World No.1 Adam Scott is determined to prevent another Rory McIlroy runaway after staying within reach of the early British Open pacesetter.
Scott set himself up for yet another crack at the Claret Jug with a bright start at glorious Royal Liverpool on Thursday, carding a four-under 68 to be tied third, two shots behind outright leader McIlroy after the first round.
The Australian produced the performance of the afternoon after McIlroy’s six-under 66 came in much calmer morning conditions, setting up the prospect of a fascinating battle between two of the tournament favourites.
Both of McIlroy’s previous major wins, at the 2011 US Open and 2012 PGA Championship, were runaway eight-stroke victories and Scott said it was critical to keep up early.
“He has the potential to really put his foot down,” Scott said of the world No.8.
“We’ve seen him shoot lots of low rounds and there’s nothing stopping him doing that tomorrow (Friday) either.
“We’ve seen what happens, he wins majors by eight.”
Italian Matteo Manassero was outright second with a 67 while Marc Leishman was the next best of an eight-strong Australian contingent, carding a solid three-under 69 to be tied for 10th.
American Tiger Woods had the same score as Leishman to cap an encouraging return in his first major championship since having back surgery in March.
John Senden (71), Matt Jones (71) and rank outsider Rhein Gibson (21) were the other Australians to break par, while Jason Day had a one-over 73.
Worryingly, Day sought immediate medical treatment for the thumb injury that has troubled him in recent weeks.
It was a day to forget for 23-year-old Australian Bryden Macpherson – a former British amateur champion – who started with a nightmare eighteen-over-par 90 – the tournament’s worst opening round in 15 years.
Scott is out to make amends after wasting chances from winnable positions in recent years – including a spectacular final-round meltdown at Royal Lytham in 2012 – and he gave every indication he’ll again be challenging for the title come Sunday.
His round featured an eagle and four birdies but he also made a string of gutsy saves on the front nine.
Scott’s back nine was scrappy as the wind picked up, dropping shots at 12 and 14, while he was perhaps fortunate to escape with a par on the 18th after a wayward hole which featured two free drops.
After his painful near misses in recent years, the 2013 US Masters champion said it was no secret he had placed a huge focus on this week’s tournament.
“My mind’s been set firmly on Hoylake this year and doing well,” Scott said.
Leishman, playing in the fourth group of the day, made birdies on three of the historic course’s four par 5s, with a bogey on the par-4 12th the only blemish on his card.
“It was definitely in my mind that I needed to take advantage of the benign conditions,” said Leishman.
Jones also made an encouraging start, recovering superbly after making back-to-back double bogeys early in his round – holing out for eagle on the 18th from a greenside bunker.
“It was a tough start but I’ve been hitting it well this week and I knew if I kept going I could get it back,” said Jones.
Gibson, ranked 998th in the world, defied expectations to give himself a great chance of making the cut in his first major championships appearance.
Brett Rumford (75) has his work cut out to reach the weekend while Macpherson was putting on a brave face after a round that was reminiscent of compatriot Ian Baker-Finch’s meltdown at Royal Troon in 1997.
“I think my swing is somewhere on the ninth tee,” Macpherson said.
“I know I’m better than that and I’ll try use today in a positive way.”
Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, Americans Jim Furyk and Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia of Spain shared third spot with Scott while defending champion Phil Mickelson opened with a 74.
