PGA TourSt. Andrews, Scotland - In what is looking could be a very exciting game, Irishman Rory McIlroy fired an impressive - under par 63 in his first round at the Links course. At just 21 years of age, he lived up to his billing as one of the main contenders to lift the Claret Jug as he matched the best score in major history two shots clear of South African Louis Oosthuizen.
It is obviously early days, and there are 3 more rounds to play but McIlroy took advantage of the calm morning conditions, compared to Wednesday's wet and windy disaster, and fired 7 birdies and 1 eagle to sit at the top of the leaderboard.
Other notables included American John Daly, the 1995 Open champion at St Andrews, who relived former memories with a 6 under 66 round to share 3rd place along with Scotland's former Ryder Cup star Andrew Coltart, England's Steven Tiley and Peter Hanson of Sweden.
World number 1 Tiger Woods and 3rd ranked Lee Westwood finished the first round 5 under, while
Phil Mickelson, the world number 2, struggled to a 1 over 73
