A GOLEN OLDIE stole the show during the first round of the British Open but unfortunately it wasn’t our Greg.

Five time winner Tom Watson, just a couple of months shy of his 60th birthday, put in a serene performance on a course he described as “defenceless” to his charms.

Watson finished at five under, just pipped for the lead by Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, who  equalled the lowest first round in Open Championship history with a six-under-par 64.

Watson was bogey free, hitting 12 of 14 fairways and 15 greens.

“I feel that I’m playing well enough to win. I feel inspired playing here.”

Greg Norman on the other hand carded birdies on 17 and 18 to come in at seven over. Gulp.

The Shark said the millpond conditions didn’t suit him and he never felt comfortable.

“It was disappointing I wasn’t walking on to the first tee feeling confident about where I was hitting the ball,” the twice Open winner said.

“For me to drive the ball the way I did today was probably the worst of my career and if you don’t get on the fairway you are going to struggle. I got what I deserved.”

John Senden, blessed by a last minute Open start, and Tasmanian Matthew Goggin were the best of the Australians. They are among a group of five players tied for fifth place at four under.

Matching Tom Watson on 65 were 2003 champion Ben Curtis and right at the end of the day by Japan’s Kenichi Kuboya, who finished sensationally - birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie - for an inward 30.

Paul Casey, Lee Westwood, David Howell and Graeme McDowell had hopes of figuring high on the leaderboard after flying starts, but all four finished with 68s, alongside Aussie Terry Pilkadaris.

Robert Allenby had an even-par round as did Kiwis Josh Geary and David Smail.

Adam Scott, Richard Green, Stuart Appleby and New Zealand’s Mark Brown are all at one-over.

Related posts:

1. Norman fades, Roberts takes 2009 Senior British Open
2. Greg Norman in tune for British Open
3. Watson and Norman force British Open age change
4. British Open 2010
5. Senior off to 18th British Open
6. 2010 British Open free to air television coverage – an entire hour right after the midnight Skippy repeat
7. South Africans revel in 2010 British Open win
8. Langer wins 2010 British Senior Open, with Peter Senior third
9. Norman leads US Senior Open, but don’t hock the silverware just yet
10. Mcllroy sets a record 2010 British Open pace