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Dustin Johnson leads The Open after first round at St Andrews

Dustin Johnson (-7) is one shot clear of a group of six men in a bunched leaderboard after the first round of The Open.

Dustin Johnson's seven-under-par round of 65 at St Andrews has given him a one-shot lead a quarter of the way through The Open.

The world number four was in a group with Jordan Spieth, the man to whom he gifted the US Open at Chambers Bay last month with a three-putt on the final hole, and finished two shots clear of his compatriot.

Dustin Johnson of the United States salutes the crowd on the 15th green during the first round of the 144th Open Championship at The Old Course on July 16, 2015© Getty Images

Spieth is trying to become the first man to win the first three Majors in a calendar year, but could not match Johnson as the duo benefited from kinder weather conditions earlier on.

Johnson is one shot clear of a group of six - namesake Zach Johnson, 1999 champion Paul Lawrie, South African veteran Retief Goosen, England's Danny Willett, world number nine Jason Day and Robert Streb - who posted 66.

Behind them are five more on five-under, with the last man to win at St Andrews, Louis Oosthuizen, shooting 65 like Spieth.

Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose during the first round of The 144th Open at St Andrews on July 16, 2015© Getty Images

The top of the leaderboard is dominated by the early starters as those in the afternoon had to deal with stronger winds on the East coast of Scotland.

Rickie Fowler, winner of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane last weekend, is tied-67th after a level-par 72, while England's best hope, Justin Rose, who played with Fowler, went round in 71 to lie six behind Johnson.

Three-time Open champion Tiger Woods, meanwhile, was one of the few players who struggled in the morning.

Tiger Woods plays a shot during the first round of The 144th Open at St Andrews on July 16, 2015© Getty Images

The world number 241 shot his highest ever first round in an Open by posting a four-over 76.

The 17th 'Road Hole' didn't produce a single birdie on the opening day as players struggled to get near the flag just past the notorious greenside bunker.

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Pascal Lemesre
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The green on the 495 yards par 4, 17th hole 'Road' with the 357 yards par 4, 18th hole 'Tom Morris' behind on the Old Course at St Andrews venue for The Open Championship in 2015, on July 29, 2014 in St Andrews, Scotland
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