoid trouble at the ninth. He hit the wall and then what looks like cooporate hospitality before finishing on the fairway. He smiles, knowing he got away with one there.
EAGLE! It's been a while since someone picked up a shot, but that little drought has been ended by O'Meara (-4), who has got himself to within one of the lead once again with a fantastic eagle at the 17th. If he can get in with that score, that'll be a grand first day for the former champion.
The afternoon starters have really bore the brunt of the conditions. Often in Open Championships we're talking about wind and rain, this year it's the sun playing havoc. It's dried the course out something rotten, it's like playing on marble. Some of the pin positions are really difficult, as well. Some of the players have been having their say on that matter as well.
The scoring average is currently 74.22, which is a smidgen over three-over. Twenty-three players are currently under-par, with 12 of those being morning starters.
Westwood (E) and Garcia (E) both save par with long putts at the 10th. The Spaniard saw his first effort slide by, leaving him with eight feet for par. He duly obliged, though.
India's Shiv Kapur (-3) strung together three straight birdies and consolidated with par at the fourth to get himself to three-under. He's getting his scoring done early, but can he hang on?
Hunter Mahan (-2) is currently trecking the par-five ninth, but is two-under for his round so far. He picked up shots at four and five and is playing as solidly as anyone.
Seven players are currently just in red figures on one-under. They include: Olivier Fisher, Bubba Watson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Ken Duke, who have all finished. Still on the course are Tom Lehman, Jordan Spieth, Darren Clarke, Martin Laird, Henrik Stenson, Graeme McDowell and Francesco Molinari.
In the clubhouse on even-par is Thomas Aiken, Bernd Wiesberger, Hideki Matsuyama, Jimmy Mullen (A) and Gareth Wright. On the course are 15 players, including the likes of Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Webb Simpson and Scott Jamieson.
Stewart Cink, Martin Kaymer and Ian Poulter are among 14 players in the clubhouse on one-over-par, with Adam Scott and Tiger Woods also one one-over but still to finish their first round.
BREAKING! Louis Oosthuizen (+4) has withdrawn from the tournament after eight holes with a suspected hip injury.
BIRDIE! Tom Lehman (-2) has played the back nine as well as anyone - morning or afternoon - today. He has just made a birdie four at the par-five 17th to get to two-under-par. That takes the former champion three shots off the leader Zach Johnson with one hole left to play. Spectacular hitting.
BIRDIE! Adam Scott (E) is back to level-par with a birdie-three at the 11th. He has made a fine recovery after bogeys at two and four had him two-over heading to the fifth, where he gained a shot back. Another birdie at eight saw him level, before another bogey at 10. He's approaching the really treacherous portion of the back nine even-par, though.
BIRDIE! All of a sudden it's raining... birdies, that is! Absolutely no let up in the relentless sun. Tom Lehman (-3) finishes by picking up another shot to post a three-under 68. That's a birdie-birdie finish, superb!
DOUBLE BOGEY! Just when he was moving along nicely, it's all gone a bit Pete Tong for Graeme McDowell (+1). He had five blows before even reaching the green at the par-five ninth, and once he was on it took two more to get it in. That's a seven and he's now one-over.
TIED FOR THE LEAD! Shiv Kapur is stringing together a marvellous front nine and is now five-under through six holes. Remarkable!
McDowell (+1) fires at the 10th green and is unlucky in catching the downslope on it's descent. Still, he's in the rough at the back of the green and will have a chip for either birdie or to leave himself with a chance of par. In fact, par at best. To chip in on these greens would need an act of God.
Tiger Woods (+1) is just trundling along, quietly going about his business, doing well. He's on the green in two at the 10th with a chance of birdie, around 15 feet left.
Westwood (E) went off the back of the green at the 13th, his birdie putt looks like a good 'un but drifts eight-nine feet past the hole. Still, a confident stroke saves a three and he remains level.
Garcia (E) sees his birdie putt break late and just miss the hole. He tidies up for par and is also level.
BIRDIE! Tremendous putt by Woods (E)! That's a few down-hillers he's had today that he's sank confidently. He's back level and playing very well, especially on these lightening greens. It's with the wand that Woods has set himself apart from the field in past domination, can he do it once again this week? Early signs are looking good.
Jim Furyk (+7) has just carded his sixth-straight bogey from 10-15. Yuck.
Luke Donald (+4) has shot a six at the par-four 12th, leaving him looking over his shoulder rather than ahead.
NEW LEADER! My word, Shiv Kapur (-6) is tearing it up! He's dropped in for another birdie at the par-three seventh to take the outright lead from Zach Johnson! Still, it's the American sitting pretty in the clubhouse. You can't expect this Indian to keep this up...
Jordan Spieth (-2), winner at last week's John Deere Classic, has given himself an excellent chance of birdie at the final hole. He's put together a superb round already, but it could get even better for the precocious talent from Dallas. Such a natural, effortless swing.
The teenager can't quite make it, but taps in for a two-under 69. Great round.
Young amateur Matthew Fitzpatrick (+2), who looks like he still enjoys a good colouring book, finishes with a double bogey and falls to two-over-par. A shame, but tt's still been a great day for the lad from Hallamshire Golf Club, who's hit birdies at the second, fifth and 17th today.
BIRDIE! Darren Clarke (E) gets lucky at the 17th, his chip would have run miles past the hole had it not got in the way. The Northern Irishman is back to level par with one hole left to play.
Woods (-1) tugs his approach to the 12th green into the greenside trap. It's a mistake, and he's furious with himself. The way he has played out of the sand today though, you expect him to get this close. Could be an awkward stance.
Schwartzel (+3) has bogeyed four of the last five holes, with his only point of solace coming with a birdie-three at the 11th. He is teetering now, in danger of playing himself out of contention by the end of his round. He needs to stem the flow and get his round moving back in the right direction. Easier said than done.
SAVE! Woods (-1) has indeed saved par at the 12th to maintain his forward momentum. He's looking very good.
Schwartzel (+3) from the rough at 15, doesn't make a good connection and squirts out onto the fairway, but quite a way from the green. In his frustration, he throws the club down with some force. Enough to snap it.
Two-time champion Padraig Harrington (+2) posts 73. He'll be going out in the morning tomorrow, and with the course expected to be watered heavily tonight, he could eat into that deficit tomorrow. Two-over isn't the worst score in the world.
TRIPLE BOGEY! Luke Donald (+7) looks to be going the way of Rory McIlroy (+8) after a triple-bogey seven at the par-four 14th. He's smiling, but it's probably one of bemusement. In fact, it's definitely one of bemusement.
Unlucky for McDowell (+1), who nudges a delicate putt towards the cup at the 13th, but sees it just drift by, not quite giving it enough borrow from left to right.
BIRDIE! Woods (-2) is right in this now. He rolls in another excellent putt at the 13th to gain another shot. He's looking like the Tiger we used to know - formidable on the greens. Frightening prospect.
DOUBLE BOGEY! Schwartzel (+5) is floundering, and the danger is it looks like it's only going to get worse before he finishes. Two more shots have gone at the 15th, as well as the club he broke.
Woods (-2) with his second at the par-four 14th, just creeps onto the front of the green. That'll do. McDowell (+1) finishes short of the green and will take a wedge to that one.
Kapur (-6) hits his second shot at the 10th from the fairway, but it comes up well short of the green.
Henrik Stenson (-1) posts 70 to finish one-under-par. That's a very good score, he's put himself in contention. Remember, you can't win a Major on day one, but you can certainly lose one. Just ask Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald, they'll tell you.
Westwood (+2) looking to find the green in two at the par-five 17th, he sneaks it through a gap in the ridges of the green and ends it at the back. He's putting for eagle, but much like his attempt at the third, he'll be happy with a birdie there.
BOGEY! Woods (-1) putted off the green at 14, and then missed a par putt to save. He had five foot left for a bogey and looked confident in rapping it in. Considering his first putt, he could be forgiven for having suffering a bit of trepidation standing over that, but it looked like he blanked it from his mind and gave it a good stroke. Still, it's a shot gone.
BOGEY! Donald (+9) has played like me this afternoon and will do well to break 80 now. That's ugly.
BOGEY! Garcia (+3) was two-under through seven holes and going strong, but he ended up turning in even-par. He let two more shots go at 12 and 14. Now a bogey at the par-five 17th has him struggling on three-over.
Woods (-1) finds the green at 15. McDowell (+1) is in a spot of bother, though.
Westwood (+1), fresh from his birdie at the 17th, finds the short grass with a brilliantly executed tee shot at the 18th. If he can end the day level par, that'll set him up perfectly for tomorrow morning.
McDowell (+1) from the fairway bunker at 15, all he can do is gouge it out onto the fairway.
DOUBLE BOGEY! Shiv Kapur (-4) has relinquished the lead with a six at the par-four 10th. That leaves Zach Johnson (-5) out in front on his own once again. The trouble for the Indian now, though, is hanging onto what he's got. The back nine has been a harsh mistress.
Apologies for the brief interruption in transmission, a few technical problems on my end. Technology, eh? You've not missed much... although, as I say that Schwartzel (+4) chips in from the bunker at the 18th to end his round on a high note. It's been tough going for the South African on the treacherous back nine this afternoon, but he posts 75 for his opening round at Muirfield.
Lee Westwood (+1) can't find the cup for birdie at the last and he'll sign for a score of 72. Not bad, not bad at all.
BIRDIE! Adam Scott has had a very up-and-down round, but has just birdied the 17th to once again move into minus figures.
BIRDIE! Molinari has birdied the 14th hole to join the Aussie on one-under-par. After opening with a couple of fives, he immediately responded with three straight birdies. His approach to the 14th pin was simply tremendous. Completely stiffed it.
BOGEY! Sergio Garcia (+4) dropped a shot at the 18th, posting 75 to fall back to four-over-par.
McDowell (+3) finds the fairway bunker at the par-five 17th.
BOGEY! Luke Donald (+9) finishes with a bogey five to post 80 for his first round. That's gotta smart.
BOGEY! Adam Scott (E) gives the shot his gained at the 17th right back at the 18th with a rather poor putt. That sees him into the clubhouse level-par.
Woods (-1) finds the perfect line into the 17th green and will putt for an eagle. Super shot.
Beautiful shot from Mahan (+1) at the 18th. He was in a balancing act, with his heels hanging over the edge of a cavernous bunker, but managed to give it a little nudge to within a couple of feet of the cup. Nice play.
BIRDIE! Woods (-2) sends his eagle putt towards the hole but it finishes inside a foot. He taps in for a birdie, which sees him onto two-under-par. He's lurking, dangerously, three shots off the lead with one hole left to play.
Matteo Manassero (+5) posts 76, while Rickie Fowler (+7) gets around in 78. The two youngsters have struggled on the baked Links course today. Hunter Mahan (+1) has fared better, signing for a 72. He's still in there.
Woods (-2) is on the 18th tee, drags it into the rough on the left. McDowell (+3) follows him in.
Kapur (-4) finds the green at the 14th, but has a way to go to save par. Looks like he'll be slipping further down the leaderboard.
McDowell (+3) hacks out from the rough and onto the fairway. Strong wrists there. Woods (-2), with a more favourable lie, tries to hook it around the bunkers in the middle of the fairway... not a bad result.
From the fairway, McDowell (+3) conjures a little bit of magic to hit the 18th green. It's a knee-jangler for par, though.
Woods (-2) doesn't really make the best of his long putt at 18, leaving himself with a testing one to save par.
BOGEY! McDowell (+4) finishes with a bogey. He signs for a 75.
Tiger Woods (-2) saves par at the 18th to post 69 for his opening gambit at Muirfield. He's sent out a message to the rest of the field. His putting was immense today. He goes out in the morning tomorrow and could find conditions more palatable.
Click here to read the story of Lee Westwood, Adam Scott and Tiger Woods.
LEADERBOARD: (-5) Zach Johnson; (-4) Cabrera-Bello, O'Meara; (-3) Jimenez, Dustin Johnson, Snedeker, Lehman, Kapur (14); (-2) Hamilton, Mickelson, Cabrera, Spieth, Woods, Molinari; (-1) Fisher, Bubba Watson, Fernandez-Castano, Duke, Laird, Stenson; (E) Aiken, Wiesberger, Matsuyama, Mullen (A), Wright, Scott
Zach Johnson holds the lead after the first round thanks to a superb 66, just one shot more than his opening round at Lytham St Annes last year, when he trailed Adam Scott by one shot. He goes out in the afternoon tomorrow, so may find conditions more testing.
So join us again tomorrow from 9am for all the action from the second round, which should prove to be a fascinating day of golf. Tiger is challenging, but Rory isn't. In fact, he has a job on just to make the cut. Some questions will be answered tomorrow, but the most important one will have to wait until Sunday.
See you tomorrow!
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
