Perfect conditions greeted the early starters in The 138th Open Championship at Turnberry - but few were taking full advantage.
Two players shared the lead on two under par - 1989 winner Mark Calcavecchia and the oldest man in the field, 59 year old Tom Watson.
Watson, who won the famous "Duel in the Sun" with Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977, had birdied the first from five feet to join Calcavecchia at the top of the leaderboard.
Graeme McDowell, who has led The Open after the opening round twice in the last three years, was another player to take advantage of the short par four opening hole.
Watson continued to roll back the years with a birdie on the third from 20 feet, and saw another birdie putt on the next lip out.
Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst had struck the opening tee shot at 6:30am in bright sunshine, with Japan's Koumei Oda set to be the last man to start his round almost ten hours later.
Australia's Greg Norman, winner here in 1986 and third last year, was also among the early starters alongside American Kenny Perry, who was beaten in a play-off for the Masters Tournament earlier this year after blowing a two shot lead with two holes to play.
World Number One Tiger Woods, who was absent from Birkdale last year after undergoing knee surgery following his US Open Championship win at Torrey Pines, misjudged his birdie putt at the opening hole and parred.
Woods has been paired with England's Lee Westwood - tipped by Ryder Cup colleague Ian Poulter to be a contender this week - and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa, the teenage star who will also command a considerable media presence.
Westwood birdied the opener after hitting his approach within five feet, and Ishikawa rescued par after finding the rough from the tee.
