From there he was only able to hack the ball back across the fairway, his third missed the green but he then chipped to within a foot of the hole to salvage a bogey.

Playing partner Des Smyth also took five after his approach came up well short of the green, but South African James Kingston, who came through qualifying, made a regulation par four and was the early leader.

A sizeable crowd had already gathered on the first hole despite the early start, local favourite and former champion Sandy Lyle getting the loudest ovation so far when he teed off in the second group.

But the gallery is certain to be dwarfed by that following the hot favourite Tiger Woods when he begins his quest for the third leg of the Grand Slam at 9:01am.

Woods is playing alongside Hampshire's Justin Rose and Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and will be relishing the opportunity to make the most of the flat, calm morning.

Lyle, enjoying a resurgence in form after several years in the wilderness, came close to the first birdie of the day, his putt from 10 feet on the first sliding just past the hole.

Ian Woosnam was determined not to fall victim to the two-shot penalty for having an extra club in his bag that ruined his chances of glory in the final round last year, caddie Lee Adelly and rules official Richard Muckart exchanging a smile and knowing looks as they stood over the Welshmanw's bag on the first tee.

Kingston then made sure his stay at the top of the leaderboard would continue with the first birdie of the championships on the third to move to one under.