150th Open Championship: flawless Young seizes early lead, as Tiger Woods endures woeful return to St Andrews
- Cameron Young fires bogey-free 8-under par 64 at St Andrews, with Rory McIlroy just two shots back
- Woods struggles around Old Course in grim round of 78 that lasts more than 6 hours
Cameron Young seized the lead in the first round of the 150th British Open at St Andrews on Thursday after an outstanding eight-under par 64, while Rory McIlroy sits two strokes back but Tiger Woods endured a woeful afternoon on his return to the Old Course.
Woods was determined to feature this week as he continues his recovery from severe leg injuries suffered in a car crash last year, but he toiled for a six-over 78 in a grim round that dragged on over six hours.
In contrast Young, the 25-year-old American who first played St Andrews with his parents aged 13, produced a flawless round featuring no bogeys and eight birdies after teeing off in one of the first groups.
Ranked 32nd in the world, Young finished tied third in this year’s PGA Championship and has now put himself in a strong position to be a contender into the weekend.
“I think any time you’re around the lead in a major championship or any PGA Tour event, frankly, you get more and more comfortable every time,” Young said.
The pressure may largely be on closest challenger McIlroy, whose six-under 66 included three straight birdies between the fifth and seventh holes.
McIlroy was the favourite for the Claret Jug coming into the week and the Northern Irishman, who won the Open in 2014, lived up to his billing in the opening round.
