A repeat of that was out of the question when Russell kicked off with a par four, but birdies on the next three took him into a share of the early lead with Australian Peter Fowler.

There were problems straightaway, however, for defending champion Justin Rose and last week’s Wales Open winner Ian Poulter, the close friend he pushed into second place at Woburn last year.

Rose was involved in a search for his opening drive after carving it into the rough, as was playing partner Ian Woosnam.

They both found their balls and Woosnam birdied the hole – the 435-yard 10th - with an 18-foot putt, but then Rose three-putted from similar range on the next and at the long 12th tangled with the rough again.

This time it was when his pitch over the lake carried the green as well, but even though the ball was not even visible from a couple of yards away the 22-year-old played a superb recovery to four feet and saved his par to remain one over.

It was a shot to give him confidence for his US Open debut next week, when he can expect every single green to be ringed by dense rough.

Poulter, the third member of the group, also bogeyed the 11th, coming up just short of the green with his approach, and was disappointed to take five on the 547-yard next as well after his pitch spun back down the tier running across the green.

Title favourites Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie were among the later starters, Montgomerie having filed a late entry after missing the cut at Celtic Manor last week.