Bests
Mediate cashes in chip at 17th
Shot of the day.
Rocco Mediate, right, chipped in from the side of the 17th green for birdie. Mediate is tied at the top of the leaderboard.
Blissful beginning.
Cheered on by his wife of a month, former tennis star Chris Evert, 53-year-old Greg Norman plugged away for an even-par 70 in the opening round, leaving him just one stroke off the lead.
Experience matters.
Tom Watson was the first player under par on the first hole, and the five-time champion refused to buckle and finished with a 74. The Associated Press
Worsts
Late starters reign supreme
Tale of the tee times.
The first half of the field had an average score of 77.4 in 30 mph wind and a steady rain. The second half of players averaged 74.3 in 15- to 20-mph wind and no rain.
Not so easy.
Ernie Els shot 45 on the back nine for an 80, his highest score in 67 rounds at the British Open.
No Love birdies.
Twenty-nine players failed to make a birdie, including Davis Love III, who has not made birdie in his last 55 holes of a major championship.
The Associated Press
Hole of the day
499-yard, par-4 sixth.
Long hitters Vijay Singh, Boo Weekley and most others couldn’t reach the green in regulation, despite hitting driver from the tee and again from the fairway. Playing directly into the wind, it yielded the fewest birdies (four) and the most bogeys (88). The Associated Press
