The threat of wet and windy weather was a mere illusion on Thursday morning at the 2012 Open Championship, as scoring conditions were ripe for the picking after a light overnight rain and stagnent winds at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Many golfers made the most of their early draw, including four-time Open Champion Tiger Woods and current tournament leader Adam Scott.
Scott came close to an setting an opening round major championship scoring record before settling for a terrific 6-under 64, tying the lowest score shot ever at Royal Lytham. After the round Scott spoke about the conditions and how he feels this week:
"It's nice just to take advantage of the calm conditions today,'' Scott said. "It was surprising but very pleasing to go out and play some solid golf. It's what I haven't done the first rounds of the majors this year, and that was my goal here, really, starting the week was to play today like it was Sunday and there was no tomorrow."
As for Tiger Woods, he was on fire early on after firing four birdies in his first seven holes of the day. He would eventually finish with a 3-under 67, three shots behind Scott. Bubba Watson, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell and Kegan Bradley all fired 67's as well to remain tied with Woods.
Woods was solid off the tee and with his irons, missing just one fairway on Thursday, while hitting 15 of 18 greens. He still needed 30 putts on the day, the obvious bane of his golf game at the moment. Here is what he had to say after his round:
"It was pretty soft,'' he said. "The wind wasn't blowing, and we're backing golf balls up. That's something we just don't see. On the first hole is a perfect indication; I hit a 5 iron straight at it, and it rolled out 8 feet. I can't remember the last time it does that on links golf course.
Paul Lawrie and Zach Johnson had great mornings as well, each firing an opening round 65 to sit just one shot behind Adam Scott.
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