Japan’s Hidemichi Tanaka had the honour of getting the 130th Open Championship under way, with the first tee-shot at 7 a.m. at a breezy Royal Lytham & St Annes links in Lancashire this morning.
He opened with a bogey four on the 206 yard par three first and parred the second.It is the only course on the Openvenue rota which starts with a par three.
Tanaka is joined in the opening group by Ireland’s Des Smyth and England’s David Howell.The Irishman made it into the field after a spectacular course record 64 in the second round of pre-qualifying onMonday.
The Drogheda player was also one-over having started with a par and a bogey. Howell collected pars on the opening two holes to remain level.
The five Irishmen at Lytham all have morning starts on this, the opening day.Padraig Harrington was next of the Irish with an 8.06 a.m. tee-time.
British Amateur champion Michael Hoey, from Shandon Park in Belfast, follows two groups behind Harrington, while PaulMcGinley is immediately behind Hoey in the 8.39 a.m. group.
One of the pre-tournament favourites - aside, of course from Tiger Woods - Darren Clarke, gets his campaign under way at 9.45a.m. some 45 after the defending champion Woods begins his defence.