Adam Scott equalled the course record at Royal Lytham & St Annes to establish a one-shot lead after day one of the Open Championship.
The Australian shot eight birdies as a round of 64 saw him sit atop the leaderboard on six-under-par overall.
Scotland's Paul Lawrie is joined by the USA's Zach Johnson and Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts on five-under while another American, Brandt Snedeker, is alone on four-under following a round of 66.
Rory McIlroy got off to a solid start thanks to a three-under round of 67 and is alongside a number of players including fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell, Tiger Woods and Masters champion Bubba Watson.
World number one Luke Donald endured a difficult day out on the course as an early birdie was cancelled out by a bogey on the 18th to put him on level par.
However, it was a worse story for Lee Westwood, who carded a double-bogey on the third on his way to a three-over round of 73.
Jack Prescott
