09.06 From Congressional to the Kent coast, it's nearly Rory time. A couple of nuggets before we begin though: first from Phil Mickelson, then from our golf correspondent Kevin Garside.
He plays golf with a real flair and a real charisma, and fans are drawn to that. He plays with this youthful exuberance, and it's fun to watch and see somebody play golf like that and really enjoy it.
Nature is doing all it can to prevent Royal St George’s rolling over and having its tummy tickled by McIlroy in the manner of Congressional. But even that might not be enough to counter a confident swagger seemingly coated in reinforced concrete.
09.00 CBS Sports analyst Peter Kostis, longtime instructor to our own Paul Casey, clearly feels the next four days will be a test:
Difference between US & British Opens? One tells you how to score. The other says get it in the hole anyway you can! Different exams.
08.35 As the helicopters shipping in London folk for the day continue to drop St George's punters by the dozen, 1989 champion Mark Calcavecchia leads the field by a shot at -2 after seven holes.
08.25 There always seems to be an unknown American in with a chance come Sunday. I thought one of those could be the booming drives of Gary Woodland. The 27 year-old is +3, two ahead of Jerry Kelly, who is having a hapless opening nine at +5
08.10 Early days yet but there is a four-way tie for the lead at -1. One of them is Thomas Bjorn, second in 2003 after blowing a three-shot lead with four holes to play. The Dane was fairly hacked off this week when asked about his experiences at the 16th bunker eight years ago. He's on the fourth now, which has its own 60ft high trap.
07.55 A Frenchman is leading The Open and not a rolled up sock in sight. It must be Bastille Day. Gregory Havret, runner-up to Graeme McDowell in the US Open last year, has picked up a birdie on the first after ripping his drive 340 yards. He's -1.
07.50 Rory McIlroy heads off at 9.09 along with 2002 champion Ernie Els and young American hope Rickie Fowler. Others to look for: Luke Donald (9.20), Padriag Harrington (13.21), Lee Westwood (14.10), Phil Mickelson (14.21), Tom Watson (14.32). Chih-bing Lam from Singapore tees off last at 16.11.
07.40 Paul Kelso, who by the sounds of things hasn't found a bed at the only place to actually stay in Sandwich (The Bell since you're asking) - is first on the ball this morning:
Kent police have new toys for #open - 125 scrambler bikes being ridden along the sea wall at Deal and across Cinque Ports GC. #overtime
07.35 Like a gamble? Well, there's no better place to start than a tip from our golf correspondent Kevin Garside:
I'll vote with my heart and go for Lee Westwood on the grounds that the world rankings have got to come home at some point and deliver a major. You can't be in the top two of the world rankings and also finish in the top three in five of the last seven majors - he needs a break. I like the fella, I want him to win and as we know, he's got the game to win.
07.31 American Jerry Kelly - playing alongside Australia's Nathan Green and England's Danny Willett - got the tournament started with a solid drive shortly after sunrise, playing "in a light breeze with a sprinkling of rain." That's about as good as it got for Kelly over the first two holes. He started bogey, double bogey.
07.30 Morning all and welcome to The Open coverage. Some of us are still waking from a slumber, the same can't be said down on the Kent coast where play has already been under way for a good hour. Stay with us over the next four days where we will bring you all the latest colour, quotes, reports, pictures and tweets from our reporters out on the course.
via telegraph.co.uk
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