* Australian Scott blazes way round Lytham
* Woods tucks in behind on three-under 67
* Johnson, Lawrie, McIlroy, Watson, Els, McDowell start well
* Westwood and Mickelson off the pace with 73s
By Ed Osmond
LYTHAM ST ANNES, England, July 19 (Reuters) – Australian
Adam Scott set the pace with a course record-equalling 64 and a
steely-looking Tiger Woods rattled off four early birdies in a
composed first-round 67 at the British Open on Thursday.
World number 13 Scott conjured up eight birdies in benign
conditions at Lytham to finish on six under par, one ahead of
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, American Zach Johnson and Belgian
Nicolas Colsaerts.
Former world number one Woods played beautifully controlled
golf to birdie the first, fourth, sixth and seventh holes,
getting his bid for a 15th major championship, and first for
four years, off to a flawless start.
The American wasted birdie opportunities before twice
finding treacherous rough at the 15th hole to drop his only shot
of the day but he was happy with a putting performance that
revived memories of him at his pomp.
Continued…
