Adam Scott excels in first round of the British Open

Australia's Adam Scott flirted with golfing history in the first round of the British Open at Royal Lytham yesterday before settling for a six-under par 64 and the clubhouse lead.

The 31-year-old from Adelaide, seen as one of the best players currently not to have won a major title, came to the last needing a birdie to become the first player in the long history of the majors to record a 62.

Adam Scott hits out on the first hole during Round One of the British Open yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

Instead, a wayward drive into thick Lancashire rough resulted in a closing bogey and meant that Scott was even deprived the satisfaction of joining the 25 other golfers who have recorded 63s in major golf.

"I just pulled my 2-iron slightly off the tee. It's quite an awkward tee shot with no wind, even. And just got myself in a bit of trouble and tried to be smart and chip out and chip on, but didn't quite hit a good third shot and left myself too much work," Scott said of his bogey at the last.

Woods fires
Tiger Woods made the most of what he called the easiest conditions he has seen at Royal Lytham yesterday to fire an opening-round 67 and stand three strokes off the pace. While his score was one stroke off what he posted as an amateur in his 1996 visit to the Lancashire links course, Woods matched his best round since March to share fourth.

Jeev fails to holdu00a0on to early gains
India's Jeev Milkha Singh was kicking himself after allowing a flying start to end in a level par 70 in the first round of the British Open yesterday.

Singh, who won the Scottish Open in a play-off on Sunday, was on top of the leaderboard at three-under-par through 11 holes at a benign Royal Lytham and St Annes but dropped three shots over the next two holes. The two-time Asian Tour number one bounced back with a birdie on 14 but dropped another shot onu00a017 after finding thick rough with a wayward tee shot.

Still, the Indian star was pleased with his effort.

"I played really well the first 11 holes. I think the 13th hole was the hole that got me," he said.u00a0