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Scott takes the early lead, Lawrie within one, whilst Clarke and Garcia toil ‘Dam good: Adam Scott shot a stunning 64 to take the early lead at the Open – but it could have been better

No-one has ever shot 62 in a major championship, although Adam Scott came mightily close today, as he took advantage of the calm conditions on the first morning of the 2012 Open Championship.

Scott, 32, ultimately signed for a 64, six-under-par, for the lunchtime clubhouse lead at Royal Lytham and St Annes – a score which tied Lytham’s 18-hole Open record.

However, as he stood on the 18th tee, a birdie on the 413-yard par-4 closer would have given him that record-breaking 62. Instead, the Australian played his first properly stray shot in 15 holes, to pull his drive into the long rough to the left of the fairway.

That set him up for a disappointing bogey, which took a hint of the shine off an otherwise masterful first-round performance.

“I know there’s never been a 62,” said Scott, pursuing his first Major victory. “It’s one of those things that you don’t want to go through your mind, thinking about your final score and stuff like that. So I got rid of that quickly and got on to playing the 17th, but unfortunately dropped one up the last.”

Between dropped shots at the third hole and the last, Scott shot eight-under-par over a 14-hole stretch. Perhaps the pick of his shots was a tee shot at the 198-yard, par-three 12th, which finished three feet from the hole to set up his fifth of the day.

“I am very pleased with the start,” said Scott. “It’s nice to take advantage of the calm conditions. It was very pleasing to play some solid golf. It’s what I haven’t done in the first rounds of majors this year so far, and that was my goal here, to play today like it was Sunday and that there was no tomorrow. I did a good job of that, and now I’ve got my work cut out for me the next couple of days.”

(* Story courtesy of Mercedes-Benz, patron of the 2012 Open Championship)

Paul Lawrie rewarded the faith of those who have tipped him to win a second Claret Jug this week at Royal Lytham & St Annes by carding a 65 in his opening round, writes Michael McEwan.

Lawrie, who famously won the championship in 1999 at Carnoustie, had six birdies and just one dropped shot in an impressive opening round to leave himself one off the pace of early leader Adam Scott. However, the modest Scot described his fast start as ‘lucky’

“I had a very strange start,” reflected the Aberdonian afterwards. “Probably the strangest start of my career the first six holes. I didn’t really hit many good shots and I was threeâ€‘under. I chipped in twice and holed one from off the green.

“We get enough bad luck, so it’s nice when it goes your way now and again. After that start, I hit some really nice shots and played some solid golf and hit the ball in the right places quite a lot and ended up with a good score. Sometimes you get lucky.”

Darren Clarke said he was “disgusted” with himself after beginning his Open Championship defence with a six-over-par 76, writes Michael McEwan.

The Northern Irishman, who won his first major at Royal St George’s last year, said: “I don’t think you could publish my thoughts right now. I had a lovely tee shot to the first and made a pure putt. From there, it just got worse. I played poorly and I putted worse. It was disappointing because, in practice, I hit it really, really well. But what can I do? I tried my best on every shot, but unfortunately it wasn’t there again today.”

At least he managed to just about see the funny side of it. Asked if his mind had wandered back to Royal St George’s last year at any point during his round, Clarke quipped: “Yeah, coming up the last thinking how the bleep did I manage to win this last year?”

CONTINUES BELOW…

Struggles: Sergio Garcia’s hopes of winning his first major this week hang by a thread after a poor first round

Sergio Garcia laboured to a two-over-par 72 in his opening round – and then implied that he wasn’t surprised by his struggles, writes Michael McEwan

“I didn’t feel comfortable all day,” said the Spaniard, still searching for his first major title. “I haven’t felt comfortable all week. I’ve not been able to swing the way I know I can. It’s just a case of kind of working with what you have and trying to get around it. Obviously, it’s a shame because it was an ideal day to shoot a decent score and unfortunately my game just wasn’t up to the test.”

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Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.