Pre-tournament British Open favourite Ernie Els found out that what Royal Troon gives, it also takes back.
The 34-year-old looked poised to be the early first round leader when he reached the par-three 17th at four-under and one clear of England’s Gary Evans who had earlier carded a three-under 68.
At the infamous par three eighth Els had picked up two shots when his wedge bounced just past the 123-yard hole before sharply pulling back and spinning in the side of the hole and bringing a roar of approval from the crowd.
Royal Troon took its revenge at 17.
The Big Easy put his tee shot in the left bunker, took two to get out and then two more to get down. Two shots given back and suddenly he was one back from Evans — signing off with a two-under 69.
”I don’t feel good about that,” said Els of his finish. ”From the highlights at eight to the lowlights at 17.
”I had a good score going then pulled a five iron. I had a downhill lie in the bunker but it wasn’t the hardest shot I have had and I just messed it up into the bank.
”But all in all it’s not a bad start.”
Els knows that he will take over the world number one spot here if he wins and Tiger Woods, who tees off later, fails to finish better than 17th.
Until the 17th it was a near flawless display from the SouthAfrican who made the most of his early tee-time and the near ideal conditions.
The wind, which can turn Royal Troon into a monster, was missing and it was only beginning to blow as Els was playing the closing holes.
The 35-year-old Evans, the second player off, began in spectacular style when he albatrossed the par-five fourth.
After reeling off three straight pars, Evans saw his 5-iron second go in the hole.
Evans became a crowd favourite two years ago at Muirfield when, on the final day, he sank a 50-foot putt on the 17th, and then turned to a television camera and announced — ”that’s for you mum.”
But even with the 50-footer, Evans missed out on the four-way playoff by a shot and had to settle for fifth.
”If I can keep doing what I’m doing there is no reason why I can’t compete at the weekend. I feel fantastic,” said Evans.
Also carding a 68 was South Korea’s KJ Choi. The 33-year-old got himself to four-under after 11 but a double bogey at 12 dropped him back to two-under. A mixture of bidies, bogeys and pars saw him tie with Evans.
”I felt very good today. The weather was on my side, there was no wind. This is the first time I have shot under par in the first round at the British Open,” said a delighted Choi.
It was birdies galore for the morning runners.
Swede Carl Pettersson began with three consecutive birdies and went out in 33. He held on coming back to finish tied with Evans and Choi.
Former USPGA champion Rich Beam threatened the Royal Troon course record when he made the turn with a blistering five-under 31 but then gave away shots on the punishing inward nine and finished with a two-under 69. Ireland’s Paul McGinley also had a 69.
Masters champion Phil Mickelson got off to a rocky start when he hit his drive on the first wide left. His second went through the green into the back bunker but the 34-year-old left-hander managed to get up and down to save par.
Mickelson then reeled off eight straight pars but a bogey at 10 saw him slip to one-over. Another bogey at 14 and the Californian was quickly slipping down the leaderboard.
It was not the sort of start the Masters champion was looking for with the conditions being near perfect.
Playing partner Paul Casey, who complained earlier in the week that not enough new young hopefuls were coming through the European ranks, was three-under after 15 holes.
Crowd favourite Colin Montgomerie got just the start he needed when he went to three-under after nine but then disaster struck on the march home.
Montgomerie went double bogey, bogey. A birdie at 12 brought him back under par.
Playing partner Thomas Bjorn also got to three-under but like Montgomerie ran into trouble on the back nine.
The Dane was suddenly two-over after 14.
Former winner David Duval was the first casualty of the tournament.
The 32-year-old American had been due to play the first round early on Thursday in the company of Pettersson and Craig Perks of New Zealand, but he took the decision to withdraw late Wednesday.
His place went to David Griffiths of England.
Duval was the last player before Tiger Woods to top the world rankings in 1999 and he then won the British Open in supreme style at Royal Lytham in 2001.
But since then his game and confidence have gone into a tailspin and he had a nightmare US Open in June where rounds of 83 and 82 sent him crashing out at 25-over-par. — Sapa-AFP