ADAM SCOTT took the early  first round clubhouse lead of the 2012 British Open with a 6-under 64 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Scott had a chance of Major history at 7-under with two holes to play, needing a birdie on 17 or 18 for a 62 and the lowest ever round in a Major.

Unfortunately, the nerves seemed to get to him on the 18th tee and he pulled his drive short and left into the notoriously thick Lytham rough.

A bogey resulted, only his second in what was otherwise a scintillating round, but it was still enough for Scott to finish with a one stroke lead over Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and America’s Zach Johnson.

Scott and the other morning starters faced quite benign conditions on a course softened by recent rain.

Tournament favourite Tiger Woods got off to a blistering start and was 4-under after seven holes but he became frustrated when the birdies dried up, making his first bogey on 15 to be 3-under with three to play.